Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

Statistical infrequency

Definition

Answer 1

when an individual has a less common characteristic

Question 2

Statistical infrequency

Example

Answer 2

intellectual disability disorder

Question 3

Statistical infrequency
Example
Explanation

Answer 3

intellectual disability disorder
└normal distribution 
└100= average IQ
└85-115= 68% 
└>70= 2%
  └=intellectual disability disorder

Question 4

Statistical infrequency

Strengths

Answer 4

Real life application
└useful part of clinical assessment
└how severe symptoms are compared to statistical norms
└e.g. diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder

Question 5

Statistical infrequency

Limitations (2)

Answer 5

Unusual characteristics can be positive
└e.g. IQ scores above 130 unusual too
└doesn’t need treatment
└=can’t be used alone to make diagnosis

Not everyone benefits from the label
└if they are coping fine being labelled might just have a negative effect

Question 6

Deviation from social norms

Definition

Answer 6

└behaviour different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a society
└norms are specific to culture and generation

Question 7

Deviation from social norms

Example

Answer 7

antisocial personality disorder
└(psychopathy)
└don’t conform to moral standards

Question 8

Deviation from social norms

Strengths (2)

Answer 8

Real life application
└diagnosing antisocial personality disorder

Includes the issue of desirability
└statistical deviation doesn’t

Question 9

Deviation from social norms

Limitations (3)

Answer 9

Not a sole explanation
└never a sole reason for defining abnormality

Cultural relativism
└different things abnormal in different cultures
└issues if person from different culture living in another culture

Human rights abuses
└systematic abuse of human rights from over reliance
└maintain control over minority groups/women
└e.g. black slaves running away

Question 10

Failure to function adequately

Definition

Answer 10

When a person can’t cope with everyday life

Question 11

Failure to function adequately

Person

Answer 11

Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)- signs someone isn’t coping
└when person experiences severe personal distress
└when persons behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others

Question 12

Failure to function adequately

Example

Answer 12

Example: intellectual disability disorder
└having low IQ
└diagnosed if also has failure to function adequately

Question 13

Failure to function adequately

Strengths (1)

Answer 13

Patients perspective

└attempts to include subjective experience of individual

Question 14

Failure to function adequately

Limitations (2)

Answer 14

Is it not just deviation from social norms?
└people with alternative lifestyles- that choose to be different
└e.g. if very religious seen as irrational
└=risk limiting personal freedom/discriminating against minority groups

Subjective judgements
└someone has to judge
└psychiatrist- using Global assessment of functioning scale e.g .

Question 15

Deviation from ideal mental health

Definition

Answer 15

when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health

Question 16

Ideal mental health

Answer 16

Marie Jahoda (1958)
└we have no symptoms or distress
└we self-actualise
└we can cope with stress
└we have a realistic view of the world

Question 17

Deviation from ideal mental health

Strengths (1)

Answer 17

Comprehensive definition

└covers a broad range of criteria for mental health

Question 18

Deviation from ideal mental health

Limitations (2)

Answer 18

Cultural relativism
└some ideas of mental health are culture-bound
└specific to western Europe and north American cultures
└individualist cultures

Unrealistically high standard of mental health
└not many people meet all criteria long term