⚫ Psychopathology: Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What are the four definitions of abnormality

Answer 1

• Statistical infrequency
• Deviation from social norms
• Failure to function adequately
• Deviation from ideal social health

Question 2

What is statistical infrequency

Answer 2

It is an explanation of abnormality suggesting that abnormalities can be statistically determined when individual has a less common characteristic falling outside the range of normal distribution

Question 3

Outline IQ and how intellectual disability disorder is diagnosed using statistical infrequency

Answer 3

• Average IQ = 100
• In a normal distribution most people (68%) have a score in the range of 85 to 115
• Only 2% have a score below 70 and are considered abnormal and are liable to receive a diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder (-2 standard deviation)

Question 4

State evaluation points for statistical infrequency as an explanation for abnormalities

Answer 4

• Real-world application in formal diagnosis
• Unusual characteristics can be positive

Question 5

What is a strength of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 5

Real-world application in formal diagnosis + assessing severity of a persons symptoms

Question 6

What is a limitation of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 6

Unusual characteristics can be positive

Question 7

Outline real world application in formal diagnosis + assessing severity of an individuals symptoms as a strength of statistical infrequency

Answer 7

• Statistical infrequency is used in clinical practice in two ways
  One is as part of formal diagnosis - and another as a way to assess the severity of an individual’s symptoms
• E.g A diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder requires an IQ of below 70 (2% of ppl in a normal distribution)
  AND An assessment tool that uses statistical infrequency is the Beck depression inventory (BDI) where a score of 30+ (which is the top 5% of respondents) is widely interpreted as indicating severe depression
• This shows the value of the statistical infrequency criterion is useful in diagnostic and assessment processes

Question 8

Outline ‘unusual characteristics can be positive’ as a limitation to statistical infrequency

Answer 8

• Infrequent characteristics presented by statistical infrequency can be positive as well as negative
• E.g According to statistical infrequency a person with an IQ above 130 is considered abnormal OR a person with a very low depression score on the Beck depression inventory is considered abnormal - however no one thinks like this
• This shows that being unusual OR being at one end of a psychological spectrum doesn’t makes someone abnormal
• It means hat although statistical infrequency can form part of an assessment and diagnostic procedure - it is not sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality

Question 9

What is deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality

Answer 9

A definition of abnormality suggesting that if a person strays from cultural and social rules, they are abnormal

Question 10

Are deviation from social norms written or non-written rules

Answer 10

Non-written

Question 11

Outline how norms are specific to the culture we live in

Answer 11

• In each generation and in each culture, there are a only a few behaviours that would be considered UNIVERSALLY abnormal on the basis that they breach social norms
• E.g. homosexuality was considered abnormal in our culture in the past and continues to be viewed as abnormal (and illegal) in some countries

Question 12

Outline antisocial personality disorder and how it is diagnosed using ‘deviation from social norms

Answer 12

• An individual with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) is impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible
• According the the DSM-5 an important symptom of APD is an “absence of prosocial internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour”
• THIS MEANS that psychopaths are judges based of social judgments and that they abnormal bc they don’t conform to moral standards
• Psychopathic behaviour would be considered abnormal in a very wide range of cultures

Question 13

What is prosocial behaviour

Answer 13

It is social behaviour that benefits other people or society as a whole

Question 14

State the evaluation points for deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality

Answer 14

• Real world application in clinical practices
• Cultural and situational relativism exists

Question 15

Outline real world application in clinical practices as a strength of deviation from social norms (as a definition of abnormality)

Answer 15

• It is useful in clinical practices
• E.g the key defining characteristic of anti-social personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally acceptable ethical behaviour - and ppl with this disorder show behaviour of recklessness, aggression, ad violating rights of others, and deceitfulness WHICH is all signs of deviations from social norms
• ALSO, social norms play a huge role in the diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder, where the term strange is used to characterise the thinking, behaviour and appearance of people with the disorder
• This shows that deviation from social norms criterion has value in psychiatry

Question 16

Outline cultural and situational relativism as a limitation of deviation from social norms (as a definition of abnormality)

Answer 16

• There is a huge variety of what is considered normal and between different culture sand scenarios
• E.g In some cultures hearing voices (either messages or from ancestors) is considered normal; however in different cultures, like most parts of the UK, it would be considered abnormal

