Psychopathology: Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
What is statistical infrequency/ deviation?
Infrequent/ rare behaviour is considered abnormal
How many standard deviations away from the mean do you have to be to be considered abnormal
You have to be 2 standard deviations away from the mean
Name and describe 1 strength of statistical infrequency
It is objective (not influenced by personal feeling or opinions): It has clear guidlines and cut-off points. Different mental health workers can all view the same kind of behaviour in the same way, therefore making it more accurate
Name and describe 1 weakness of statistical infrequency
It could define someone as abnormal when they are not psychologically unwell: Some abnormal behaviour is desireable e.g. having a high level of intellegence. It could be viewed as limited as it views health, desireable behaiours as abnormal
Name and describe a second weakness of statistical infrequency
It misses/ excludes a range of serious mental health disorders. For example depression isn’t classed as abnormal due to the large amounts of people who have it (10% of people in the UK had it in 2019). Therefore it should not be used on its own when being used as a diagnosis as it misses certain behaviours.
Define deviation from social norms
Behaviour that is not considered to be socially acceptable is classed as abnormal.
These sociatal expectations cna be 1 of 2 things whcih are?
Explicit or Implicit
What is meant by explicit in terms of DSN?
These are written and sometimes form laws that govern behaviour
What is meant by implicit in terms of DSN?
These are unwritten but generally accepted.
Name and describe one strength of deviation from social norms
It is flexible: What is considered abnormal adapts to what societal norms are rather than a strict number like statistical infrequency. It could be argued to be more useful than the statistical infrquency definition
Name and describe 1 weakness of deviation from social norms
It loses the objectivity that statistical infrequency benefits from: This is due to the subjective nature of having to decide exactly when someones behaviour is deviated from social norms enough to be considered abnormal. This makes this definition less accurate due to being open to opinion and interpretation
Name a second waekness of deviation form social norms
Cultural bias: a person from one cultural group may label someone from another culture as behaving abnormally according to their standards, rather than the standards of the person behaving that way. This is known as ethnocentrism
Define ethnocentrism
Where one culture is used as the standard by which other cultures are judged.
Outlines fernando’s research to back up the weakness of the deviation from social nroms definition.
People from Afro-Carribbean heritage in the UK are 7 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. If those people were tested in their own ciuntry by an Afro-Carribbean psychologist, then they may not hav been diagnose with schizophrenia due to hearing voices being seen as normal
Define failure to function adequately.
Where a person is unable to cope with the demands of everyday life
What are Rosenhan’s and Seligman’s 7 criteria to show whether someone is able to function adequately?
1) Pesronal distress 2) Maladaptive behaviour 3) Unpredictability 4) Irrationality 5) Observer discomfort 6) Violation of moral standards 7) Unconventionality
What is personal distress?
When an individual is experiencing distress of discomfort
What is maladaptive behaviour?
When a person engages it behaviour that makes life more difficult
What is Irrationality?
When an individual is incomprihensible. When they cannot communicate in a reasonable manor.
What us unpredictability?
When an individaul acts in a awy that is unpredictable.
What is unconventionality?
Experiencing things that are different
What is violation of moral standards?
Breaking ethical and moral standards.
What is observer discomfort?
Acting in ways which make others feel discomfort
Name and describe one strength of failure to function adequately
It takes into acount a person’s subjective experiences: It acknowledges something that other definitions such as statistical infrequency do not.
Name and describe one weakness of failure to function adequately.
Many forms of a bnormality do not stop people from functioning in their everyday life. For example some criminals who commit crimes feel no distress or anxiety at all. Their behaviour is clearly abnormal but does not affect their ability to function. As a result, these types of behaviour would go undiagnosed according to this definition.
What is deviation from ideal mental health?
Behaviour is abnormal when there is the lack of healthy (ideal) characteristics. It looks as what is ideal mental health, and then compares it to someone who doesn’t have these ideal features.
What are Jahoda’s criteria to be considered in ideal mental health?
1)Accurate perception of reality 2) Self- actualisation 3) Positive attitude to oneself 4) Environmental mastery 5) Autonomy 6) Resisting stress
What is a good acronym to remember Jahodas criteria to be considered having ideal mental health
A SPEAR (like a war weapon)
What is accurate perception of reality?
To have an objective and realistic view of the world, including themselves
What is self- actualisation
Fulfilling their potential, experiencing personal growth and becoming what you are capable of
What is positive attitude towards oneself?
Having high self-esteem and a strong sense of identity
What is environmental mastery?
Able to meet the varying demands of day-to-day situations
What is autonomy?
Being independant, self-reliant, and able to make personal decisions.
What is resisting stress?
Having effective coping strategies, and being able to cope with everyday anxiety, provoking situations
Name and describe one limitation of deviation from ideal mental health
It has an unrealistically high standard: Most likely, knon of us meet all the criteria at once, nor maintain them for very long. Just because someone is not self actualising and showing personal growth, that does not mean they are suffering from a mental disorder.
Name and describe a second weakness of deviation from ideal mental health
It is ethnocentic: The criteria used in this case is based on a westernised individualistic culture. Individualistic cultures such as the USA or the UK place the emphasis on the self and personal achievment. Whereas collectivist culture such as India, China, and Japan put the emphasis on the group identity and achievment, and what is best for the community.
