Psychopathology: Definitions AO3 Flashcards
What are 1 strength and 2 limitations of DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
1 strength
- Is a comprehensive definition that covers a broad range of criteria for mental health
2 limitations
- Unrealistic high standards for mental health
- Not generalisable in terms of cuture
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
Why does it provide a comprehensive definition?
- Covers a broad range of criteria for mental health
- Factors discussed by Jahoda is a good tool for thinking about mental health
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
Why is it not generalisable?
Not generalisable in terms of culture as Jahoda’s ideas are only specific to western europe and north american cultures. For example, some of the criteria would be a bad thing to other cultures
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
Why does it set an unrealistic high standard for mental health?
- Very few people can only meet all of the criteria, suggesting that all of us are somehow abnormal
What are 1 strength and 1 limitation of failure to function adequately?
1 strength:
- It acknowledges the patients perspectives and experiences
1 limitation:
- Patients may just be deviating from social norms
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
How is acknowledging the patient’s perspective a strength?
It captures the experience of people who need help
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
How can you say that it is just deviating from social norms? Give an example. What is the consequence of this?
Not having a personal job can be seen as a sign of failing to function but new age travellers chose not to have a job.
- If this behaviour were to be labelled as ‘failure to function adequately, we risk discrimination against these minority groups.
What are 1 strength and 2 limitations of DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS?
1 strength:
- It has a real-life application such as in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder
2 limitations:
- Not the sole reason for defining abnormality
- There are cultural differences
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
How can this definition have a real-life application in diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder? Who is a person that has this kind of disorder?
It can be used to think what is abnormal or normal
- A person with antisocial personality disorder is an aggressive psychopath that is considered to be abnormal because they do not donform to our moral standards
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
Why is it not the only reason for defining abnormality?
Because there are other factors to consider such as failing to function adequately
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
Why is using this definition a problem in terms of cultural differences? Give an example
Because social norms may vary in different generations and cultures
- One culture may label someone from another culture as ‘abnormal’ according to their own norms
- This leads to problems for people with a different culture living in another culture group
What are 1 strength and 2 limitations of STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY?
1 strength:
- Has a real-life application such as being useful in intellectual disability disorder
2 limitations:
- Unusual characteristics can be positive
- Not everyone benefits from a label (‘abnormal’)
