Defintions of Abnormality

Question 1

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality

Answer 1

1. Stastiscial infrequency
2. Deviation from social norms
3. Failure to function adequately
4. Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

What is statistical infrequency

Answer 2

Behaviour that statistically uncommon and therefore that behaviour is seen as abnormal

Question 3

Example of statistical infrequency

Answer 3

High IQ (above 130) and low IQ (below 70)

People who fail at the bottom end and the top end are shown as 1% of the population

Question 4

What is the curve called in the statistical infrequency graph

Answer 4

Bell curve

Question 5

Negatives about statistical infrequency

Answer 5

• fails to account for behaviour that is statistically rare but desirable such as having IQ
• some disorders are not statistically rare (depression 20%)

Question 6

What is deviation from social norms

Answer 6

when an individual behaves in a way that is different from how we expect them to behave

Question 7

Characteristics of antisocial personality disorder

Answer 7

Impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible behaviour

Question 8

What is DSM-5?

Answer 8

Professional reference book on mental health and brain related conditions

Question 9

2 positives about DSN

Answer 9

• clinical diagnosis = identification and diagnosis of personality disorders
• societal boon = adhering to social norms makes society more ordered predictable safe and harmonious

Question 10

3 negatives about DSN

Answer 10

• cultural relativism = social norms vary from one culture to another. Therefore what is deemed as abnormal in one culture may not be in another.
• social defiance = not all behaviour that breaks social norms is abnormal. Deviant behaviour for example
• until the 1960s in the UK public homosexual acts were criminal and in the US, a mental disorder

Question 11

Example of cultural relativism

Answer 11

On the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi, they keep the bodies of their dead relatives in the house for months after they pass away. They give them food and water, and pray with them.

Question 12

What does it mean to fail to function adequately

Answer 12

It is when an individual can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life. For example not maintaining magic standards of nutrition and hygiene

Question 13

5 characteristics of FFA stated by Rosenhan and seligman (1989)

Answer 13

• unconventionality
• maladaptive behaviour
• personal distress
• irrationality
• observer disomcofort

Question 14

One posttivd of FFA

Answer 14

• patients perspective = FFA includes the subjective experience of the individual

Question 15

2 negatives of FFA

Answer 15

• same as DSN = can be hard to differentiate from DSN and FFA
• subjective judgements = someone has to make a judgement whether the person meets the criteria of FFA

Question 16

What is deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 16

suggests that abnormal behaviour should be defined by the absence of particular (ideal) characteristics. It is behaviour that deviates from behaviour that is seen as psychologically normal