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Psychopathology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is deviation from social norms?

A

That abnormality is when a behaviour does not fit within what is socially acceptable

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2
Q

What are the strengths of deviations from social norms as a definition of abnormality

A

Flexibility
Clarity
Helps society

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3
Q

How is Flexibility a strength of the definition for (DFSN)

A

A strength is that it is flexible dependent on situation and age. A social norm is to wear full clothing whilst out shopping, but a bikini is acceptable on a beach. It is also socially acceptable to drink milk out of a bottle with a teat if you are a baby, but not as an a

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4
Q

How is Clarity a strength for the definition (DFSM)

A

In most instances if you have lived within a culture for a long time, you will be aware of what is, and what is not acceptable

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5
Q

How is Helps society a strength for the definition (DFSM)

A

Adhering to social norms means that society is ordered and predictable. This is argued to be advantageous

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6
Q

What are the weaknesses for the definition (DFSN)

A

Change over time
Cultural differences
Ethic differences

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7
Q

How is Change over time a weakness of this definition (DFSM)

A

The changes in legislation mean that norms vary dependent on the time. This is sometimes hard to judge and means that there is a lack of consensus between generations. For example, homosexuality was regarded as a mental illness into the 1970s, whereas nowadays that is no longer the case.

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8
Q

How is Cultural differences a weakness for this definition (DFSN)

A

The fact that there is so much variation cross culturally can be a weakness of the definition as it is not always clear what is abnormal and what is not in cultures. It is only by being immersed in the culture for a period of time that the decision can be made.

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9
Q

How is Ethic differences a weakness for this definitions (DFSN)

A

Social norms tend to be dictated by the majority within a culture and this means that there are sections of society where behaviour is seen as normal within an ethnic community, but not within the culture as a whole. This can lead to a lack of understanding from both the ethnic minority and the majority of people within a culture.

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10
Q

What is failure to function adequately (FFA)?

A

Abnormal behaviour is when an individual is not able to cope with everyday life

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11
Q

What are the 7 characteristics Rosenhan and Seligman came up with to define FFA?

A

-Suffering
-Maladaptive behaviour (danger to self)
-Vividness and unconventionality (stands out)
-Unpredictability and loss of control
-Irrationality/incomprehensibility
-Causes observer discomfort
-Violates morals/social standards

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12
Q

What is the GAF?

A

The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale ( GAF) is a method of measuring how well individuals function in everyday life and it considers Rosenhan and Seligman’s sections plus occupational functioning.

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13
Q

What the the strengths of this definition (FFA)?

A

Consideration of how the individual feels
Measurable
Behaviour is observable

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14
Q

How is Consideration of how the individual feels a strength of this definition?

A

This definition is focused on the individual and how they are managing in everyday life from their perspective, so if someone feels as though they are struggling they will be deemed abnormal and get help.

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15
Q

How is Measurable a strength of this definition (FFA)?

A

The GAF (see above) is a scale and allows for the extent of the failure to function to be measured. This means that the decision of whether a behaviour is abnormal or not can be made in a relatively objective way.

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16
Q

How is Behaviour is observable a strength for this definition (FFA)?

A

Failure to function adequately can be seen by others around the individual because they may not get out of bed on a morning, or be able to hold a job down. This means that problems can be picked up by others and if the individual is incapable of making a decision or helping themselves others can intervene.

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17
Q

What are weaknesses of this definition (FFA)

A

-Too much focus on individual
-Abnormality does not always stop the person functioning
-Everyday life varies
-Maladaptive behaviour

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18
Q

How is Too much focus on the individual a weakness for this definition (FFA)?

A

It is argued that abnormal behaviours may not be a problem for the individual, but may be for others around them. For example, someone may be abnormally aggressive and not be worried by it, but their family and friends may feel it is excessive.

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19
Q

How is Abnormality does not always stop the person functions a weakness for this definitions (FFA)

A

The focus on how someone is coping of this definition may mean that some abnormal behaviour is missed. People may appear fine to others as they fit into society and have jobs and homes, but they may have distorted thinking which is causing them inner distress that they hide.

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20
Q

How is Everyday life varies a weakness for this definition (FFA)?

A

The ability to cope with everyday life depends on what is seen as normal everyday life. This varies within and across cultures. Some body clocks mean that individuals do not rise until midday but they function well at other times. Culturally it is not unusual to have siestas, or move home regularly which may be seen as abnormal. This means that the definition is not clear.

21
Q

How is Maldaptive behaviour a weakness of this definition (FFA)?

A

Many people engage in behaviour that is harmful to self but we don’t class them as abnormal. For example; adrenaline sports, smoking, drinking alcohol and skipping classes

22
Q

What is Statistical infrequency?

A

This is a mathematical method for defining abnormality. This definition works on the idea that abnormality should be based on infrequency; if it occurs rarely then it is abnormal.

23
Q

What does the definition state as abnormal (Statistical infrequency)

A

This definition states that the 5% of the population that fall more than two standard deviations from the mean are abnormal. So, in the IQ example people who score below 70 and above 130 are abnormal.

