psychopathology: definitions of abnormality

Question 1

define abnormality

Answer 1

abnormality describes if human behaviour, emotions, and thoughts are deemed normal or abnormal

Question 2

what are the 4 definitions of abnormality

Answer 2

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

Question 3

explain statisical infrequency and deviation from social norms as definitions of abnormality

Answer 3

statistical infrequency can define abnormality as if a behaviour is unusual/infrequent it is deemed abnormal and if a behaviour is usual/ frequent it can described at normal
E - For example, IQ can be classed as abnormal if it is below average or, contrastingly, over the average.

Deviation from social norms can be a definition of abnormality. this is as if someone behaves in a way that goes against the social norms and values, eg. being polite, wearing clothes etc, of society they can be labelled deviant or abnormal

Question 4

explain deviation from ideal mental health and failure to function adequately as definitions of abnormality

Answer 4

deviation from ideal mental health focuses on not how someone’s behaviour can be abnormal but how it can make someone normal. this can be by following Jahoda’s good mental health checklist: rational, self-actualise, cope with stress.

failure to function adequately defines abnormality as people who are not able to cope with the demands of everyday life eg. hygiene.
Rosenhan and Seligman created a checklist of things that could show if a person is abnormal according to this definition: irrational behaviour, unpredictability

Question 5

evaluate deviation from social norms

Answer 5

P - L - norms change over time
E - what we once saw as abnormal may not be be deemed thus now eg. covid mask are accepted now but once were not
T - this means that this definition may not be reliable

P - L - cultural realism
E - norms differ over different cultures eg. schizophrenia is normal in some cultures but not the UK, we cannot decipher whether a behaviour is normal if not seeing from which context it cam from
T - means that the definition is not generalisable

Question 6

evaluate statistical infrequency

Answer 6

P - L - unusual characteristics may not always be undesirable
E - having an IQ over average is not a condition that requires treatment - just because someone displays certain behaviours it doesn’t mean they are abnormal
T - the definition is less credible and valid

P - L - doesn’t consider culture differences
E - what may be abnormal in our culture may not be in another
T - generalisable

Question 7

evaluate failure to function adequately

Answer 7

P - + - provides a checklist of observable behaviour and acknowledges the patients perspective
E - eg. a person who suffers from OCD will be able to see maladaptiveness in their life
T - this means that it is more objective than other definitions

P - L - most people with disorders can function adequately at least for most of the time
E - people on the spectrum for disorders - if a person who has OCD mildly then so can function normally most of the time
T - this then reduces the validity of the definition

Question 8

evaluate deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 8

P - + - the definition is very positive and comprehensive
E - Jahoda’a checklist covers most of the reasons why we might seek help with mental health, a range of factors are considered in the criteria
T - validity increases

P - L - culture-bound
E - some of Jahoda’s criteria is set in the context of western culture
T - difficult to generalise