psychopathology - definitions of abnormality Flashcards
what is statistical infrequency?
a mathematical method for defining abnormality, based on normal distribution - the further you go from the average, the more ‘abnormal’ the behaviour
what is standard deviation?
a measure that informs us how far scores fall on either side of the mean.
indicates how uncommon a certain behaviour is
how can statistical infrequency be applied to IQ and IDD
the average IQ is 100 - 68% fall within 1 standard deviation (85-115) and 95% within 2 standard deviations (70-130).
the 5% that fall more than 2 standard deviations are abnormal.
2% of people have ashore below 70, which would make them liable to receive a diagnosis of IDD.
strength of statistical infrequency
real-world application
used in clinical practice as part of formal diagnosis (IDD) and to assess the severity of symptoms (30+ on BDI)
limitations of statistical infrequency
not all unusual behaviours are undesirable
people with IQ over 130 are just as statistically infrequent, but that is considered desirable rather than abnormal, likewise for a very low BDI score.
diagnosis may not be beneficial
someone with a low IQ could receive an unwanted diagnosis as labels can cause stigma, and they may be able to cope with their lifestyle without support.
what is deviation from social norms?
defines abnormality as being when a behaviour doesn’t fit with what is socially acceptable
how do social norms change?
few behaviours are universally abnormal - they change from generation to generation and between cultures.
e.g homosexuality used to be abnormal in our culture in the past, and still is in certain cultures/
how can deviation from social norms be applied to antisocial personality disorder?
the disorder is characterised by impulsive, aggressive, and irresponsible behaviour.
a key symptom in the DSM-5 is an ‘failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour’.
by this diagnosis, psychopaths are considered abnormal as they don’t conform to our moral standards.
strength of deviation from social norms
real-world application
used in the diagnosis of APD.
used in diagnosis of Schizotypal personality disorder - their thinking and behaviour are considered ‘strange’ as they deviate from social norms
limitations of deviation from social norms
cultural relativism
a person from one cultural group may label someone from another group as abnormal based on their own standards - culture bias in the diagnosis of Schizophrenia
human rights abuses
behaviours can be labelled as ‘abnormal’, which in fact abuse the rights of marginalised groups - e.g drapetomania was used to diagnose black slaves who ran away
what is failure to function adequately?
a person becomes ‘abnormal’ when they can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life - e.g they can’t maintain basic hygiene or hold down a job
who created the criteria for failure to function adequately?
Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)
what are some of the criteria for failure to function adequately?
- unpredictability
- maladaptive behaviour
- personal distress
- violation of moral standards
- irrationality
how can failure to function adequately be applied to IDD?
a diagnosis would require the patient to be failing to function adequately alongside having an abnormally low IQ.
strength of failure to function adequately
represents a threshold for help
25% of people in the UK experience a mental health in any given year, but many people press on in the face of these symptoms.
it is at the point when people cease to function adequately that they seek professional help.
limitations of failure to function adequately
discrimination and control
someone may simply have non-standard lifestyle choices, such as living ‘off-grid’, which could be taken as a sign of not being able to hold down a job.
people who enjoy high-risk leisure activities may be labelled as irrational or a danger to themselves
failure to function may not be abnormal
circumstances such as bereavement may cause someone to be unable to cope, but this doesn’t automatically make them ‘abnormal’ and labelling them as such would be unfair and may cause future problems.
what is deviation from ideal mental health?
instead of focusing on what makes someone ‘abnormal’, this explanation focuses on what makes someone ‘normal’ and how an individual may deviate from this expectation
who created the criteria for ideal mental health?
Marie Jahoda (1958)
what are the criteria for ideal mental health?
- no symptoms or distress
- rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
- self-actualisation
- can cope with stress
- realistic view of the world
- good self-esteem
- independence
- can successfully work
strength of deviation from ideal mental health
a comprehensive definition
Jahoda takes a holistic approach to explaining abnormality by considering multiple factors in diagnosis, which means the individual’s mental health can be examined from a range of perspectives.
limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
extremely high standards
few few people can attain all of the criteria, let alone sustain that all the time. This could be disheartening for someone struggling with their mental health.
may be culture-bound
criteria such as self-actualisation are deeply rooted in western contexts (USA and Europe) - more collectivist cultures would view it as self-indulgence.
