Psychopathology

Question 1

statistical infrequency definition

Answer 1

behaviours that are statistically rare according to a normal distribution curve are considered abnormal

Question 2

statistical infrequency example

Answer 2

IQ:

the average IQ is 100 however those who are at the extreme ends such as below 70 or above 115 are seen to be abnormal

Question 3

statistical infrequency a03 : strength

Answer 3

real-life application in intellectual disability disorder

statistical infrequency almost always used in clinical diagnoses of mental health disorders as a comparison to a baseline value. For example, people who have an IQ of 70 are statistically rare and extremely low value compared to the average IQ of 100 are diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder.

Question 4

statistical infrequency a03: weakness

Answer 4

unusual characteristics can be seen as positive

people who have an IQ below 70 are seen as abnormal however those who have an IQ above 130 are not regarded as abnormal. This example shows that being unusual or at the end of the spectrum does not necessarily make you abnormal. Thus statistical infrequency is not sufficient enough to be the sole basis of a diagnosis of mental health

Question 5

statistical infrequency a03: weakness

Answer 5

labelling & social stigma
some unusual people may benefit from being classed as abnormal such as people who have a high IQ are traits that are desired however someone who is labelled with a low IQ can lead to a poor self-image and become an invitation to discrimination. Thus being labelled as statistically infrequency can bring the individual more distress than the condition itself

Question 6

deviation from social norms: definition

Answer 6

behaviour or thinking that is different from the accepted standard (social norms) of behaviour in today’s society

Question 7

deviation from social norms: ao1

Answer 7

norms are specific to culture we live in

social norms are different compared to generations and culture we live in.
relatively few behaviors are considered universally abnormal such as homosexuality in past and continues to be seen abnormal in other cultures today

Question 8

deviation from social norms: example

Answer 8

antisocial personality disorder

APD individuals = impulsive, aggressive, irresponsible
according to DSM-5 : important symptom of APD ‘ absence of prosocial internal standards with failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour’
we judge psychopaths as abnormal as they do not conform to moral standards that society as set

Question 9

deviation from social norms a03 : strength

Answer 9

real life application

deviation from social norms used in clinical diagnosis .for example, the key defining characteristic of APD is failure to conform to culturally normative ethical behavior such as recklessness and aggression. These are all examples of deviation of social norms. These norms play part in the diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder, where the term of strange is used to characterize the thinking, behavior, and appearance of people with the disorder. thus the deviation of social norms criterion is valued in psychology

Question 10

deviation from social norms a03: weakness

Answer 10

cultural and situational relativism:

the variability of social norms between different cultures and situations
a person may label someone abnormal according to standards of their culture for example the norm of hearing voices is seen as the norm in some African cultures however seen as abnormal in the UK. Thus, difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situation and cultures

Question 11

deviation from social norms a03: weakness

Answer 11

unfair labeling

using deviation from social norms to define someone as abnormal carries the risk of unfair labelling and open to possible human rights abuses. Historically this has been the case where diagnoses like drapeotomania (black slaves running away)were a way to control slaves and avoid debate thus can cause a lot of distress and poor self-image

Question 12

failure to function inadequately definition

Answer 12

individual considered abnormal when they are unable to cope with demands of everyday life and live independently in society

Question 13

failure to function inadequately: a01

Answer 13

ability to cope split into 7 sections by Rosenham and Seligman (1989) unpredictability, maladaptive behaviour, personal distress, observer discomfort, irrationality and violation of oral standards and unconventionality.

Question 14

failure to function inadequately: a01

Answer 14

they cause personal distress and suffering to themselves and they may pose danger and distress to others as well

Question 15

failure to function inadequately: example

Answer 15

intellectual disabilty disorder

low IQ may be statistical infrequency but becomes a diagnosis when they are unable to function properly ( failure to function inadequately)

Question 16

failure to function inadequately: a03 strength

Answer 16

threshold for help
the failure to function criterion represents a sensible threshold for when people require professional help
most individuals have symptoms of mental health disorders to some extent at some time. According to charity Mind, 25% of people in UK experience mental health problems in any year. It tends to be at the point where people cease to function adequately that people seek professional help or are noticed and referred for advice . This criterion allows treatment and services to be targeted to those who need them the most

Question 17

failure to function inadequately: a03 limitation

Answer 17

many mental disorders do not cause the individual personal distress
e.g someone may be abnormally aggressive and not worried by it but their friends and family may feel it is excessive
consideration of patient’s self report vital along with the doctor’s report to diagnose an individual