HISTROIAL CONCEPTS- Abnormality Flashcards
What does it mean to talk about the psychology of an individual?
- How they behave generally
- How their behaviour varies
- How the population behaves generally
- How population variation affects behaviour
Definition of a STATE
mind, mood, feelings that are highly variant and short-term behaviours
Definition of TRAITS
Dispositions/ personalities that are LONG term behaviours
2 types of disorder are?
Mood& personality
Mood disorder:
Symptoms VARIANT over time
Personality disorder:
Symptoms are INVARIENT over time
Psychiatry is the field of what?
MEDICINE
Only a psychiatrist can prescribe medicines- NOT psychologists
Psychology is the field of?
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE
How d we evaluate ABNORMAL behaviour?
Self-report
Observations
Other reports
Biological-measurements
self report
(Examples, pro & con)
Questionnaires/Interviews
+ only the self knows own thoughts
- issues with honesty
observation
(example, pro & con)
Response to place/ a task
+ objective
- time consuming
other-report
(example, pro & con)
other-report
(example, pro & con)
Biological measurement
(example, pro & con)
EEG, fMRI, blood tests
+ objective measurement of biology- cannot be faked
- not a direct observation of psychology
Definitions of ‘abnormal’
Deviation from statistical norms
Deviation from cultural norms
Deviation from developmental norms
Deviation from expected behaviour
Deviation from statistical norm =
mean +/- standard deviation
68% of population are a ‘norm’
higher/lower than this = ABnormal
Deviation from cultural norms
ABnormal if they are acting unlike everyone else in that cultural context
E.g. facial expressiveness, expected in Western societies
Deviation from developmental norms
ABnormal if behaviour is different from most of same age
E.g. reading age
Deviation from expected behaviour =
ABnormal if behaviour is different from most in that setting
E.g. choosing to stand in a room where everyone else is sat
What are the 3 stances on mental health being ‘’real’’?
Realist
Constructivist
Pragmatist
Realist=
mental health = exists & is measurable
Constructivist =
Mental health = subjective & socially constructed
Pragmatist =
Does NOT care about the debate- debating should NOT matter in a moment where a person needs support
‘WEIRD’ countries
W = Western
E = Educated
I = Industrialised
R = Rich
D = Democratic
3 key terms when being critical about Psychology:
Reliability
Validity
Generalisability
Reliability =
Consistent???
Reliability = REPEATability
Validity =
ACCURATE??
Generalisability =
representativeness
Is it useful to all??
