Psychopathology 1: Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What are the four definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What does the definition: deviation from social norms say?

Answer 2

Behaviour that deviates from these norms is abnormal and abnormal behaviour whatever violates social norms

Question 3

What does the definition: deviation from social norms allow?

Answer 3

A distinction between desirable and undesirable behaviours

Question 4

What are people who are behaving “undesirable” referred to as?

Answer 4

Social deviants

Question 5

What are the 4 evaluations of Deviation from Social Norms?

Answer 5

😞Ignores the role of context
😞Ignores that social norms change over time
😞This definition is culturally relative
😞Eccentric behaviours are not always abnormal

Question 6

What does the definition: failure to function adequately perceive individuals as?

Answer 6

Abnormal when their behaviour suggest that they cannot cope with everyday life

Question 7

What does the definition: failure to function adequately focus on?

Answer 7

The everyday behaviour of the individual

Question 8

When might we argue someone is failing to function adequately?

Answer 8

When they can’t maintain this normal pattern of behaviour

Question 9

Which two researchers identified characteristics of abnormal behaviour related to: failure to function adequately?

Answer 9

Rosenhan and Seligman

Question 10

What 4 characteristics were identified as abnormal behaviour relating to failure to function adequately?

Answer 10

If a person is:
-Unpredictable/uncontrollable
-Irrational/hard to understand
-Maladaptiveness- behaviour interferes with ability to keep routine
-Observer discomfort

Question 11

What are the 4 evaluations of Failure to function adequately?

Answer 11

😞Abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction (Harold Shipman)
😞Ignores the role of context (grievance)
😞Culturally relative
😞Many behaviours, e.g. smoking are maladaptive but not abnormality

Question 12

Who devised the concept of ideal mental health?

Answer 12

Marie Jahoda (1958)

Question 13

How many characteristics did Marie Jahoda identify of ideal mental health?

Answer 13

Six

Question 14

What are Marie Jahodas six characteristics of ideal mental health?

Answer 14

-Self-actualisation
-Stress (resist)
-Identity
-Autonomy (function independently)
-Accurate perception of reality
-Mastery of the environment

Question 15

What is a sentence we use to remember Marie Jahodas characteristics?

Answer 15

Some Say I Am Abnormal Miss

Question 16

What did Marie Jahoda decide that absence of any of her characteristics would indicate?

Answer 16

That the individual is abnormal and deviates from ideal mental health

Question 17

What are the 4 evaluations of Deviation from Ideal Mental Health?

Answer 17

😞Over demanding criteria
😞Ignores that ideal mental health changes over time
😞Culturally relative
😍Implications for diagnosis/treatment

Question 18

What question does the definition: Statistical deviation ask?

Answer 18

How unusual is the behaviour being displayed

Question 19

How do we see a statistical deviant?

Answer 19

Through a normal distribution we identify those who are far from the mean

Question 20

What is the obvious issue with statistical deviation?

Answer 20

It doesn’t take into account what characteristics are desirable (High IQ)

Question 21

In statistical terms why would fat, heavy, or tall people be classed as abnormal?

Answer 21

Because their behaviour has moved away from the norm

Question 22

What are the 4 evaluations of statistical deviation?

Answer 22

😍There are real life applications
😞Unusual characteristics can be positive
😞Not everyone unusual, benefits from a label
😞Issue of who decides where the cut-off point is when identifying statistical abnormality