functions and stuff pscycopathy

Question 1

Outline statistical infrequency including an example.

Answer 1

Anything other than common/usual behaviour is seen as abnormal. Statistical frequencies are used on characteristics that can be reliably measured. With any characteristic, the majority of people are clustered around an average with a few distinctly above or below it. This can be shown with a normal distribution graph.

Question 2

how can statsictal infrequency be shown

Answer 2

on a normal distribution graph

Question 3

Give an example of how statistical deviation can be used.

Answer 3

IQ is one of the measurable characteristics in which 68% of people have a range between 85-115. An intellectual disorder requires an IQ in the bottom 2% of the population.

Question 4

Briefly discuss a strength of statistical infrequency.

Answer 4

Real-life application. Application in the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder. Assessment of patients include measurements of the severity of their symptoms compared to the statistical norms. Means that statistical infrequency is a necessary part of clinical assessment.

Question 5

Unusual characteristics can be positive”. Briefly discuss why this is a weakness of statistical infrequencies.

Answer 5

People with exceptionally high IQ scores are just as unusual as those with low scores but people with a high IQ aren’t seen as having a undesirable characteristic. Just because only a few people display ‘abnormal’ characteristics doesn’t mean treatment is required to return to normal. This is a weakness of SI because it can never be used alone to make a diagnosis

Question 6

Explain why the fact that not everyone benefits from a label is a weakness of SI.

Answer 6

If someone has a low IQ but is living a fulfilled life then there is no benefit for the to be labelled as abnormal regardless of their IQ.

Question 7

Outline what is meant by deviation from social norms including an example.

Answer 7

Society makes a collective decision as to what is acceptable. Anything different to this is ‘abnormal’ behaviour

Question 8

Discuss weaknesses of the deviation from social norms explanation.

Answer 8

Not always a sole explanation. There is real-life application for the diagnosis of ASPD. Which means it’s is necessary to think about what is normal and abnormal. However other factors need to be considered e.g. the distress to other people resulting from ASPD. Deviation from social norms is never the sole reason for defining abnormality.


Cultural Relativism. Social norms vary from generation, to society a lot. E.g. could lead to people from one society labelling someone as abnormal, and another society labelling them as normal. Creates creates problems for people living in different cultures. 



Can lead to human rights abuse. Too much reliance on this could lead to human right abuse. Looking at historical examples, it is clear that this has been used in the past to maintain control over minorities / women. Drapetomania applied to black slaves and a symptom was running away. Nymphomania applied to women and was characterised by a sexual attraction to working class men.

Question 9

Why is the deviation from social norms explanation better than statistical norms?

Answer 9

One strength of deviation from social norms is that it includes the desirability of behaviour. The statistical deviation idea does not.

Question 10

Outline failure to function adequately.

Answer 10

Inability to cope with everyday living, e.g. not maintaining a relationship or holding down a job.

Question 11

Rosenhan & Seligman (1989)

Answer 11

signs that are used to determine if someone isn’t coping. No longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules, eg. maintaining eye contact, and respecting personal space. Experiences of severe personal distress. Behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to either themselves or others.


Question 12

Outline 1 strength of failure to function adequately

Answer 12

Patients perspective. Attempts to take into account subjective experience of patient. May not be entirely useful since it is difficult to measure stress, but still acknowledges that individual experience is important.

Question 13

Outline weaknesses of failure to function adequately

Answer 13

Is it simple deviation from social norms. In practice, it is hard to distinguish between the two. If we label some behaviours as a failure to function adequately, then we could be limiting a person’s personal freedom.


Subjective judgments. When deciding if someone is failing to function adequately, someone has to make the decision to say that they are distressing or in distress.

Question 14

Outline deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 14

According to Jahoda, we are in good mental health if we:
-Have no symptoms or distress
-Are rational and can accurately perceive ourselves 
- Reach our potential
-Can cope with stress
-Have a realistic view of the world
-Have good self-esteem and lack guilt
- Can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure

Question 15

Outline a strength of deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 15

Comprehensive definition. Covers a wide range of mental health Many people would seek health advice for any of these reasons. The sheer range of factors means it gives people a lot to think about.

Question 16

Outline weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 16

Cultural Relativism. Some of the characteristics set by Jahoda are specific to Western European and North America cultures. E.g. Emphasis on personal achievement in the concept of self-actualisation would be considered self-indulgent in collectivist cultures where the focus is often much more on the family or community.


Unrealistically high expectations of mental health. Few of us achieve all of the criteria, and definitely not all at the same time. Therefore this approach would suggest that most, if not all of us are abnormal to some degree.