Individual Differences Flashcards
What are the three definitions of abnormality?
- Deviation from Social Norms
- Failure to Function Adequately
- Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
What is Psychopathology (abnormality)?
The study of mental illness, mental distress, abnormality and maladaptive behaviour
What is a social norm?
Normal unspoken rules and laws that guide society
What is cultural deviation?
Social norms are defined by culture and so they differ between cultures.
Why is time validity a negative evaluation point for DSN?
What is socially acceptable changes over time so what is defined as abnormal does not remain consistent.
Why is context a negative evaluation point for DSN?
What is defined as abnormal behaviour depends on the situation it is in.
What are Rosenhan and Seligman’s (1989) FFA characteristics?
- Suffering
- unconventionality of behaviour
- observer discomfort
- unpredictability
- irrationality and incomprehensibility
- maladaptiveness
- violation of moral standards
What is the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAS)?
A method to assess function. A low score indicates poor functioning and these individuals are labelled abnormal.
What are three evaluation points for FFA?
- Hard to judge if someone has FFA
- People with mental disorders can have adaptive behaviours and hunk they are fine.
- Cultural relativism
What does Deviation from Ideal Mental Health focus on?
What an ideal mental state is and outlines the major criteria for optimal living, promoting psychological health and well being.
What is Jahoda’s (1958) criteria for ideal mental health?
- Self-attitudes: high self esteem
- Personal growth and self- actualisation
- Integration: coping with stress
- Autonomy: independent + self-regulating
- Perception of reality
- Mastery of the environment: ability to have relationships, adjust to new situations and problem solve
What does an absence of the criteria for ideal mental health indicate?
Abnormality and potential mental illness
What is the key assumption of the Biological approach to abnormality?
Mental disorders are caused by physical factors.
What does falsifiable mean?
It contains scientific evidence that can’t be argued with.
Genes can lead to abnormal _______ or _______.
Neuroanatomy (brain structure)
Biochemistry (hormones, neurotransmitters)