24
Q

What are the strengths of this definition (Statistical infrequency)

A
  • Intuitive
  • Objective
  • A useful overview
25
Q

How is Intuitive a strength for this definition (Statistical infrequency)

A

The idea that abnormality is when something does not occur, as stated by this definition, often is an accepted definition for the word and makes sense.

26
Q

How is Objective a strength for this definition (Statistical infrequency)

A

The mathematical nature of this definition means that it is clear what is defined as abnormal and what is not. There is no opinion involved which means there is no bias.

27
Q

How is A useful overview a strength for this definition (Statistical infrequency)

A

This definition looks at the whole picture, taking all the population into account so can give a useful insight into the whole picture of a particular characteristic.

28
Q

What are the weaknesses of this definition (Statistical infrequency)

A

Inflexible
Abnormal behaviours can occur frequently
Culture

29
Q

How is Inflexible a weakness of this definition (Statistical infrequency)

A

There is a degree of inflexibility with this definition. It states that scores in the top and bottom 2.5% of the population are abnormal, but we know that there is some behaviour which is deemed abnormal by the diagnostic manuals for mental illness that would not fit within that definition. For example 3% of the population is thought to suffer from OCD but some of those individuals may not be seen as abnormal because they are within 2 standard deviations of the mean. This means that the definition and the current criteria for defining mental health issues are at odds with each other.

30
Q

How is Abnormal behaviours can occur frequently a weakness of this definitions (Statistical infrequency)

A

It is not the case that abnormal, as in unhelpful and painful, behaviours occur rarely. Depression is an example, where it is argued that 25% of the population will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives.

31
Q

How is Culture a weakness of this definition (Statistical infrequency)

A

There is no consideration of cultural differences at all as it argues that the population of the world are contained within the normal distribution. There are variances between cultures and the mathematical nature of this definition does not allow for this. This ultimately means that abnormality could be widespread in one culture because of its comparison with the rest of the world.

32
Q

What is deviation from ideal mental health (DIMH)

A

This is a definition of abnormality. The idea is that there are various theoretical descriptions of ‘normality’ and if someone does not fit within this theoretical idea of normality their behaviour is abnormal.

33
Q

What are the 6 criteria that Marie Jahoda suggested?

A

Positive attitude to self
Self actualisation
Autonomy
Resistance to stress
Environmental mastery
Accurate perception of reality

34
Q

What do Jahoda’s criteria suggest?

A

She suggested that there were 6 criteria that needed to be fulfilled for ideal mental health (‘normality’)

35
Q

What is meant by Positive attitude to self?

A

This is linked to the individual’s level of self-esteem. For ideal mental health the positive attitude should be at a good level, so that the individual feels happy with themselves.

36
Q

What is meant by Self-actualisation?

A

Self-actualisation is being in a state of contentment, feeling that you have become the best you can be

37
Q

What is meant by Autonomy?

A

This is having the independence and self-reliance. The ability to function as an individual and not depending on others

38
Q

What is meant by Resistance to stress?

A

This criteria is that an individual should not feel under stress and they should be able to handle stressful situations competently

39
Q

What is meant by Environmental Mastery?

A

Having environmental mastery means that the person can adapt to new situations and be at ease at all situations in their life.

40
Q

What is meant by Accurate perception of reality?

A

This criteria is focused on how the individual sees the world around them and to achieve ideal mental health they should have a perspective that is similar to how others see the world. This is focused very much on the distortions of thinking that some people, e.g. people with schizophrenia, may experience.

41
Q

What are the strengths of this definition (DIMH)

A

Focused
Positive
Achievement of goals

42
Q

How is Focused a strength of this definition (DIMH)

A

A strength is that this definition allows for an individual who is struggling to have targeted intervention if their behaviour is not ‘normal’. For example, their distorted thinking could be addressed to help their behaviour become normal, as if their thinking is biased then their behaviour will be too.

43
Q

How is Positive a strength for this definitions (DIMH)

A

This definition focuses on what is helpful and desirable for the individual, rather than the other way round

44
Q

How is Achievement of goals a strength for this definition (DIMH)

A

This definition focuses on what is helpful and desirable for the individual, rather than the other way round

45
Q

What are the weaknesses for this definitions (DIMH)

A

Feasibility
Ethnocentrism
Subjectivity

46
Q

How is Feasibility a weakness for this definitions (DIHM)

A

The criteria outlined by Jahoda makes ideal mental health (normality) practically impossible to achieve. This means that the majority of the population, using this definition, would be abnormal.

47
Q

How is Ethnocentrism a weakness for this definition (DIMH)

A

The criteria of autonomy makes the collectivist cultures, where the greater good and helping / relying on others is encouraged, seem abnormal. As most western cultures are individualist the criteria outlined by Jahoda seem a reasonable fit, but non-western cultures cannot relate to the criteria she outlines. This means that the definition is not global

48
Q

How is Subjectivity a weakness for this definition (DIMH)

A

The criteria that Jahoda stipulates are vague and are therefore very difficult to measure. This makes the decision as to whether someone fulfils the criteria difficult to make.

Psychology (6 decks)

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