what are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
deviation from social norms
failure to function adequately
deviation from ideal mental health
statistical infrequency
define deviation from social norms
- rules of expected behaviour are set by social groups
- can be explicit or implicit
- anything that deviates from expected behaviour is considered abnormal
what are the AO3 points for deviation from social norms?
- limited by cultural relativism
- differentiates between desirable and undesirable
define failure to function adequately
- not being able to cope with the demands of every day life
- abnormal behaviour interferes with every day life (example)
- Rosenhan and Seligman: maladaptive, irrational behaviour that is dangerous
give the AO3 for failure to function adequately
- can be used as a measure for when to seek help
- easy to label a non-standard lifestyle as abnormal
define deviation from ideal mental health
- Jahoda has 6 criteria that defines mental healthiness
- failure to meet one or more suggests an abnormality, more missed=more abnormal
- say 3 of the criteria
what are jahodas 6 criteria?
self attitudes
self actualisation
mastery of environment
resistance to stress
autonomy
reality
what are the AO3 points for deviation from ideal mental health?
- positive approach
- strict criteria
define statistical infrequency
- suggests we should look at typical behaviours of the population
- any rare behaviour is abnormal
- 2 or more standard deviations away from the mean is rare on a distribution curve
what are the AO3 points for statistical infrequency?
- practical applications
- does not differentiate between desirable and undesirable
what is a behavioural characteristic?
how you act
what is an emotional characteristic?
how you feel
what is a cognitive characteristic?
how you think
what are 2 behavioural characteristics of phobias?
avoidance of feared object
panic
explain ‘avoidance’ as a behavioural characteristic for phobias
making a conscious effort to avoid coming in contact with their phobic stimulus
explain ‘panic’ as a behavioural characteristic for phobias
crying/screaming/running
or
freezing/fainting
what are 2 emotional characteristics of phobias?
anxiety
fear
explain ‘anxiety’ as an emotional characteristic of phobias
exposure to phobic stimulus causes worry or stress
explain ‘fear’ as an emotional characteristic of phobias
exposure to phobic stimulus causes terror
what are 2 cognitive characteristics of phobias?
persistent irrational beliefs
selective attention
explain ‘persistent irrational beliefs’ as a cognitive characteristic of phobias
eg. beliefs that the phobic stimulus will harm you
explain ‘selective attention’ as a cognitive characteristic if phobias
keeping attention on phobic stimulus and finding it hard to look away due to ‘danger’
what are 3 behavioural characteristics for depression?
change in activity levels
disruption to sleep
disruption to eating behaviour
explain ‘change in activity levels’ as a behavioural characteristic for depression
a lack of energy and withdrawal from activities once enjoyed
or
increased activity
