Psychopathology Flashcards
What is statistical infrequency?
Abnormality in terms of statistics / numerically rare
- rarely seen behaviour / abnormal characteristics
E.g of a statistically infrequent characteristic
An IQ of below 70 or above 130
Evaluate statistical infrequency
Pro - most assessments of mental dispedees are compared with statistics e.g intellectual disability disorder
Neg - unusual characteristic might not always be a bad thing or even might be desirable
Not everyone needs to be labelled as abnormal as they could be living an already normal life
What is deviation from social norms? Give detail
- behaving in a way that is different to expected
- relatively few behaviours are universally abnormal
- some are acceptable now that didn’t used to be e.g being gay
Evaluate deviation from social norms
-social norms are relative to culture so can’t compare normality across cultures
-it could lead to human rights abuses
Pro- it takes into account the effect behaviour has on others
How does deviation from ideal mental health differ from deviation from social norms?
It looks at what makes us normal rather than abnormal characteristics
Who came up with deviation from ideal mental health?
Jahoda (1958)
Give the criteria for ideal mental health
- Self attitudes - high self esteem + strong sense of identity
- Personal growth and self actualisation - extent to which person develops their full capabilities
- Integration - being able to deal with stressful situations
- Autonomy - self regulating and independent
- Accurate perception of reality
- Mastery of the environment - including ability to love , function at work + in interpersonal relationships and adjust to new situations and sole problems
What is mastery of the environment ?
ncluding ability to love , function at work + in interpersonal relationships and adjust to new situations and sole problems
Evaluate deviation from ideal mental health
Neg- unrealistic criteria - according to it most people are abnormal
Suggests mental health is the same as physical health
Pro - positive approach as shows how we can improve mental health
What is failure to function adequately?
Inability to cope with everyday living e.g maintain relationships , holding down a job
Who came up with the theory of failure to function adequately?
Rosenham and seligman 1989
Criteria for failure to function adequately?
- no longer conform to interpersonal rules (personal space )
- experience personal distress
- behave irrationally or dangerously
- lack of awareness that behaviour isn’t correct
Evaluate failure to function properly
Strength - relatively easy to judge objectively therefore easy to judge when treatment is required
Limitations - who judges whether patient can function? The patient or doctor?
Limitation - cultural relativism - judgement of functioning is relative to cultural ideas of how ones life should be lived
Give 2 emotional characteristics of phobias
1) panic - crying, running away from phobic stimulus, faint , freeze
2) avoidance - of stimulus which interferes with everyday life
