Definitions of abnormality 2 Flashcards
What is failure to function adequately?
It occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
What did Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) do?
Proposed that there are signs that someone is not coping.
List the features Rosenhan and Seligman proposed?
Suffering Maladaptiveness (being a danger to self) Vividness and unconventionality (standing out) Unpredictability & loss of control Irrationality/incomprehensibility Causes the observer discomfort Violates moral/social standards
What are the strength of failing to function adequately?
Represents threshold for help.
Consideration of how the individual feels.
Measurable.
Behaviour is observable.
How does failure to function adequately represent threshold for help?
People tend to seek professional help or are noticed and referred for help by others when failing to function adequately. Criterion means that treatment and services can be targeted to those who need it most.
How is failing to function adequately considerate of how the individual feels?
In order to judge someone’s failure to function, psychologists need to do this from a patient’s perspectives, so has to acknowledge that the experiences of the patient is important.
How is failing to function adequality a measurable definition?
The GAF is a scale and allows for the extent of the failure to function to be measured. This means that the decision of whether a behaviour is abnormal or not can be made in a relatively objective way.
What is Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF)?
It’s a method of measuring how well individuals function in everyday life and it considers Rosenhan and Seligman’s sections plus occupational functioning.
How is failing to function adequality observable?
It can be seen by others around the individual because they may not get out of bed on a morning, or be able to hold a job down. This means that problems can be picked up by others and if the individual is incapable of making a decision or helping themselves others can intervene.
What is deviation from ideal mental health?
It occurs when someone doesn’t meet a set of criteria for good mental health.
Jahoda (1958) suggested we are in good mental health if we meet the following criteria:
List them.
We: Have no symptoms or distress. Are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately. Self-actualise Can cope with stress. Have a realistic view of the world. Have good self-esteem and lack of guilt. Are independent of other people. Can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure.
What is a strength of deviation from ideal mental health?
Very comprehensive, meaning it covers a broad range of criteria for mental health.
Jahoda’s range of ideal mental health characteristics is a good tool for thinking about mental health.
What are the limitations of deviation from ideal mental health?
Cultural relativism.
Unrealistically high standard for mental health.
How is deviation from ideal mental health culture-bound?
Criteria mostly related to US and Europe.
Self-actualisation would be dismissed as self-indulgent in other cultures.
Being independent may not be valued in collectivist cultures, where value is placed on group activity. Therefore, this definition may not work in all cultures.
Why is deviation from ideal mental health high standard?
So few people actually meet all of these criteria that everyone ends up classed as abnormal. It can be disheartening to see an impossible set of standards to live up to so the concept becomes meaningless.
