Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the four definitions of abnormality?
Deviation from social norms
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health
Statistical infrequency
What is the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality?
When an individual cannot cope with the day to day challenges of life
What are features of the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality as identified by Rosenhan and Seligman?
Maladaptive behaviour - their irrational and unpredictable actions go against their long term best interests
Personal anguish - observers feel discomfort in their presence
What is the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality?
Individuals who break the social norms of their society
What is the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality?
Missing features identified by Jahoda as the ideal mental health
What are the features of the deviation from mental health definition of abnormality as identified by Jahoda
Resisting stress
Self actualisation
An accurate perception of reality
Autonomy
Environmental mastery
Positive attitude to yourself
What is the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality?
Someone is identified as ‘abnormal’ when their mental condition is very rare in a population as judged by statistics
What are some strengths of the definitions of abnormality?
Deviation from social norms - Does not impose a western view of abnormality so it is not seen as ethnocentric
Failure to function adequately - Respects the individual and their own personal experience
Deviation from ideal mental health - Holistic view as it considers multiple factors in diagnosis and provides ways to overcome them
Statistical infrequency - People accessed as abnormal by this have been evaluated objectively
What are some limitations of the definitions of abnormality?
Deviation from social norms - Defining people who move to a new culture as abnormal can be inappropriate
Failure to function adequately - Only includes people who cannot cope
Deviation from ideal mental health - Too strict to set a criteria to define MH as it is challenging to meet all the requirements at one time
Statistical infrequency - Not all statistically rare traits are negative
What are the behavioural characteristics of Phobias?
Avoidance - Avoiding phobic objects
Panic - Uncontrollable response
Failure to function - Difficulty in day to day activities
What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?
Anxiety - An uncontrollable high state of arousal
Fear - Emotional sensation of extreme and unpleasent alertness
What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?
Irrational thoughts - Exaggerated belief in the harm the phobic object can cause
Reduced cognitive capacity
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
Reduction in anxiety level - Lack of energy for daily tasks
Change in eating behaviour - Weight gain/Weight loss
Aggression - Self harm
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?
Sadness - Persistent low mood
Guilty - Feeling where they have no value in comparison to others
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
Poor concentration - Cannot give their full attention
Negative schemas - automatic negative biases
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Compulsions - behaviours performed to reduce anxiety
Avoidance - taking action to avoid objects that trigger obsessions
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
Anxiety - uncomfortably high state of arousal
Depression - consistent and long-lasting sense of sadness