Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality
-Statistical infrequency
-Deviation from social norms
-Failure to function adequately
-Deviation from ideal mental health
‘Statistical infrequency’ definition of abnormality
Abnormality is when a persons behaviour is statistically/ numerically rare
E.G behaviour that are found in very few people (1 in 1000)
How can statistical infrequency be measured
-Can be measured using a normal distribution curve.
Anyone who falls out of the normal distribution (5%) can be diagnosed
Example of statistical infrequency
-IDD (IQ and intellectual disability disorder)
The average IQ = 100 and most people (68%) have an IQ ranging from 85 to 115
Only 2% have an IQ of below 70
This means that IDD is statistically rare
Strengths of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality
-Quantitative data
-Easy to analyse
-Clear cut off point
-Clear to determine abnormality
Weaknesses of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality
-Cut off point is too specific= fine line between who qualifies for support and who doesn’t (E.G IQ of 71= miss out on support )
-Doesn’t account for all disorders- some are statistically common (E.G depression= 1 in 6, anxiety= 1 in 5)
-Doesn’t distinguish between a desirable abnormality and an undesirable abnormality (E.G high IQ is just as rare as low)
‘Deviation from social norms’ definition of abnormality
-A persons behaviour is abnormal if it deviates form the unwritten rules of a society
Social normals are socially constructed so it is very context dependent. (BASD ON TIME/PLACE/CULTURE)
Example of the ‘deviation from social norms’ definition of abnormality
Homosexuality
-Regarded as a mental illness / institutionalised by the DSM in 1973
-Against the law until 1967
-This historically was seen as deviating from the norm of heterosexuality, however, today it is not seen as a deviation from social norms.
The judgment was based on social norms at the time
Strengths of the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality
-Can identify antisocial behaviour that is dangerous or breaks the law
Weaknesses of the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality
-Hindsight bias- social norms change over time. This is a problem as it means that some social groups have been discriminated against and suffered social exclusion as a result of social norms at the time
-Cultural bias- The tendency to judge people based off of ones own cultural assumptions
DSM= published by an American psychologist -westernised.
(E.G, auditory hallucinations is more acceptable in African cultures due to the belief that it is associated with communicating with ancestors, however, in westernised countries, this would possible be diagnosed as Schizophrenia)
‘Failure to function adequately’ definition for abnormality
People are abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life, which can cause personal suffering. This means that they are ‘failing to function adequately’
E.G go to work, maintain relationships, nutrition, hygiene etc
Example of the ‘Failure to function adequately’
definition for abnormality
IDD
-Cannot perform tasks like cooking and school and work may be a struggle
The disorder uses both statistical infrequency and failure to function definition in order to make a diagnosis in practise today
Strengths of the ‘failure to function adequately’ definition of abnormality
-Represents a sensible threshold to identify who needs support
Weaknesses of the ‘failure to function adequately’ definition of abnormality
-Cultural bias
-Personal lifestyles
= subjective E.G backpacking often means that you may have a poor level of hygiene during the time.
-Not all mental illnesses portray a visible inability to cope that can be identified E.G anxieties, ADHD, autism (particularly with girls as Cotton found)
What is the DSM
-A manual that diagnoses mental illness, produced in America (specific to American/ western culture)
Who founded the ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ definition of abnormality
Marie Jahoda (1958)
‘Deviation from ideal mental health’ definition of abnormality
-People are abnormal if they do not have good mental health and meet the criteria
What was Jahoda’s ‘ideal mental health’ criteria
-We have no symptoms of distress
-We are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
-We self actualise (reach our potential)
-We can cope with stress
-We have a realistic view of the world
-We have good self esteem and lack guilt
-We are independent of other people (autonomy)
-We can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure (environmental mastery)
(The absence of any criteria indicates abnormality)
