psychopathology

Question 1

what are the 4 defiition of abnormality

Answer 1

1) failure to function adequately
2) statistical infrequency
3) devaition from ideal mental health
4) deviation from social norms

Question 2

define statistical infrequency

Answer 2

statistical infrequency is when behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is statistically uncommon or rare for example an intellectual disability

Question 3

define failure to function adequately

Answer 3

failure to function adequately is when a person can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life for example a person cannot hold down a job or a relationship

Question 4

define devaition from social norms

Answer 4

deviation from social norms is any behaviour that goes against expectations in given society/ culuture ie men wearing dresses

Question 5

define deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 5

deviation from ideal mental health is when an individual fails to meet a prescribed criteria for psychological normality and well being. it is the absence of the 6 charateristics jahoda suggested which indicates abnormaity .

Question 6

what are the 6 characteristics of jahoda regarding ideal mental health

Answer 6

Self actualisation
accurate Perception of reality
Autonomy
Resistance to stress
Environment
Self -attitude

Question 7

strength and limitations

evaluations of statistical infrequency

Answer 7

+ real world application as it is used to diagnose illnesses and asses the severity of symptoms
- Unusual characteristics may be positive and may be desired ie higher IQ . so it is hard to know where to draw the line between statistically normal and abnormal

Question 8

evaluation of devaition from ideal mental health

Answer 8

+ it is a comprehensive definition with a range of criteria and provides a checklist for medical professionals
- it may be cultural biased as the criteria is mainly western based
- it has extremely high standards as few people can achieve all criteria at once for a long period of time

Question 9

evaluations for deviation from social norma

Answer 9

+ it has real world application in clinical practice ie APD
- cultural and situational relativism as norms vary across cultures and can change over time.
- it can lead to human rights abuse and as a form as social control

Question 10

evaluation for failure to function adequately

Answer 10

+ it represents a threshold for help
- descrimination and social control directed at those who choose to deviate from social norms
- may not be abnormal as in certain situations eg grief we all fail to cope . so it would be unfair to label them as it could lead to future problems

Question 11

define abnormality

Answer 11

a psychological or behavioural state leading to impairment of interpersonal functioning