Psychopathology Flashcards
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - what is statistical infrequency?
statistically uncommon behaviour is considered ‘unusual’ or ‘abmormal’
FOR EXAMPLE - IQ
*This approach is used when dealing with characteristics that can be reliably measured, such as intelligence.
*In a N~ most people (68%) have a score of 85-115, only 2% score below 70. Those individuals would be seen as abnormal and would likely be diagnosed with an intellectual disability disorder.
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - what is deviation from social norms?
When does not behave in a way that is seen as socially acceptable. As norms vary across cultures, very few behaviours would be considered ‘universally acceptable’
FOR EXAMPLE - antisocial personality disorder.
* seen as an absence of prosocial internal standards and a failure to conform with lawful and culturally normative behaviour.
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - what is failure to function adequately?
A person may cross the line between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ when they are unable to keep with the demands of everyday life.
ROSENHAN AND SELIGMAN - suggested that if a person no longer conforms to interpersonal rules (eye contact and personal space), experiences severe personal distress or becomes dangerous and irrational (to themselves or others) that can help us to determine if they are not coping.
FOR EXAMPLE - IDD
* an individual must be failing to function adequately in order to receive a diagnosis.
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - what is deviation from ideal mental health?
When a person does not meet the criteria for good mental health.
JAHODA - suggested we are of good mental health if we meet the following criteria:
-no symptoms of distress
-rational and can perceive ourselves
accurately
-ability to self actualise
-ability to cope with stress
-realistic view of the world
-good self esteem
-independent of others
-successfully work and love
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - evaluate statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality.
(+) REAL WORLD APPLICATION in clinical practice
- both used as a diagnostic tool (IDD diagnosises require an IQ score of 70, the bottom 2%)
- as well as an assessment tool to measure severity of a person illness (Becks depression inventory score of 30+ indicates severe depression and represents the top 5% or respondents)
(-) RARE BEHAVIOURS CAN BE POSITIVE
-example, IQ scores over 140 are just as unusual as those below 70 but we wouldn’t think of super-intelligence as an
undesirable characteristic that needs treatment. Therefore this definition alone cannot be used as a diagnostic tool as it could cause more harm than good by labelling someone as abnormal if they would not benefit from this label, as their behaviour does not mean they require treatment to return to normal.
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - evaluate deviation from ideal mental health
(+) COMPREHENSIVE DEFINITION - Jahodas definition of ideal mental health covers most of the reasons why me might seek professional help, it is a wide criteria that allows psychological issues to be discussed meaningfully with a range of professionals who may hold different views.
(-) CULTRALLY SPECIFIC - Jahodas criteria was created based on the desired behaviours in a western society (individualist) and therefore we cannot generalise this definition to other (collectivist) cultures. For example independence is a concept thay is desired by individualist cultures and frowned upon by collectivist cultures.
(-) HIGH STANDARD - most peo ppl le would find it challenging to meet Jahodas criteria for ideal mental health most of the time.
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - evaluate deviation from social norms.
(-) CULTRAL VARIATION - One issue with this definition is that it may vary and evolve over time and cultures, making it difficult to judge abnormality.
(+) REAL WORLD APPLICATION - Deviation from social norms is used in clinical practice, for example the key characteristic that defined antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally acceptable ethical behaviour.
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMAILTY - evaluate failure to function adequately
