>psychopathology - definitions of abnormality

Question 1

4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

-statistical infrequency
-deviation from social norms
-failure to function adequately
-deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

what is meant by statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

-defines abnormality as how common something is/how often behaviour is observed
-statistics eg mean, mode, median are used to define typical -> can then be applied to behaviour
-anything uncommon/not often in society -> socially abnormal

Question 3

examples of statistical infrequency?

Answer 3

-IQ scores
-show size
-typical age to have a baby

Question 4

explain what it would look like if IQ scores were graphed on a statistical infrequency graph:

Answer 4

-majority of human characteristics are evenly distributed, most clustering around the mean
-further away from the mean -> more uncommon behaviour is
-%=y, IQ=x

Question 5

how would you estimate where a particular behaviour falls on a statistical infrequency graph?

Answer 5

look at percentages of SD, figure out from there

Question 6

advantages of statistical infrequency?

Answer 6

-model has real world application, used in diagnosis of intellectual disabilities, Becks depression inventory (top 5% = severe depression)
-objective -> statistics determine abnormal behaviour, eliminates human bias -> more reliable, however cut off point between normal + abnormal may be subjectively determined

Question 7

disadvantages of statistical infrequency?

Answer 7

-unable to distinguish desirable + undesirable behaviours, eg high IQ = abnormal but not undesirable, depression = common but not desirable

Question 8

what is meant by deviation of social norms?

Answer 8

-‘norms’ tell individuals what is socially acceptable behaviour
-can be implicit/written in law
-anyone that doesn’t follow these norms classed as abnormal

Question 9

examples of deviation from social norms?

Answer 9

-clothing: wearing a bikini top to school, dressing inappropriately to a formal black tie event
-unfortunately, in some cultures/countries, homosexuality is viewed as against social norms, some even written in law
-anti-social personality disorder (psychopathy) is classed by DSM as absence of prosocial internal standards -> don’t conform to moral standards/norms

Question 10

advantages of deviation from social norms?

Answer 10

-able to distinguish between desirable + undesirable behaviours, allowing people to live together in a society in harmony

Question 11

disadvantages of deviation from social norms?

Answer 11

-can lead to abuse of human rights, anyone who doesn’t follow social norms is deemed as mentally ill to exclude non-conformists. some psychologists say that some modern mental illness categories are abusing peoples right to be different
-norms vary over time + across cultures, what may have been historically a norm is no longer a norm, one norm in a certain culture may not be the norm for another culture eg hearing voices in african tribes

Question 12

what is meant by failure to function adequately?

Answer 12

-inability to cope with the demands of everyday life eg not being able to hold down a stable relationship/job, not washing clothes regularly, not eating regularly
-may cause distress to the individual due to their inability to cope
-one of the definitions that considers FFA can cause discomfort/distress to others, eg individual with schizophrenia may be unaware of symptoms themselves, but concerns family + friends

Question 13

Seligman + Rosenhans criteria?

Answer 13

-not conforming to standard interpersonal rules (eg eye contact, personal space)
-experiencing severe personal distress
-behaviour may be irrational/dangerous to themselves + others
-depression may manifest as FFA eg lack of motivation to get up in the morning, also may cause distress/discomforts to family + friends as well as themselves
-some disorders eg intellectual disability disorders require observance of FFA to gain diagnosis

Question 14

advantages of FFA?

Answer 14

-takes into account subjective view of patient, more accurate, close + personal diagnosis
-considers feelings of not just individual, but those surrounding them

Question 15

disadvantages of FFA?

Answer 15

-abnormality depends on person making judgement, some may not recognise that they are failing the function, therefore judgement is based on their subjective opinion. however can be made objective eg checklists
-some dysfunctional behaviours may actually be deemed as functional eg in depression, individual may gain attention/help from due to their symptoms, making behaviour functional

Question 16

what is meant by deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 16

-Marie Jahoda proposed that physical illness is often diagnosed with the absence of physical health (eg correct body temperature)
-stated that mental illness should be treated the same
-Jahoda created 6 criteria of ‘good’ mental health that a competent behaving person should exhibit

Question 17

Jahoda’s 6 criteria?

Answer 17

-self attitudes- high self esteem, strong sense of indentity
-self actualisation- reaching your potential
-integration- ability to cope with stressful situations
-autonomy- independent + making personal decisions
-having an accurate perception of reality
-mastering your environment- ability to work, maintain relationships + cope with new situations

Question 18

acronym for Jahoda’s 6 criteria?

Answer 18

small sam initiates a harmonic melody

Question 19

advantages of deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 19

-positive approach to abnormality, focuses on the desirable characteristics shedding a more positive light on the subject as opposed to always focusing on negative, undesirable attributes

Question 20

disadvantages of deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 20

-criteria is unrealistic, very few people will meet Jahoda’s criteria, according to this model, most people would be classed as abnormal. some characteristics also hard to measure
-reductionist, views physical + mental illnesses as the same, something physical causes a physical illness but not always the case with mental illness -> questioning validity of model

Question 21

how can cultural relativism be applied to 3/4 definitions?

Answer 21

varies across cultures

Question 22

how can cultural relativism be applied to deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 22

-Jahoda based criteria on western cultures -> culture-bound more likely to lead to higher level of abnormality if applied to non-western cultures

Question 23

what is cultural relativism?

Answer 23

idea that cultural norms + values are culture specific + no-one culture is superior to another

Question 24

what is cultural relativism?

Answer 24

idea that cultural norms + values are culture specific + no-one culture is superior to another