*E.g Aggressive and deceitful behaviour is more socially acceptable that in corporate deal-making

• This means that it is difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations and cultures

Question 17

State a limitation of deviations from social norms [as a definition of abnormality]

Answer 17

Cultural and situational relativism

Question 18

State a strength of deviations from social norms [as a definition of abnormality]

Answer 18

Real world application in clinical practices

Question 19

What is failure to function adequately [as a definition of abnormality]

Answer 19

A definition of abnormality that suggests that a person has abnormal behaviour if they are unable to function in everyday life

Question 20

Outline three different groups of people who live alternative lifestyles that would be considered abnormal based of ‘failure to function adequately

Answer 20

• New age travellers - don’t live in permanent accommodation and may not work
• Base jumpers - take part in an extreme sport with a high mortality rate
• Spiritualists - take part in religious rituals, communicating with the dead

Question 21

Who proposed some additional signs that can be used to determine when someone is not coping well

Answer 21

Rosenhan AND Seligman (1989)

Question 22

When did Rosenhan AND Seligman propose additional signs that can be used to determine when someone is not coping well

Answer 22

1989

Question 23

What are the additional sings that Rosenhan AND Seligman (1989) proposed, that can be used to determine when someone is not coping

Answer 23

• When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules (e.g maintaining eye contact + respecting personal space)
• When a person experiences severe personal distress
• When a persons behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or to others

Question 24

Explain how people with intellectual disability disorder are diagnosed using ‘failure to function adequately’

Answer 24

• If someone has a low IQ AS WELL AS failing to function adequately a diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder can be made as statistical infrequency of having a low IQ is solely not enough to make the diagnosis

Question 25

State the evaluation points for ‘failure to function adequately’ [as a definition of abnormality]

Answer 25

• Represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
• Easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal - resulting in discrimination + social control

Question 26

Outline the strength of failure to function adequately - as a definition of abnormality

Answer 26

• It represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
• E.g. Most people have symptoms of mental disorder at some point in time
  SPECIFICCALLY according to mental health charity Mind, around 25% of ppl in the UK will experience a mental health problem at any given year
• And its only when symptoms are severe at a point where people cease to function adequately that people seek professional help or are noticed and referred for help by others - due to a threshold being established
• SO, the criterion means that treatment and services can be targeted to people who need the the most

Question 27

Outline the limitation of failure to function adequately - as a definition of abnormality

Answer 27

• It is easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
• AND it is difficult to say whether someone is failing to function adequately or if they have chose to deviate from social norms - giving the appearance that they are not functioning adequately
• E.g. Those who favour high-risk leisure activities (like base jumpers) with a high mortality rate
  OR those who contribute in spiritual practise could unreasonably be classes as irrational or a danger to themselves
• This means people who make these unusual choices are at risk of being labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice may be restricted.

Question 28

What is deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 28

An definition of abnormality that suggests if a person does not achieve one of the six criteria of ideal mental health, they are acting abnormally

Question 29

Who suggested that if we meet certain criteria we are in good mental health (and when)

Answer 29

Jahoda (1958)

Question 30

What are the six criteria’s that Jahoda suggested we should meet to suggest we are in good mental health

Answer 30

• P.R.A.I.S.E
• Positive attitude towards self
• Resistance to stress
• Accurate perception of reality
• Independence and self reliance (autonomy)
• Self-actualisation
• Environmental mastery (adaptable)

Question 31

What are the evaluation points for deviation from ideal mental health [as a definition of abnormality]

Answer 31

• Ideal mental health criterion is highly comprehensive
• Criteria’s of ideal mental health is not equally applicable across a range of cultures (culture bound)

Question 32

What is a strength of deviation from ideal mental health [as a definition of abnormality]

Answer 32

Ideal mental health criterion is highly comprehensive

Question 33

What is a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health [as a definition of abnormality]

Answer 33

Criteria’s of ideal mental health is not equally applicable across a range of cultures (culture bound)

Question 34

Outline criteria of ideal mental health being highly comprehensive as a strength of ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ [as an explanation of abnormality]

Question 35

Outline ideal mental health criterion being culture bound as a limitation of ‘deviation from ideal mental health’