Psychopathology - Definitions of Abnormality

Question 1

Whats psychopathology?

Answer 1

the scientific study of mental disorders (including their theoretical underpinnings, ethology, progression, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment) - synonymously with abnormal psychology

Question 2

Whats abnormal psychology?

Answer 2

the branch of psychology devoted to the study of maladaptive behaviour

Question 3

Statistical infrequency

Answer 3

abnormality is when an individual has a less common characteristic than most of the pop. so therefore the behaviour is seen less frequently in society. e.g: IQ is normally distributed (avg. 100, most are 85-115). Anyone outside is abnormal (below → intellectual disability disorder).

Question 4

Statistical infrequency - Disadvs

Answer 4

• many abnormal behaviours/ features are desirable (high IQ) while many are undesiable (disorders)
• adds s stigmatism
• problems when condition is untreatable

Question 5

Statistical infrequency - Advs

Answer 5

• appropriate measure (inc validity) → objective
• good real life application

Question 6

Deviation from social norms

Answer 6

any behaviour which differs from what society expects as abnormal - expectations passed on through socialisation.

Question 7

Deviation from social norms - disadvs

Answer 7

• very few behaviours considered universally abnormal
• social norms change over time
• diagnosis may have been used as a form of social control over minorities to exclude those who don’t conform

Question 8

Deviation from social norms - Advs

Answer 8

• useful for clinical proctice

Question 9

Failure to function adequately

Answer 9

where abnormality is judged as inability to deal with the demands of everyday living. E.g: failure to maintain basic nutrition, nugiene, relationships, emploument, etc.
Rosenhan & Seligman (1989) proposed the following signs:
- not conforming to interpersonal rules (eye contact, personal space)
- experience of severe personal distress
- behaviour is irrational or dangerous to themselves or others

Question 10

Failure to function adequately - disavs

Answer 10

• requires objective judgement of the way to live (different people + cultures determine wons of normal living)
• treating failures may limit personal freedom and discriminate

Question 11

Failure to function adequately - advs

Answer 11

• takes into account patient’s subjective perspective
• relatively easy to justify as behaviours can be listed → objective

Question 12

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 12

defines abnormality as the absence of signs of good mental weath. Janoda (1958) developed criteria for these ideals:
1. accurate perception of reality
2. positive attitude to themselves (good self-esteem, lack of guilt)
3. self actualisation (reach parential)
4. resistance to stress
5. environment mastery
6. be independent of others (antonomy)

Question 13

Deviation from ideal mental health - disavs

Answer 13

• sets standards for mental health which man be unachievable for most peaple (self actualisation)
• criteria is difficult to measure
• doesn’t consider cutural relativism (self-actualisation is common in individualistic cutures - UK, USA; while collectivistic cultures see independence as a negative thing)

Question 14

Deviation from ideal mental health - advs

Answer 14

• highly comprehensive (Janada’s concepts cover most reasons people seek mental health support)

Question 15

Cultural relativism

Answer 15

the idea that you can’t judge behaviour properly unless it’s viewed in the cultural context from which it originated. A lack of cultural relativism can result in ethnocentrism. E.g:
- in the 1930s, single mothers were committed to psychiatric units
- in Australia in the eary 1970s, homosexuals were given electric shocks to cure their ‘illness’
- in china, people fear the wind as they believes it carries negative energy (yin).

Question 16

Ethnocentrism

Answer 16

the norms of the home cuture being used to assess the behaviour of individuals from another culture