PAPER 1 - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - definitions of abnormality Flashcards
what are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
- statistical infrequency
- deviation from social norms
- failure to function adequately
- deviation from ideal mental health
what is statistical infrequency?
- numbers based definition
- behaviour determined by distribution curve
- typical values show statistically rare/common behaviours
what is deviation from social norms?
- socially based definition
- based on expected/usual behaviour in a society
- explicit and implicit rules that society has about social norms e.g. personal space
- undesirable, often leads to rejection, causes distress to them or others
what is failure to function adequately?
- people with psychological disorders experience considerable suffering
- they’re aware something is wrong
- unable to carry out daily activities
- may not be aware of how much they are suffering
- scored on WHODAS scale
what is deviation from ideal mental health?
- based on humanistic approach
- good mental health = good perception of reality, being self-aware
- characteristics individual needs to have present to maintain optimum mental health - ABSENT = abnormality, MORE PRESENT = mentally healthier
- positivist view
what are the evaluation points of statistical infrequency?
- (LIM) some desirable behaviours are statistically rare e.g. IQ - numbers based only so may not show common abnormal behaviours, doesn’t consider context
- (LIM) precise cut-off point may be subjective to opinion e.g. lack of sleep
- (STR) still effectively used when alongside another definition, easy to identify problems
what is cultural relativism?
- some statistically rare behaviours in one culture may be common in another
- e.g. hearing voices - western cultures = schizophrenia, hearing voices in other cultures = passed loved ones (desirable)
- cultural context of behaviours must be considered
what are the limitations of deviation from social norms?
- social norms change over time - temporal validity
- we need to consider behaviour in context
- social norms vary across cultures (cultural relativism)
- danger of ethnocentrism
what is ethnocentrism?
the assumption that your own culture is the norm and any deviation from this indicated abnormality
what is a strength of deviation from social norms?
- it does consider the effects of behaviour on others and society needs to get along in order to function effectively
- by identifying socially undesirable behaviour, we can intervene & avoid rejection
what are the 6 areas on the WHODAS scale?
- understanding and communicating
- getting around
- self-care
- getting along with people
- life activities
- participation in society
what are the limitations of failure to function adequately?
- subjective judgement - the person judging the behaviour may influence the decision as to whether or not the functioning is adequate
- behaviour may be functional to the individual
- cultural relativism
what are the strengths of failure to function adequately?
- positively adequate functioning can be measured on WHODAS scale, providing objective measure
- no bias
- it does recognise the subjective experience of the individual, considered to be a sensitive definition
what are the 6 criteria (Jahoda’s categories) of deviation from ideal mental health?
- positive self attitude - high self-esteem
- personal growth - leads to self-actualisation
- integration/stress management - coping ability in stressful situations
- autonomy/independence - independence & self regulation
- accurate perception of reality
- environmental mastery - able to adjust to new situations
what are the limitations of deviation from ideal mental health?
- subjective assessment - Jahoda’s categories is matter of opinion
- ideals are hard to achieve - most people would be lacking
- cultural relativism - based on western values
- difficult to diagnose mental ill-health in the same way as physical ill-health - problems may not be visible
