Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
Statistical Infrequency
Deviation from social norms
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health
What is statistical infrequency?
Suggests a person’s trait, thinking, or behaviour is classified as abnormal if rare or statistically unusual.
Give 2 characteristics of normal distribution (a bell-shaped curve):
Symmetrical
Bell-shaped
Mean, median, and mode fall at the same place on the curve
The two tails never actually touch the horizontal axis
Evaluate statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality:
+) Can be measured objectively, so works well for some characteristics such as IQ. So, it might be more accurate.
-) Assumes behaviour that differs from average is abnormal, and common behaviour is normal. However, some unusual behaviour is desirable (eg. IQ), and vice versa.
-) Unclear cut-off point for normality/ abnormality. How far from average should behaviour be? Difficult to define and apply accurately.
What is deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality?
Social norms are approved and accepted ways of behaving in a particular society. This definition suggests that people who break or reject social norms/ expectations of a society or culture should be regarded as abnormal.
Evaluation of deviation from social norms:
+) distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour and takes into account the effect on others… better than statistical infrequency?
-) this definition doesn’t allow for context to be taken into account, suggesting it may not be an accurate way of defining abnormality.
-) May not be a consistently useful definition as social norms change over time. Also, some norms must be broken for positive social change to occur.. where social deviance is good, but definition suggests it’s bad.
What is the definition of failure to function adequately?
Means that a person is unable to live a normal life or engage in a normal range of behaviours.
Behaviour is abnormal if is prevents them from living successfully in their own culture.
Failure to function adequately: Who suggested 7 features of abnormality? What was the acronym?
Rosenhan and Seligman (1989): VIOLUMS
Evaluation of failure to function adequately:
+) It attempts to include subjectivity… viewing the mental disorder from the POV of the person experiencing it
-) The 7 features of abnormality may be the normality in certain cases (eg, grief).
-) It’s unclear how extreme or frequent behaviour must be to be considered abnormal, so definition may be flawed.
-) Failure to function varies between cultures, eg, excessive grief is abnormal in Western society but not in India
What is deviation from ideal mental health ad a definition of abnormality?
This approach defines the normal characteristics people should possess, and abnormality is seen as lacking from these ideals.
Who identified the six criteria and what is the acronym for deviation from ideal mental health?
Jahoda (1958)
PAPERS
Evaluation of Deviation from Ideal Mental Health as a definition for abnormality?
+) Clear, covering a broad range of mental health criteria… useful definition?
-) Most people don’t meet these ideals all of the time
-) Criteria are difficult to measure.. hard to apply.
-) Definition not applicable to all cultures… culturally relative
