DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY

Question 1

how many definitions of abnormality are there?

Answer 1

4

Question 2

what is the definition of statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

normal behaviour is the mean anything else is considered abnormal

Question 3

one strength of statistical infrequency is that it has..

Answer 3

real life application

Question 4

how does statistical infrequency have high real life application

Answer 4

apply to IDD

useful during clinical assessment

Question 5

what does the real life application of statistical infrequency increases?

Answer 5

the external validity

Question 6

what are the three weaknesses of statistical infrequency?

Answer 6

not everyone is happy w a label
cannot be used standalone
low temporal validity

Question 7

weakness of statistical infrequency as a label

Answer 7

give people a negative impression of themselves e.g. low IQ

no benefit of diagnosis

Question 8

weakness of statistical infrequency as a standalone method

Answer 8

unusual/abnormal characteristics are not always negative
e.g. IDD or being left handed
cannot be used alone

Question 9

if statistical infrequency cannot be used alone then what does this effect?

Answer 9

its practical application and external validity

Question 10

weakness of statistical infrequency due to low temporal validity

Answer 10

1- abnormalities can differ over time

2- diagnosis from young age change someone’s life path

Question 11

what is deviation from social norms?

Answer 11

norms are specific to a culture and someone could be seen as ‘abnormal’ if they do not follow these

Question 12

what is a strength of deviation from social norms?

Answer 12

real life application

Question 13

how does deviation from social norms have high practical application?

Answer 13

psychopath (APD) = failure to conform to culturally normative behaviour

Question 14

how can real life application of deviation from social norms be criticised?

Answer 14

other factors to consider with APD, cannot be the sole explanation for diagnosis

Question 15

what is a weakness of deviation from social norms?

Answer 15

cultural relativism

Question 16

cultural relativism is a weakness of deviation from social norms because…

Answer 16

norms vary and change between generations and communities

Question 17

cultural relativism affects deviation from social norms as…

Answer 17

it creates problems if someone moves from one culture to another

Question 18

failure to function adequately means…

Answer 18

when someone cannot cope with the stress of everyday life

Question 19

who made the assessment of functioning scale?

Answer 19

Rosenhan and Seligman

Question 20

what did the GFA outline?

Answer 20

determine if someone is not coping e.g. personal distress or danger to themselves

Question 21

what is a strength of failure to function adequately?

Answer 21

increased internal validity

Question 22

why does failure to function have increased internal validity?

Answer 22

includes the patients individual experience, means the right people can get help

Question 23

what are two weaknesses of failure to function adequately?

Answer 23

excludes alt ways of living so can be seen as deviation from social norms
favours individualist cultures

Question 24

how can failure to function adequately be seen as same as deviation from social norms?

Answer 24

hard to differ between the two

live freely, labelling them as abnormal limits freedom

Question 25

how can someone be seen as abnormal through GAF, which isn’t truly abnormal?

Answer 25

not having a permanent address or participating in extreme sports

Question 26

how can the GAF be seen as individualist?

Answer 26

favours the individual and the culture they live

Question 27

if failure to function adequately is individualist, this makes the definition have…

Answer 27

low population validity and generalisability

Question 28

deviation from ideal mental health is when…

Answer 28

someone can be seen as abnormal because they are not psychologically healthy

Question 29

who made the 8 criteria for ideal mental health?

Answer 29

Jahoda

Question 30

give two examples of the eight criteria for ideal mental health

Answer 30

having good self esteem

being rational

Question 31

what is a strength of deviation from mental health?

Answer 31

it is comprehensive

Question 32

if deviation from mental health is comprehensive, it means that…

Answer 32

it is very broad and allows good practical application for all cultures

Question 33

how is Jahoda’s scale comprehensive?

Answer 33

covers reasons why someone would seek help for their mental health

Question 34

what are the two weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 34

cultural relativism

unrealistic high standards

Question 35

how is failure to function culturally relative?

Answer 35

specific to western European and north American cultures

Question 36

give one example of how Jahoda’s scale is individualistic

Answer 36

emphasis on personal achievement in cultures where the community is more important

Question 37

why is Jahoda’s scale unrealistic?

Answer 37

very few people will meet all the criteria at a given time

Question 38

if Jahoda scale is a criteria, this effects the…

Answer 38

temporal validity as it is a snapshot in time, people may lose or gain criteria as they go on

Question 39

how could Jahoda’s scale being unrealistic be a good thing?

Answer 39

can show to people traits they can have if they choose to seek help