Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the four definitions of abnormality?
-Statistical infrequency
-Failure to function adequately
-Deviation from Mental health
-Deviation from Social norms
Define Statistical infrequency.
-Definition: Someone is mentally abnormal if their mental condition is very rare in the population, the rarity of the behaviour is judged objectively using statistics, comparing the individual’s behaviour to the rest of the population
-A normal distribution curve, also known as a bell curve is used. The highest point at the centre of the graph is the Modal, Mean and Median scores and hence forth the most common behaviours. In statistical infrequency, those who are two standard deviations from the highest point can be considered abnormal
In standard deviation, how can a bell curve (normal distribution curve) be used to identify abnormal behaviour?
-Those who are two standard deviations away from the highest point (Modal, Mean and Median) are considered abnormal
What are the strengths of the Statistical infrequency definition?
-A positive evaluation is that the use of statistics means that individuals are assessed objectively limiting any bias that be come from subjectivity
-The real data leaves no room for bias
What are the weaknesses of the Statistical infrequency definition?
-A criticism of statistical infrequency is that the psychological community decides the cut off point for what is statistically rare enough to consider as an abnormality. For example, in the case of IQ, anything under 70 is considered a mental disability, leaving those who who have an IQ just over 70 and may need help, helpless
-Furthermore, not all statistically abnormal behaviours are negative, or, need help. For example those with abnormally high intelligence
-Also, not all abnormalities fit into the two standard deviations from the highest point in a bell curve rule. Common psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety aren’t in the low percentile and hence aren’t statistically abnormal
Define Failure to function adequately.
-Definition: The individual is defined as abnormal if they cannot cope in their daily lives, including their ability to interact with the world and meet their challenges.
-Rosenhan and Seligman suggests that personal dysfunction has seven features, and the more features had, the more they may be classed as abnormal
-Rosenhan and Seligman’s features of personal dysfunction include:
Who created the seven features of failing to function adequately?
-Rosenham and Seligman
What are Rosenham and Seligmans seven features of failing to function adequately?
-Rosenhan and Seligman’s features of personal dysfunction include:
• Personal distress/anguish
• Maladaptive behaviour; behaviours that stop individuals from attaining life goals socially and occupationally, their behaviours is against their long-term interests
• Unpredictability
• Irrationality
• Observer discomfort; Display behaviours that create discomfort for observers e.g bad hygiene
• Violations of Moral standards; Displaying behaviours against social norms
• Unconventionality
What are the strengths of the failing to function adequately definition?
-It respects the individual ad their own personal experience, unlike others which solely rely on statistics or deviation from social norms
What are the weaknesses of the Failure to function adequately definition?
-It is highly subjective and based upon opinions of clinicians and observers
-Not all who suffers from a mental abnormality struggle to cope with their everyday lives, for example psychopaths can function typically in society in ways that benefit them
-Not all maladaptive behaviour is indications of mental abnormality- for example recreational activities such as, extreme sports, smoking and drinking are possibly dangerous to ones own health however are typically agreed upon to not be signs of mental illness
Define deviation from social norms.
-Definitions: A social norm is an unwritten expectation of behaviour that can vary from culture to culture and change over time. Those who deviate from from the social norms of the time and place may be seen as abnormal or social deviants
-However social norms can vary heavily around the world, for example; acceptance of homosexuality, face and hair covering, acceptable food and how it is eaten, levels of modesty of clothing and public displays of emotion and affection
What is a social norm?
-A social norm is an unwritten expectation that can vary from culture to culture
What are the weaknesses of social norms?
-social norms can vary heavily around the world, for example; acceptance of homosexuality, face and hair covering, acceptable food and how it is eaten, levels of modesty of clothing and public displays of emotion and affection
What are the strengths of the deviation from social norms definition?
-It is not ethnocentric, it does not impose views of the western culture upon eastern and vice versa, rather takes into account the norms of the place and time
-It allows developmental norms, for example it would be normal for a one year old to be carried by their mother unlike a 50 year old
-Furthermore, it seeks to protect those in society
What are the weaknesses of the deviation from social norms definition?
-It can be inappropriate or offensive to define who people who move to a new culture as abnormal according to the new cultural norms. For example, in many Afro-Caribbean cultures having hallucinations and conversations with angels is seen as normal and a religious experience is seen as normal, however this leads to people from this culture who move to the UK to have their western ideas imposed on them and hence they are seven times as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia
-Another criticism is that the use of social norms to define abnormality is that it can be seen as punishing people who are trying to express their individuality and repressing people who do not conform to the repressive norms of their culture, for example, in 1992 the WHO declassified homosexuality as a mental illness
