Definitions Of Psychopathology

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

• The study of abnormal thoughts, behaviours, and feelings

Question 2

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality

Answer 2

• Statistical infrequency
• Deviation from social norms
• Failure to function adequately
• Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 3

Deviation from social norms

Answer 3

• Behaviour is abnormal if it is very different to the acceptable behaviour being produced by other members of the same society/cultural group
• Behaviour is unexpected by other group members
• Behaviour offends in some way the other members of the group
• Society sets unwritten rules (social norms), with behaviour going against these rules being considered abnormal

Question 4

What must be considered when using deviation from social norms as a way of defining abnormal behaviour

Answer 4

• It is necessary to consider the degree to which a norm is violated, the importance of that norm and the value attached by the social group to different sorts of violations

Question 5

Evaluation of deviation from social norms

Answer 5

• Cultural issues- A lack of cultural relativism can lead to ethnocentrism, where only the perspective of your culture is taken. Mental illness may be culturally relative, with behaviour only making sense when viewed within the originating culture e.g you are deemed insane if you do not want to work in Japan

Question 6

Statistical infrequency

Answer 6

• Under this definition, a person’s trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual; the characteristics of the behaviour of less common/typical.

Question 7

Evaluation of statistical infrequency

Answer 7

• It fails to account for behaviour that is statistically infrequent but desirable, such as having a high IQ. This would not be seen as abnormal, but instead you would be highly regarded for their intelligence
• Some disorders are not statistically rare but still undesirable, for example depression. As a result, by using this method for identifying abnormalities in behaviour, it would deem certain negative things as normal simply due to it being relatively common

Question 8

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 8

• Abnormality is seen as deviating from an ideal positive mental health
• Ideal mental health would be seen as having a positive attitude towards the self, resistance to stress and, an accurate perception of reality
• Absence of signs mental health used to judge abnormality
• Failure to meet Jahoda’s criteria

Question 9

Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health (PRAISE acronym)

Answer 9

• Personal growth (self actualisation)
• Reality perception (should know what’s real)
• Autonomy (should be independent)
• Integration (should ‘fit in’ with society and be able to cope with stressful situations)
• Self-attitudes (should be positive: high self esteem)
• Environmental mastery (should cope in your environment, be able to function at work and in relationships, adjust to new situations and solve problems)

Question 10

Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 10

• The criteria are too demanding- most people would be judged abnormal based on this definition; many of the criteria reflect western cultural norms of psychological’ normality’
• This model is culturally relative, for instance the idea of self actualisation is relevant to individualistic cultures

Question 11

Failure to function adequately

Answer 11

• Abnormality judged as inability to deal with the demands of everyday living
• Behaviour is maladaptive, irrational or dangerous, and caused personal distress to others
• If abnormal behaviour interferes with adequate functioning, then a person is considered abnormal

Question 12

How is failure to function adequately measured?

Answer 12

• It is measured by the GAF scale, which is used to rate how serious a mental illness be. - It measures how much a person’s symptoms affect his or her day-to-day life on a scale of 0 to 100

Question 13

Evaluation of failure to function adequately

Answer 13

• Many behaviours e.g smoking are maladaptive but not a sign of psychological abnormality
• Unusual behaviour may be a coping strategy for those who are experiencing a difficult period in their lives
• Ideas relating to functioning adequately are culturally relative. You cannot use the standards of one culture to judge or measure the behaviour of another
• Some behaviours may be seen as adaptive and functional for the individual (e.g eating disorders and depression may lead to extra attention)