Psychopathology - Definitions Of Abnormality AO1

Question 1

Statistical infrequency

Answer 1

Someone is mentally abnormal if their condition is very rare in the population, this is judged objectively using statistics, comparing the individuals behaviour to the rest of the population, they appear at the extremities of the normal distribution curve.

Question 2

Failure to function adequately

Answer 2

The individual is defined ass abnormal if they cannot cope in their daily lives, including their ability to interact with the world and meet their challenges.
Rosenhan and Seligman criteria:
- maladaptive behaviour: behaves in ways that go against their long term interests.
- personal anguish: the individual differs from anxiety and distress.
- observer discomfort: the individual’s behaviour causes distress to those around them.
- irrationality: unexpected behaviour
- unconventionality - behaviour doesn’t match what is typically expected to society.

Question 3

Deviation from social norms.

Answer 3

A social norm is an unwritten expectation of behaviour that can vary from culture to culture and change over time. Additionally what is acceptable is one context may not be acceptable in another, and people who deviate from these societal expectations may be seen as abnormal or social deviants.

Question 4

What is a positive of deviation from social norms?

Question 5

What is a negative of deviation from social norms?

Answer 5

A criticism is it can be inappropriate to define people who move to a new culture as abnormal according to the cultural norms. People from an Afro-Caribbean background living in the UK are seven times as likely to develop schizophrenia than people living in Afro-Caribbean nations.

Question 6

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 6

Jahoda’s definition comes from the humanistic perspective, focusing on way to improve and become a better person rather than dysfunction or deficit. Jahoda identified six features of ideal mental health and argues deviation from these features indicates abnormality.
Jahoda’s criteria:
- environmental mastery: the ability to adapt and thrive in new situations.
- autonomy: the ability to act independently and trust in one’s own abilities.
- resistance to stress: the internal strength to cope with anxiety caused by daily life.
- self-actualisation: the ability to reach one’s potential through personal growth.
- positive attitude towards oneself: characterised by high self-esteem and self-respect.
- accurate perception of reality: the ability to see the world as it is without being distorted by personal biases.