Psychopathology - abnormality (2)

Question 1

Define what is meant by deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 1

It attempts to define an ideal state of mental health so that abnormality is defined by the absence of key characteristics.

An early concept of ideal mental health was devised by Jahoda.

Question 2

Who came up with the characteristic for ideal mental health

Answer 2

Jahoda, 1958

Question 3

What were Jahoda’s characteristics of ideal mental health

Answer 3

• Positive attitudes towards one’s self
• Self actualisation
• Autonomy
• Resisting stress
• Accurate perception of reality
• Environment mastery

Question 4

Define positive attitudes towards one’s self as a criteria for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 4

High levels of self-esteem and lack guilt with a strong sense of identity

Question 5

Define self actualisation as a criteria for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 5

Developing yourself and achieving the goals you set yourself in life

eg. Completing your exam to the best of your ability

Question 6

Define autonomy as a criteria for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 6

Autonomy and ability to act independently from others is being able to work on your own and work out problems that may arise.

eg. If you were left on your own tou would be okay and would be able to work things out for yourself.

Question 7

Define resisting stress as a criteria for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 7

Resisting stress and being able to cope in stressful situations

eg. coping with tight deadlines, celebrations and oving house

Question 8

Define accurate perception of reality as a criteria for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 8

Having a realistic view of the world and understanding how it works.

Eg. if you were to be unsuccessful at a job interview you could see that it may be that the other candidate was a better fit.

Question 9

Define enviromental mastery as a criteria for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 9

The ability to adapt to diffenent situations and act accordingly.

eg. being jovial with your friends and family but professional at work.

Question 10

Define enviromental mastery as a criteria for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 10

The ability to adapt to diffenent situations and act accordingly.

eg. being jovial with your friends and family but professional at work.

Question 11

what are the strengths of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 11

• Its holisic
• consistent
• positive approach to mental health problems

Question 12

Explain how it being holistic is a strengths of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 12

The definition considers an individual as a whole person rather than focusing on individual areas of their behaviour.

Question 13

Explain how it being consistant is a strengths of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 13

This definition provides a consistent and standardised measurement for those looking at both positive and negative mental health

Question 14

Explain how it being a positive approach to mental health is a strengths of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 14

It covers a broad range of criteria and focuses on wellness

Question 15

what are the limitations of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 15

• cultural variations
• overly demanding criteria
• subjective criteria

Question 16

Explain how cultural variations is a limitation of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 16

The criteria used to judge mental health are culturally relative and shouldn’t be used to judge people in other cultures.
E.g., autonomy is not desirable in collectivist countries.
This suggested that the definition is culturally biased towards Western cultures

Question 17

Explain how having overly demanding criteria is a limitation of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 17

most people do not meet all the ideals e.g., experiencing personal growth all of the time.
This would suggest that most people are abnormal.
The criteria may be more relevant to ideals as opposed to actualities.

Question 18

Explain how having subjective criteria is a limitation of using deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 18

This definition tries to treat mental health in the same way as physical health,
however, mental health is much more subjective
so it is difficult to apply to different people and to different cultures.

Question 19

define what is meant by statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 19

Behaviours that are statistically rare should be seen as abnormal.

Question 20

What are the strengths of using statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 20

• Its objective
• No judgements are made on the behaviour
• It can be used to gain assistance

Question 21

Explain how it being objective is a strength of using statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 21

Once a way of collecting the data about a behaviour has been agreed, it becomes an objective way of deciding who is abnormal.
The graphs that plot the standard deviations are based on real data and, therefore, should be unbiased

Question 22

Explain how there being no judgements made on the behaviour is a strength of using statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 22

IQ scores over 130 are just as unusual as those below 70 but we wouldn’t think of super-intelligence as an undesirable characteristic that needs treatment. Just because a few people display certain behaviours does make the behaviour statistically abnormal but doesn’t mean it requires treatment to return to normal.

Question 23

Explain how it can be used to gain assistance is a strength of using statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 23

we can judge whether an individual need additional support by measuring how severe their symptoms are.

Question 24

What are the limitations of using statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 24

• Not all infrequent behaviours are abnormal
• not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent
• doesnt take into account cultural factors

Question 25

Explain how not all infrequent behaviours being abnormal is a limitation of using statistical infrequency as a defintion of abnormality

Answer 25

some characteristics are desirable for example having an extremely high IQ.

Question 26

Explain how not all abnormal behaviours being infrequent is a limitation of using statistical infrequency as a defintion of abnormality

Answer 26

Depression is a not a statistically infrequent behaviour, so it would not be classed as abnormal using this definition.

Question 27

Explain how not taking other cultures into account is a limitation of using statistical infrequency as a defintion of abnormality

Answer 27

using statistical infrequency across cultures creates problems as it ignores cultural factors