Psychopathology: Defining Abnormality Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 3 explanations/definitions of abnormality

A
  • deviation from social norms
  • deviation from statistical norms
  • failure to function adequately
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2
Q

what is failure to function adequately

A
  • can’t function adequately if you can’t cope with demands of life -> criteria:
    -> dysfunctional behaviour -> going against accepted standards of behaviour.
    -> observer discomfort -> behaviour making others uncomfortable.
    -> Unpredictable behaviour -> behaviour is impulsive/uncontrollable.
    -> Irrational behaviour -> behaviour is unreasonable and illogical.
  • if you tick more than one of above criteria, behaviour considered abnormal.
    -> may be unfair, we may do stuff which fits these categories.
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3
Q

What is deviation from social norms

A
  • all societies have standards of behaviour and attitudes.
  • one problem with this definition is that it can be used to justify the removal of ‘unwanted’ people -> e.g. a group opposing a political regime.
  • another problem -> what is seen as acceptable/abnormal can change over time.
    -> e.g. DSM: homosexuality was classed as a disorder.
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4
Q

explain deviation from statistical norms

A
  • abnormality can also be seen as statistically rare behaviour -> can be expressed in terms of normal distribution.
  • People who behave in an average way make up the middle of the bell-shaped curve.
  • those who behave ‘abnormally’ make up the tail ends of the bell curve.
    -> behaviour is statistically infrequent.
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5
Q

What are the problems with using deviation from stat norms as a definition of abnormality

A
  • doesn’t consider the desirability of behaviour -> just frequency -> e.g. high IQ is rare but desirable.
  • no distinction between rare, slightly odd behaviour and rare, psychologically abnormal behaviour.
  • some behaviours seen as abnormal are quite common, e.g. mild depression.
    -> Hassett and White argue you can’t use statistical frequency because of this -> some disorders would not be classed as anything unusual.
  • no definite cut-off point where normal behaviour becomes abnormal.
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6
Q

What are Jahoda’s 6 conditions associated with ideal mental health and evaluate this

A
  • positive self-attitude
  • self-actualisation (realising potential, fulfilment)
  • resistance to stress
  • personal autonomy
  • accurate perception of reality
  • adoption to the environment

(-) hard to meet all the standards -> also subjective.
(-) a violent offender may have positive self-attitude etc
-> but society wouldn’t see them as in good mental health.

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7
Q

Explain how the idea of ideal mental health/abnormality varies across time and cultures

A
  • in some cultures -> considered abnormal for women to enjoy sex.
  • Victorian times -> women who enjoyed sex were deemed abnormal.
    -> Freud coined the term ‘nymphomania’.
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8
Q

what are the symptoms associated with mental illness (department of health)

A
  • department of health -> there should be one or more of (not temporary) the following symptoms:
    -> impairment of intellectual functions, like memory and comprehension.
    -> alterations to mood that lead to delusional appraisals of past or future.
    -> delusional beliefs, such as of persecution or jealousy.
    -> disordered thinking -> unable to appraise the situation or communicate with others.
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