Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
What is statistical infrequency?
-Using numbers and statistics to determine an uncommon characteristic which is associated with abnormality (as it is not typical)
What is one example of statistical infrequency being used in a diagnosis?
-Intellectual disability disorder:
The average IQ score is between 85-115(68%) but only 2% of people have a score lower than 70 so are diagnosed with IDD and labelled as abnormal
Give 2 Evaluation points for statistical infrequency
S:Real world application:
Used in clinical practice and diagnosis-IDD but is also an assessment tool in Becks depression inventory (BDI) where a 30+ (Top 5%) is interpreted as indicating severe depression
L:Unusual characteristics are positive- People also have IQ scores higher than 115 but are not labelled as abnormal and are instead glorified for this trait such as Einstein.
What is deviation from social norms
-Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour of a society
What is one disorder tied in with deviation from social norms?
Antisocial Personality Disorder: absence of prosocial internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour.
This means they do not conform to our moral standards and are heavily associated with crime
Give 2 evaluation points for deviation from social norms?
S: Real world application:
Used in clinical practice when defining anti-social personality disorder (aggression
Also used in schizoptypal personality disorder where ‘strange’ is used to characterise people’s thinking and appearance
L:Culture bound:
In some cultures hearing voices is normal but is largely abnormal in large parts of the UK- African people are 9x more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia because of this.
What is one example of deviation from social norms which depends on different cultures?
Homosexuality- in some eastern countries/cultures homosexuality is banned and frowned upon- Brunei April 2019 made homosexuality punishable by stoning to death.
What is failure to function adequately?
-Occurs when someone is not able to cope with the ordinary demands day-to-day life.
What did Rosenham and Seligmann(1989) determine as Failure to function adequately?
- when a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules such as maintaining eye contact and respecting personal space
- when a person experiences severe distress
- when a person’s behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others
What are the evaluation for failure to function adequately?
S:Represents a threshold for help:Most people have symptoms of a mental disorder and the UK mental health charity Mind says 25% of people in the UK will have a mental health problem in a year. However, many people continue despite problems and this criteria represents when they should be recommended for help.
L:Discrimination and social control: hard to determine whether someone is failing to function or is deviating from social norms. For example, base jumpers risk their lives in extreme sport and spiritualists try to communicate with the dead. These activities can be classified as irrational and dangerous to ones self so their choices may get limited and labelled abnormal
What was Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health(1958)?
- no symptoms or distress
-rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
-we can self-actualise
-we can cope with stress
-realistic view of the world - good self-esteem and lack of guilt
- successfully work and enjoy leisure time
What is evaluation for deviation from ideal mental health?
S:Comprehensive definition: includes a range of criteria on why we may seek or be referred/recommended for professional care. Different therapists may focus on different elements of the criteria: humanisitic therapist may focus on self-actualisation whereas medical therapists may focus on no symptoms.
L:Unrealistic: very hard to achieve many of the criteria which may be disheartening for people
L:culture bound: Jahoda’s list was made in the context of the UK and US and there is alot of variation in Europe as independence is High in Germany and low in Italy
