Paper 1 - Psychopathology - Topic 5 - Definitions Of Abnormality (2) Flashcards
5.2 What does ‘failure to function adequately’ refer to?
A person can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life
5.2 What are signs that indicate someone is failing to function adequately according to Rosenhan and Seligman?
No longer conforms to interpersonal rules
Experiences severe personal distress
Behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous
5.2 What is one criterion for diagnosing intellectual disability disorder?
Having a very low IQ and failing to function adequately
5.2 What is ‘deviation from ideal mental health’?
Identifying who deviates from a defined picture of psychological health
5.2 What criteria did Marie Jahoda suggest for good mental health?
No symptoms or distress
Rational perception of oneself
Self actualisation
Coping with stress
Realistic view of the world
Good self-esteem and lack of guilt
Independence
Ability to work, love, and enjoy leisure
5.2 How can failure to function adequately overlap with deviation from ideal mental health?
Inability to keep a job can be seen as a failure to cope or as a deviation from ideal functioning
5.2 What is a strength of the failure to function criterion? (AO3)
Represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
Means that treatment and services can be targeted to those who need them most
5.2 What percentage of people in the UK will experience a mental health problem in any given year? (AO3)
Around 25%
5.2 What is a limitation of the failure to function criterion? (AO3)
It can label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
People who make unusual choices are at risk of being labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice may be restricted
5.2 What is a potential issue with labelling individuals as ‘abnormal’ after distressing circumstances? (AO3)
It may cause future problems for them
5.2 What is a strength of the ideal mental health criterion? (AO3)
It is highly comprehensive and covers various criteria for mental health
This means that ideal mental health provides a checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others and discuss psychological issues with a range of professionals
5.2 What is a limitation of Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health? (AO3)
It may be culture-bound and not applicable across different cultures
It is difficult to apply the concept of ideal mental health from one culture to another
5.2 What cultural differences can affect the application of ideal mental health criteria? (AO3)
Variations in values placed on personal independence and definitions of success
5.2 What is a potential downside of Jahoda’s high standards for mental health? (AO3)
Very few attain all criteria at the same time, which can be disheartening
