P - Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

The scientific study of psychological disorders.

Question 2

What is the scientific study of psychological disorders?

Answer 2

Psychopathology.

Question 3

What is cultural relativism?

Answer 3

The view that behaviour cannot be judged properly unless it is viewed in the context of the culture in which it originates.

Question 4

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 4

Abnormal behaviour is seen as a deviation from unstated rules about how one ‘ought’ to behave. Anything that violates these rules is considered abnormal.

Question 5

What is DSM?

Answer 5

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.

A list of disorders that is used to diagnose mental disorders. For each disorder a list of clinical characteristics is given, i.e. the symptoms that should be looked for.

Question 6

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 6

Abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is found in very few people is regarded as abnormal.

Question 7

How do social norms come around?

Answer 7

Created by a group of people and thus are ‘social’.

Question 8

Anyone who behaves differently (‘deviates’) from these socially created norms is classed as what?

Answer 8

Abnormal.

Question 9

What are examples of social norms?

Answer 9

Homosexuality, paedophilia, etc.

Question 10

What is the most obvious way to define abnormality?

Answer 10

In terms of statistical infrequency.

Question 11

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

In the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality, when is a person abnormal?

Answer 12

If it was found to be numerically (statistically) rare/uncommon/anomalous - depends on normal distribution, any individual who falls 2 standard deviations away from the mean which is just under 5% of the population are considered abnormal.

Question 13

Explain the % in each deviation in a normal distribution

Answer 13

68% in normal range (1st deviation).
95% in the 2nd deviation (and first added up).
99% in all of the deviations together.

So around 1% are outside of the 3 deviations.

Question 14

What is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 14

Abnormality is defined in terms of mental health, behaviours that are associated with competence and happiness. Ideal metal health would include a positive mental attitude towards the self, resistance to stress and an accurate perception of reality.

Question 15

What is failure to function adequately?

Answer 15

People are judged on their ability to go about daily life. If they can’t do this and are also experiencing distress (or others are distressed by their behaviour) then it is considered a sign of abnormality.

Question 16

What is WHODAS?

Answer 16

World Health Organisation Disability Assessment.

An assessment of ability to function included in the DSM. It considers 6 areas:

• Understanding and communicating
• Getting around
• Self-care
• Getting along with people
• Life activities
• Participation in society

Individuals rate each item on a scale of 1-5 and are given an overall score out of 180. Therefore an assessment of abnormlity using the DSM would included a quantitative measure of functioning.

Question 17

What 6 characteristics did Jahoda come up with for being ‘normal’?

Answer 17

Self-attitudes
Personal growth and self-actualisation
Integration
Autonomy
Having an accurate perception of reality
Mastery of the environment

Question 18

Explain Jahoda’s characteristic of ‘self-attitudes’:

Answer 18

Having high self-esteem and a strong sense of identity.

Question 19

What did Marie Jahoda point out?

Answer 19

She pointed out that we define physical illness in part by looking at the absence of signs of physical health and came up with 6 characteristics of being ‘normal’.

Question 20

Explain Jahoda’s characteristic of ‘personal growth and self-actualisation’:

Answer 20

The extent to which an individual develops their full capabilities.

Question 21

Explain Jahoda’s characteristic of ‘integration’:

Answer 21

Such as being able to cope with stressful situations.

Question 22

Explain Jahoda’s characteristic of ‘autonomy’:

Answer 22

Being independent and self-regulating.

Question 23

Explain Jahoda’s characteristic of ‘mastery of the environment’:

Answer 23

Including the ability to love, function at work and in interpersonal relationships, adjust to new situations and solve problems.

Question 24

What are the characteristics of not functioning adequately?

Answer 24

Causes distress and suffering for the individual and/or for others.

Question 25

Who came up with the definition of abnormality - deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 25

Marie Jahoda (1958).