psychopathology-definitions of abnormality Flashcards
what is psychopathology
psychopathology is the study of mental disorders
what is a mental disorder
mental disorder is when people display abnormal moods, thoughts and behaviour that are long-lasting
how do you diagnose mental disorders
using the DSM-5 which describes symptoms of common mental disorders which the patient self-reports
how does the DSM-5 help the economy
can help us diagnose and treat disorders which means companies will have healthier and more productive employers boosting the economy and also helps prevent absenteeism
define the deviation from social norm
a persons behaviour is considered abnormal if they dont conform to societies expected standards
what is an advantage of the deviation of social norms definition
This definition looks at an individual’s abnormal behaviour and seeks to protect society from it
This definition allows society to get involved in individuals abnormal behaviour and help them, when they may not be able to seek or identify the help they need
what is an disadvantage of the deviation of social norms definition
social norms vary across time and cultures so diagnosis could lack reliability and lead to misdiagnosis
-social norms are also era-dependant
define deviation from ideal mental health
someone is considered abnormal is they fail to display behaviours which display ideal mental health
abnormality is the absence of criteria for good mental health
how do you calculate deviation from ideal mental health
using Marie Jahoda 6 criteria the fewer criteria you meet the more abnormal you are considered
what are Marie Jahodas 6 criteria
-positive self attitude
-autonomy
-self-actualisation
-resistance to stress
-accurate perception of reality
-environmental mastery
what are some advantages of the deviation from ideal mental health definition
enables patients to set clear goals
This definition looks at the whole person and their behaviour, instead of focusing on singular behaviours, this means it is a holistic approach to diagnosing mental health issues
consistent and standardised measure
what is a disadvantage of the deviation from ideal mental health definition
Jahodas 6 criteria are overly-demanding and difficult to measure objectively
define failure to function adequately
a person is considered abnormal if they fail to cope with the demands of everyday life
what are the 4 key characteristics of failing to function adequately
-suffering/personal distress-when failing to cope with everyday life causes personal distress to the individual themselves
-maladaptiveness- hinders the ability of a person to adjust to a particular situation
-unpredictability and loss of control-
-observer discomfort- others feel uncomfortable witnessing this behaviour
what are some advantages of the failure to function adequately definition
involves behaviour that are easy to observe measure and diagnose
