definitions of abnormality

Question 1

what is a norm

Answer 1

unwritten rule of how we should behave
-can be implicit or governed by law

Question 2

what is abnormal (deviation from social norms)

Answer 2

-going against social norms

Question 3

example of varying social norms

Answer 3

-sexuality over time
-genders
-cultures

Question 4

positive of deviation from social norms as definition of abnormality (seperation)

Answer 4

-distinguish between desirable + undesirable (including affect on others)
-this isnt in statistical model
-practical and useful way of identifying damaging behaviour so can seek help

Question 5

positive of deviation from social norms as definition of abnormality (personal)

Answer 5

-considers subjective personal experiences doesn’t make judgement without taking viewpoint of person

Question 6

negative of deviation from social norms as definition of abnormality (abuse)

Answer 6

-victim susceptible to abuse
-danger of creating definition based on prevailing social and moral attitudes

Question 7

example of negative of deviation from social norms as definition of abnormality (abuse)

Answer 7

-nowadays sexuality is normal
-in past, was under sexual and gender disorders in the DSM

Question 8

what is the DSM

Answer 8

-Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
-states characteristics required for mental disorders
-very westernised

Question 9

negative of deviation from social norms as definition of abnormality (culture)

Answer 9

-cultural relativism
-classification systems like the DSM are mostly based on western norms
-however revision of DSM in 2013 included cultural context e.g. in some cultures panic attack is uncontrollable crying but in others its difficulty to breathe

Question 10

negative of deviation from social norms as definition of abnormality (dependant)

Answer 10

-deviance related to context and degree
-cannot offer complete definition

Question 11

what is abnormality (statistical infrequency)

Answer 11

-behaviours that are extremely rare (top and bottom 2.5%)
-based on normal distribution

Question 12

positive of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 12

-easily identify rare behaviours that may need attention
-once decided, there are objective, quantitative, valid cut off points

Question 13

negative of statistical infrequency as definition of abnormality (subjective)

Answer 13

-cut off points are subjectively determined
-disagreement in abnormal from normal so difficult to define

Question 14

negative of statistical infrequency as definition of abnormality

Answer 14

-unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable
-many abnormal behaviours considered desirable e.g. High IQ
and many normal behaviours undesirable e.g. depression

Question 15

negative of statistical infrequency as definition of abnormality (culture)

Answer 15

-cultural relativism
-some statistically infrequent behaviours in some cultures are more frequent in others

Question 16

definition of failure to function adequately

Answer 16

-failing to cope with everyday life
-causing personal suffering and distress (to others as well)

Question 17

what is the DSM assessment of ability to function called

Answer 17

WHODAS

Question 18

WHODAS 6 main considerations and how it works

Answer 18

-understanding and communicating
-getting around
-self-care
-getting along with people
-life activities, etc…

-rate statements out of 5, given score of 180

Question 19

positive of using the DSM assessment WHODAS

Answer 19

-provides quantitative measures

Question 20

positives of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality

Answer 20

-subjective experiences are recognised
-easy to judge objectively as can list behaviour
-contains certain sensitivity

Question 21

negative of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality (culture)

Answer 21

-cultural relativism
-definitions are related to cultural ideas of how ones life should be lived
-resulting in different diagnosis as standard of one culture is being applied to others

Question 22

negative of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality (who)

Answer 22

-who judges?
-if someone experiences personal distress, may recognise and seek help
-sometimes up to others to report behaviour as individual is content/ unaware of inability to cope
-subjective reporting

Question 23

deviation from ideal mental health logic

Answer 23

-Jahoda (1998) pointed out that we define physical illnesses as absence of physical health
-deviation from ideal mental health indicates abnormality

Question 24

Jahoda’s (1998) criteria of ideal mental health

Answer 24

1) self attitudes (self esteem and identity)
2) personal growth and self actualisation (extent to which person reach full potential)
3) integration (able to cope w stressful situations)
4) autonomy (independent and self regulating)
5) accurate perception of reality
6) mastery of environment (adjust to new conditions, love others and function at work)

Question 25

negative of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality (unrealistic)

Answer 25

-criteria is unrealistic
-most of us would be considered “abnormal”
-criteria therefore subjective and difficult to measure
-so interesting concept but not useful/ applicable when identifying abnormality

Question 26

positive of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 26

-positive approach (set goals)
-offers alternative perspective on mental disorders
-influences the positive psychology humanistic movement
-influence humanistic approach

Question 27

negative of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality (culture)

Answer 27

-cultural relativism
-mental health criteria is culture bound
-self actualisation relevant to indivdualist cultures not collective cultures

Question 28

negative of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality (equal)

Answer 28

-equates mental and physical health
-in general, physical illnesses have physical causes so can detect and diagnose
-some mental disorders also have physical causes but many dont
-cant diagnose mental abnormality same way as physical

Question 29

example of statistical infrequency is psychology

Answer 29

-beck depression inventory- 30+ score is interpreted as severe depression