Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 1

Apersons trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual. Any persons measument which falls outside 2 standarddeviations away from the mean is classed as abnormal.

Question 2

Statistic infrequency is objective.

Answer 2

If you can measure a trait on a scale then you can find a numerical cut off point which is not open to interpretation. This means there can be no question as to if a score is defined as abnormal.

Question 3

(Statistical infrequency) Rare is not always undesirable.

Answer 3

For example having a high IQ a person would be classed as abnormal. But Having a high iq is not a bad trait to have infact it is sought after.

Question 4

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 4

Socially deviant behaviour. This means someones behaviour is seen as abnormal as it is viewed by sociry as undesirable and anit-social but not rare.

Question 5

Deviation from social norms has high face validity

Answer 5

For example if someone is unable to leave their house due to anxiety,this is seen as abnormal and society would believe they need help to support them change this behaviour.

Question 6

Deviation from social norms suffers from temopral validity.

Answer 6

Many social norms that are acceptable now were once very unacceptable. For example; homosexuality was classed as a mental illness untill 1973.

Question 7

(F2F) Rosenhan and Seligmans feautures.

Answer 7

• Suffering
• Maladaptiveness
• Irrational
• Observer dicomfort
• Vividness
• Violation of moral standards
• Unpredictability

Question 7

What is failure to function adequately?

Answer 7

A behaviour is abnormal if it prevents a person from leading their everyday lives. Rosenhan and Seligman proposd seven major features that apper in abnormal behaviour.

Question 8

Failure to function adaquetley is very culturally relative

Answer 8

You should not be usig the standard of one culture to judge or measure the behaviour of another culture.

Question 9

Failure to function adequatley is easy to access treatment for.

Answer 9

If someone is unable to function normally is will become very apparent to those who are close to a person. Foe example nt eating and poor hygine.

Question 10

What is deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 10

Behaviour is abnormal if a person deviates to far from the expected state of ideal mental health. Jahoda identified 6 aspects of ideal metal health.

Question 11

What were the 6 aspects of Jahodas deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 11

• Personal growth and self actualisation
• Autonmy
• Accurate perception of reality
• Intergration
• Self attidudes
• Master of the enviroment

Question 12

Deviation from ideal mental health is also culturally relative.

Answer 12

The idea of self actualisation is relevent to individualistic cultures and shoould not be compared to other cultures.

Question 13

Deviation from ideal mental health is a positive approach.

Answer 13

This approach is posituve and can be looked at as a way improve a persona life.