Psychopathology Flashcards
Statistical infrequency
Defining abnormality in terms of statistics– The most obvious way to define anything as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ is in terms of the number of times it is observed.
- Statistics is about analysing numbers
Behaviour that is rarely seen is abnormal
Example:
IQ - Most individuals scoring below 70 are statistically unusual or ‘abnormal’ are diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder.
strength of of statistical infrequency
- Strength includes its real life applications.
All assessment of patients with mental disorders includes some comparison to statistical norms.
Intellectual disability disorder demonstrates how statistical infrequency can be used
Statistical infrequency is thus a useful part of clinical assessment
limitation of statistical frequency
Limitation is that not everyone unusual benefits from a label When someone is living a happy life there is no benefit to them being labelled as normal
Someone with a very low IQ who was not distressed or out of work, etc would not need a diagnosis of intellectual disability
Being labelled as abnormal might have a negative effect on the way others view them and the way they see themselves.
Deviation from social norms
Abnormality is based on social context - when a person behaves in a way that is different from how they are expected to behave
- Societies and social groups make collective judgements about ‘correct’ behaviours in particular circumstances
Three types of consequences for this behaviour:
– relatively few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal therefore definitions as abnormal
- This includes historical differences within the same society
- For example, homosexuality is viewed as abnormal in some cultures but not others and was considered abnormal in our society in the past
Example: Antisocial personality disorder
- A psychopath is abnormal because they deviate from social norms or standards. They generally lack empathy.
limitation 1 of social norms
Could lead to human rights abuse
Can lead to systematic abuse of human rights
EG drapetomania (black slaves trying to escape) or nymphomania (women attracted to working class men) are examples of how diagnosis was used for social control
Such classifications appear ridiculous but some psychologists argue some modern abnormal classifications are abuses of people’s right to be different
limitation of social norms
Social norms are culturally relative
A person from one cultural group may label someone from another group as abnormal using their standards rather than the person’s standards.
Eg, hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultures but would be seen as a sign of abnormality in the UK
This creates problems for people from one culture living within another cultural group
failure to function adequately
Inability to cope with everyday living – A person may cross the line between normal and abnormal at the point that they cannot deal with the demands of everyday life – they fail to function
When someone is not coping:
- They no longer conform to interpersonal rules e.g maintaining personal space
- They experience personal distress
- They behave in a way that is irrational or dangerous
Example – Intellectual disability disorder – an example of failure to function adequately
Limitation of failure to function adequately
This is a subjective judgment Someone has to judge whether a patient is distressed. Some may be seen as distressed but not suffering
There are methods for making such judgements as objective as possible, including checklists like global assessment of functioning scale
However, the principle remains whether someone, e.g a psychiatrist, has the right to make this judgement.
limitation 2 Failure to function adequately
Recognizes patient’s perspective
It is difficult to assess distress
The definition acknowledges the experience of the patient is important
It captures the experience of many people who need help and is useful for assessing abnormality.
Another limitation is that the definition is the same as deviation from social norms so it is hard to say if someone is really failing to function or deviating from social norms. People who live alternative lifestyles or do extreme sports could be seen as behaving differently and if we treat these behaviours as ‘failures’ of adequate functioning we may limit freedom.
Deviation from ideal mental health
Changing the emphasis – a different way to look at normality and abnormality is to think about what makes someone ‘normal’ and psychologically healthy and then identify anyone who deviates from this ideal
Inevitable overlap between definitions – Someone’s inability to keep a job may be a sign of their failure to cope with the pressures of work
Or as a deviation from the ideal of successfully working
Jahoda listed 8 criteria examples
- We have no symptoms or distress
- We are independent of other people
- We can cope with stress
- We have a realistic view on the world
strength of Deviation from ideal mental health
Deviation from ideal mental health is comprehensive Covers a broad range of criteria for mental health
It covers most of the reasons someone would seek help from mental health services or be referred for help
The sheer range of factors discussed in relation to Jahoda’s criteria make it a good tool for thinking about mental health
limitation of Deviation from ideal mental health
Unrealistically high standard for mental health
Few people will attain all Jahoda’s criteria for mental health so most of us would be seen as abnormal
Positive side – It makes it clear to people the ways in which they could benefit from seeking help to improve their mental health
However, it is probably of no value in thinking about who might benefit from treatment against the will.
Phobias
behavioural
emotional
cognitive
Behavioural
Panic – this may involve a range of behaviours such as crying, screaming or running away from the phobic stimulus
Avoidance – Considerable effort to avoid coming into contact with the phobic stimulus. This can make it hard to go about everyday life, especially if the phobic stimulus is often seen, e.g public places
Emotional
Anxiety and fear – fear is immediate experience when a phobic encounters or thinks about the phobic stimulus. Fear leads to anxiety.
Reponses are unreasonable – Response is widely disproportionate to the threat posed e.g an arachnophobic will have a strong emotional response to a tiny spider
Cognitive
Selective attention to the phobic stimulus – The phobic finds it hard to look away from the phobic stimulus e.g pogonophobic – fear of beards and cannot concentrate if a bearded person was in the room
Irrational – For example, social phobias may involve beliefs such as ‘if I blush people will think I’m weak’ or ‘I must always sound intelligent’
Depression
behavioural
emotional
cognitive
Behavioural
Activity levels – sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy making them lethargic. In extreme cases, this can be so severe that the sufferer cannot get out of bed
Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour- Sufferers may experience reduced sleep (insomnia) or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia). Appetite may decrease or increase leading to weight loss or gain.
Cognitive
Poor concentration – Sufferers may find themselves unable to stick with a task as they usually would, or they might find simple decision making it difficult.
Emotional
Lowered mood – More pronounced than the daily experience of feeling lethargic or sad often describing themselves as ‘worthless’ or ‘empty’.
Anger – On occasion, such emotions lead to aggression or self-harming behaviour
Absolutist thinking – ‘Black and white thinking’, when a situation is unfortunate it is seen as an absolute disaster.
Compulsive disorder
behavioural
emotional
cognitive
Behavioural
Compulsions – Actions that are carried repeatedly , e.g handwashing. The same behaviour is repeated in a ritualistic way to reduce anxiety.
Avoidance – The OCD is managed by avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, e.g sufferers who wash repeatedly may avoid coming into contact with germs
Emotional
Anxiety and distress – Obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming
Guilt and disgust – Irrational guilt, for example over a minor moral issue, or disgust which is directed towards oneself or something external like dirt.
Cognitive
Obsessive thoughts – About 90% of OCD sufferers have obsessive thoughts, e.g recurring intrusive thoughts about being contaminated by dirt or germs.
Insight into excessive anxiety – awareness that thoughts and behaviour are irrational. In spite of this, suffers experience catastrophic thoughts and are hypervigilant, i.e ‘over-aware’ of their obsession.
