definitions of abnormality- psychopathology Flashcards
what is statistic infrequency
define anything as normal or abnormal according to how often we come across it
any relatively usual behaviour or characteristic can be thought of as normal and any behaviour that is unusual is abnormal
eg- iq and intellectual disability disorder, average iq is set 100 peoples cluster around this 85-115, only 2% have score below 70%- unusual or abnormal and liable to receive a diagnosis of psychological disorder intellectual disbaility disorder
what is deviation from social norms
when person behaves in a way that is different from how we expect people to behave
groups of people choose to define behaviour as abnormal on the basis it offends their sense of what is acceptable or the norm
collective judgement about what is right
social norms specific for each generation and different in every culture
few behaviours considered universally abnormal on the basis it breach social norms
eg- antisocial personality behaviour impulsive aggressive and irresponsible, dsm-5 absence of prosocial internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour, making social judgement psychopaths are abnormal because dont conform to moral standards, psychopathic behaviour considered abnormal in wide range of cultures
what is strength of statistical frequency
useful
used in clinical practice both as formal diagnosis and way to assess the severity of an individuals symptoms
diagnosis of intellectual diability disorder requires iq of below 70
beck depression inventory score of 30+ interpreted as severe depression
shows the value of statistical infrequency criterion useful in diagnostic and assessment processes
benefit from being classed as abnormal
someone with low iq and diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder access support services
someone with high bdi score benefit from therapy
what is weakness of statistical infrequency
infrequent characteristics can be positive
iq above 130 wouldnt think of someone as abnormal for having high iq
would not think someone with low depression score as abnormal
show that being unusual or at one end of psychological spectrum doesnt make someone unusual
never sufficient as sole basis for defining abnormality
not all statistically unusual people benefit from labels
someone with low iq can cope with chosen lifestyle not benefit from label
social stigma attached
what is strength of deviation from social norms
useful
used in clinical practice
key defining characteristic of antisocial personality disorder failure to conform culturally acceptbale ethical behaviour
signs of disorder deviations of social norms
such norms play part in diagnosis of schizotypucal personlity disorder where term strange used to characterise thinking behaviour and appearance of people with disorder
has value in psychiatry
need to be able to use deviation from social norms to diagnose conditions such as antisocial personality disorder
what is weakness of deviation from social norms
variability between social norms in different cultures and different situations
person from one cultural group label another group as abnormal using their standards rather than persons standards
experience of hearing voices seen as norm in some cultures but would be sign of abnormality in most parts of uk
within one cutlural context social norms differ from situations
aggressive and decitful behaviour context of family life socially unacceptable than context of corporate deal making
difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations and cultures
using deviaton from social norms define someone as abnormal carries risk of unfair labelling and leaving them open to human rights abuses
been the case where diagnoses like nymphomania (womens uncontrollable or excessive sexual desire) used to control women or diagnoses like drapetomania (black slaves running away) were way to control slaves and avoid debate
what is failure to function adequately
person cross line between normal and abnormal when can no longer cope with demands of every day life
decide when they are unable to maintain basic standards of nutrition and hygiene or cant hold down job or maintain relationships
rosenhan and seligman- when a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules, when person experiences severe personal distress, when persons behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others
eg- intellectual disability disorder, diagnosis would not be made on low iq only individual must be failing to function adequately before diagnosis given
what is deviation from mental health
ignore issue of what makes someone abnormal but think about wht makes someone normal
jahoda- no symptoms or distress, rational and can perceove ourselves accurately, self actualist, can cope with stress, realistic view of world, good self esteem and lack guilt, independent of other people, can successfully work love and enjoy leisure
what are strengths of failure to function adequately
represents sensible threshold for when people need professional help
most have symptoms of mental disorder to some degree at some time
mind- 25% of people in uk experience mental health probelm in any given year
many poeple press onf in the face of fairly severe symptoms, tends to be at the point that we cease to function adequately that people seek professional help or noticed and referred for help by others
criterion means treatment and services can be targetted to those who need them most
failure to function no less just because case is clear
some people need professional help to adjust to circumstances like bereavement
what is weakness of failure to function adequately
easy to label non standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
can be hard to say when someone failing to function and when they have chosen deviate from social norms
people with alternative lifestyles choose to live off grid
those who favour hgih risk leisure activities or unusual spiritual practices could be classed as irrational and danger to themselves
people who make unsuual choices risk of being labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice may restricted
some circumstances most of us fail to cope for time
may be unfair to give someone label may cause them future problems because they react to difficult cirumstances
what is strength of deviation from mental health
criterion highly comprehensive
jahodas concept of ideal mental health includes range of criteria for distinguishing mental health from mental disorder
covers most reasons why seek help with mental health
individuals mental health can be discussed meaingfully with range of rofessionals might take different theoretical views
ideal mental health provides checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others and discuss psychological issues with range of professionals
comprehensive set of criteria for mental health to work towards might be pf practical value to someone wanting to understanding and improve their mental health
what is weakness of deviation from menatal health
different elements not equally applicable across range of cultures
firmly located in context of us and europe
self actualisation would be dismissed as self indulgent in much of world
within europe bit of variation in value placed on personal independence
what defines success in our working socia; and love lives different in different cultures
difficult to apply concept of ideal mental health from one culture to another
few attain criteria
none achieve all of them at same time or keep them up for very long
can be disheartening to see an impossible set of standrds to live up to
