Definitions of Abnormality AO1 & AO3

Question 1

Define Statistical Infrequency

AO1

Answer 1

When a behaviour or characteristic is less common than the statistical ‘norm’

Question 2

Give an example of Statistical Infrequency

AO1

Answer 2

IQ - in a normal distribution graph if a person scores below 70 they would be considered to be ‘abnormal’ and can be liable to be diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder.

Question 3

What is a strength of Statistical Infrequency?

AO3

Answer 3

It has real life application - useful in clinical assessments for intellectual disorders

Question 4

What is a limitation of Statistical Infrequency linked to normal distribution?

AO3

Answer 4

A person with an abnormally high IQ isn’t thought to have an ‘undesirable’ characteristic that needs treatment. - Just b/c someone is statistically infrequent doesn’t mean they need treatment.

Question 5

Why is it not beneficial to label anyone that classes as statistically infrequent?

AO3

Answer 5

If a person w/ low IQ isn’t distressed and able to work, they don’t need a diagnosis as if they were labelled as ‘abnormal’ it could cause negative effects on the way they view themselves.

Question 6

Define Deviation from Social Norms

AO1

Answer 6

When a person behaves in a way that is different to what we expect.

Question 7

How do people decide if something deviates from their social norm?

AO1

Answer 7

Groups of people choose to define a behaviour as ‘abnormal’ on the basis if it it offends their sense of what is acceptable

Question 8

Are the deviations from social norms all universally accepted?

AO1

Answer 8

No - Norms are specific to our culture and generation

There are very little behaviours/characteristics that are universally considered to be abnormal.

Question 9

What is an example of deviation from social norms?

AO1

Answer 9

Antisocial Personality Disorder DSM-5 say that an imp symptom of it is an ‘absence of prosocial internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful/culturally normative ethical behaviour ‘

Question 10

What is a strength & counter point of Deviation from Social Norms

AO3

Answer 10

+ Real life application in diagnosing antisocial personality disorder

• But need to consider other factors so never sole reason for defining abnormality

Question 11

What can too much reliance on Social Norms lead to?

AO3

Answer 11

Human Right Abuses - diagnoses were historically used to maintain control over minority ethnic groups & women

Question 12

What is another problem with Deviation from Social Norms in terms of culture?

AO3

Answer 12

Social Norms vary a lot between generations and communities. So one culture may consider something as abnormal, but another might consider the same thing to be normal.

Question 13

Define Failure to Function Adequately (f2fa)

AO1

Answer 13

When a person can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life e.g. maintaining basic standards of nutrition and hygiene

Question 14

Who proposed the signs of someone f2fa?

AO1

Answer 14

Rosenhan and Seligman

Question 15

What are the signs that someone is f2fa (3)

AO1

Answer 15

1) If a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules
2) If a person experiences severe personal distress
3) If a persons behaviour becomes irrational and/or dangerous to themselves or others

Question 16

What is a strength of F2FA?

AO3

Answer 16

Doesn’t try to include the subjective experience of the individual, acknowledges that the experience of the patient is imp & captures the experience of many of the people who need help.

Question 17

Who made the criteria for Ideal Mental Health

AO1

Answer 17

Jahoda

Question 18

Why can F2FA be considered to simply be a deviation from social norms?

AO3 - Weakness

Answer 18

Some people chose to have alternative lifestyles and choose not to have/do some things (thus deviating from social norms) - if we treat this as a F2FA we risk limiting personal freedom & being discriminatory

Question 19

Subjective Judgements limit F2FA - Why?

AO3

Answer 19

Someone has to judge if a patient is in distress or distressing; some patients may say they are distressed but they could be judged as not suffering.
Even though there are ways to keep this objective, someone still has the right to make this judgement.

Question 20

What are the criteria of ideal mental health? (8)

AO1

Answer 20

1) No symptoms/distress
2) Rationality & perceiving ourselves accurately
3) Can cope w/ stress
4) Realistic view of the world
5) Good self-esteem & lack guilt
6) Independent of other people
7) We self-actualise
8) Can successfully work, love and enjoy leisure

Question 21

What is a Strength of Deviation from Ideal Mental Health?

Answer 21

It is very comprehensive and covers a broad range of criteria - the main reasons why someone seeks help.

Question 22

What is a limitation that is related to culture of Jahoda’s classifications?

AO3

Answer 22

Culture Bound
Some classifications are specific to WEurope and NAmerican cultures -other cultures would not class some of theses factors as 'bad'

Question 23

What is a problem with Jahoda’s criteria?

Answer 23

It sets unrealistic high standards - very few people attain ALL of the criteria.
BUT it does show people the ways in which they could benefit from seeking treatment