Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
what are the definitions of abnormality?
- statistical infrequency
- deviation from social norms
- failure to function adequately
- deviation from ideal mental health
what is the definition of statistical infrequency?
-occurs when an individual has less common characteristics like being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the population
what is the definition of deviation from social norms?
-concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
what is the definition of failure to function adequately?
-occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living
what is the definition of deviation from ideal mental health?
-occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health
What is an example of statistical infrequency?
- Intellectual disability disorder
- in any human characteristic the majority of people’s scores will cluster around the average and that the further we go above or below that average the fewer people will attain that score
- the average iQ is 100, 65% of people have an iQ between 85-115 yet only 2% of people have a score below 70 so those below 70 are likely to be given the label intellectual disability disorder
How does culture relate to social norms?
- social norms may be different for each generation and culture so there are relatively few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal for breaching social norms
- in many cultures across the world homosexuality is considered abnormal an it was in our past aswell
What is an example of deviation from social norms?
-antisocial personality disorder is considered abnormal as they act impulsively, aggressively or irresponsibly and pert of the disorder is failure to conform to lawful or culturally normative ethical behaviour so are not conforming to our moral standards which means psycopathic behaviour is considered abnormal in many cultures
Which signs did rose an and seligman propose for determine failure to function adequately?
- a person can no longer conform to standard interpersonal rules like maintaining eye contact and respecting personal space
- wen a persons experiences serve personal distress
- when a persons behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others
What is an example of failure to function adequately?
-intellectual disability disorder
Who suggests what ideal mental health looks like?
-Marie jahoda
What is the criteria for ideal mental health?
- we have no symptoms or distress
- we are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
- we self actualise
- we can cope with stress
- we have a realistic view of the world
- we have good self esteem
- we are independent from other people
- we can successfully work and enjoy our leisure
What is the overlap between failure to function adequately and deviation from ideal mental health?
-someone’s inability to keep a job can be thought of as failure to cope with the pressure of work or deviation from mental health
What are the evaluation points for statistical infrequency?
+ real life application - diagnosis of IDD and clinical assessments
- unusual characteristics can be positive
- not everyone benefits from a label - if ppl are living happily as an infrequency why label them?
What are the evaluation points for deviation from social norms?
+ real life applications - like SI
- not a sole explanation - other factors like failure to function adequately are key to
- cultural relativism - acceptable in one culture is not in another - ppl living abroad?
- judgment by society - can lead to human rights abuses
