Definitions Of Abnormality Flashcards
Whats meant by statistical infrequency
-Defining something as ‘normal’ (usual) or ‘abnormal’ (unusual)
-Consider how often we come across it in general popn
-stat deviation - when someone displays behaviour, not statistically often in general popn
Whats an example of statistical infrequency
-intelligence
-Avg IQ set at 100
-68% have score from 85-115
-only 2% have score below 70
-seen as deviation statistically -> diagnosed with Intellectual Disability Disorder
Whats a strength of statistical infrequency
Real life application
Helps diagnosis of IDD (IQ 70 or below)
Used in assessment tool Beck Depression Inventory
Shows value of definition
Useful in diagnostic + assessment processes
Whats a limitation of statistical infrequency
Unusual characteristics can be +ve
Infrequent traits can be +ve as well as -ve
E.g IQ over 130 seen deviant or someone w/ low depression score on BDI as abnormal
No concern for treatment
Examples show that unusual on one end of psychological spectrum doesn’t actually make someone abnormal
Altho definition can form part of assessment + diagnostic procedure, not sufficient to define abnormality alone
Whats a further limitation of statistical infrequency
Not beneficial having a label
Can be useful for those w/ low IQ or v high BDI score to get help , but low IQ may not be distressing or restrict from a fulfilling lifestyle
Social stigma with labels
Labels could be damaging
Whats meant by deviation from social norms
-Concerns behaviour different from accepted standards of society’s behaviours
-choose to define whats abnormal based on whats ‘acceptable’
-social norms=generations + culture specific
Eg homosexuality is seen abnormal still in some countries
-Brunei have laws that make it an offence
Whats an example of deviation from social norms
-antisocial personality disorder
-someone’s aggressive, irresponsible and impulsive
-according to DSM-5, imp symptom of disorder is ‘absence of prosocial internal standards associated with/ failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour’
-X conform to moral standards
-behaviour seen abnormal
Whats a strength of deviations from social norms
Real world application
Eg diagnosis of APD
Failure to conform to culturally acceptable moral behaviour - deceitful , violating
These norms also play role in diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder
Shows definition has value in psychiatry
Whats a limitation of deviation from social norms
Cultural and situational relativism
Person from 1 cultural may be labelled abnormal but in another classed as normal
Eg hearing voices (msgs from ancestors) is normal in some cultures but abnormal in the UK
Or aggressive/deceit behaviour in context of family life = socially unacceptable than in context of corporate deal making
Har to judge definition across dif cultures + situations
Whats the definition of failure to function adequately
-Someone who unable to cope with demands of everyday life
-not maintaining basic standards of nutrition/hygiene , job/relationships
When is someone failing to function adequately
-Rosenhan + Segliman
-proposed signs for smo who is not coping :
-no interpersonal rules (maintain eye contact or respect personal space)
-severe distress
-behaviour = irrational/dangerous to others and selves
Whats an example of failure to function adequately
-IDD
-diagnosis not made on stat infreq solely
-must also be failing to function adequately
Whats a strength of failure to function adequately
Represents threshold for help
Most ppl have symptoms of mental disorder at some degree in life
25% UK ppl in any given year experience this
Most continue w/ everyday lives
Some face severe symptoms
But when failing to function , seek professional help or are referred to by others
Treatment targeted to those who need it
Whats a limitation of failure to function adequately
Discrimination and social control
Easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
Eg no job or permanent address could be seen as FTF yet this could be just a choice, just against the norm
Those who prefer high risk or spiritual practices seen as irrational and unreasonable
Means ppl who make unusual choice are risk of being abnormal label + freedom of choice = restricted
Whats a further evaluation of failure to function adequately
Circumstances where we may not be able to cope eg bereavement
Unfair to label , may cause future issues just because of how react to circumstances
But definition is no less real just bc the cause is clear. Those need help professionally if suffering w/ bereavement
Whats meant by deviation from ideal mental health
-when someone doesn’t meet criteria for good mental health
-diff to others as looking at what makes someone ‘normal’ rather than ‘abnormal’
What does ideal mental health look like
Jahoda suggested following criteria:
- no symptoms/ distress
-rational
-Self-actualise
-realistic view of world
-independent
-good self-esteem
Sometimes overlap between deviation from mental health and FTFA - eg someone’s inability to keep job as failure to cope w/ pressures of work or as deviation from ideal of successfully working
Whats a strength of deviation from ideal mental health
Comprehensive
Jahodas criteria covers most reasons why one would seek help
Means mental health can be discussed w/ professionals w/ diff theoretical views
Eg medically trained psychiatrist may focus on symptoms but humanistic counsellor maybe interested in self-actualisation
Definition gives us checklist to assess ourselves
Whats a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health
May be culture-bound
May only be applicable in context of US + EU generally
Eg concept of self-actualisation may be dismissed as self-indulgent in most of the world
Even within EU , decent variation in the value placed on independence, high in Germany low in Italy
Means difficult to apply definition from 1 culture to another
Whats a further evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health
Unrealistic standards
Not everyone meet Jahodas criteria all the time
Can be disheartening w/ such high standards
But w/ it being so comprehensive, has practical value if one wants to understand + improve mental health
Useful tool
