Psychopathology: Definitions of Abnormality (not done) Flashcards
What is abnormality?
the opposite of normality
(not normal)
What is a ‘definition of abnormality’?
attempts to distinguish between normality and abnormality
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality you need to know?
- statistical infrequency
- deviation from social norms
- failure to function adequately
- deviation from ideal mental health
What is statistical infrequency (as a definition of abnormality)?
any behaviour that is statistically rare is considered abnormal
An example of statistical infrequency:
there are very few people with very high or low IQ scores (it is statistically rare)
therefore they will be considered as abnormal
What does a normal distribution curve show?
when displaying the distribution of an aspect of human behaviour in a population, most people are clustered around the mean
(most people are average)
the further you are from the mean the fewer individuals there are
(there are very few people who are very above or very below average)
What else does a normal distribution curve indicate?
those who are in the top 2% or bottom 2% of the population (two standard deviations away from the mean) are rare and therefore considered abnormal
+ve evaluation points of statistical infrequency:
- the arbitrary cut off point of what is considered abnormal is objective (no subjective interpretation is required)
- it is very easy to determine if someone is abnormal as there is clearly defined cut off point
-ve evaluation points of statistical infrequency:
- it fails to distinguish between rare desirable and rare undesirable characteristics (e.g. high IQ)
- some mental illnesses are no longer rare so will not be considered abnormal according to this definition
- the arbitrary cut off point can be too specific and it is difficult to know where to draw the line
- statistics can be incorrect and may not take into account factors such as gender, cultural, and individual differences - the whole definition is based on statistics
What is deviation from ideal mental health (as a definition of abnormality)?
if you do not have the 6 characteristics that constitute to ideal mental health, you are considered abnormal
What are the 6 characteristics?
PRAISE
- personal growth
- reality
- autonomy
- integration with others (relationships)
- self-esteem
- environmental mastery
What is personal growth?
self actualisation, fulfilling your potential, becoming what you are capable of, experiencing self growth
What is reality?
having an objective and realistic view of the world, including themselves
What is autonomy?
being independent, self reliant, capable of making personal decisions
What is integration with others?
being capable of forming meaningful relationships
What is self-esteem?
having a good view of ones self and having a strong sense of identity
What is environmental mastery?
being able to meet the demands of day to day life
being able to cope with stress (resilience and resistance)
