Psychopathology: definitions of abnormality Flashcards
Define deviation from social norms.
any behaviour violating the accepted social rules.
What is a positive of deviation from social norms definition?
the norms will vary according to culture, situation, age or gender
e.g murder on the streets goes against society’s norms however, is accepted during war as the situation is different.
What is a negative of deviation from social norms definition?
cultural relativism where interpretations of the same behaviour differ between cultures. E.g. in western cultures, post-natal depression is accepted whereas in asian cultures it is seen as abnormal.
What is meant by the failure to function adequately definition?
this occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living. E.g. depression can lead to difficulties in maintaining relationships and personal hygiene.
According to Rosenham and Seligman, what are the seven features to class someone as abnormal?
observer discomfort
unconventionality
violation of moral standards
maladaptive behaviour
personal distress
unpredictability
irrationality
How are psychological disorders measured and diagnosed?
DSM
What is a positive of the DSM?
it is a reliable, accurate diagnosis which suggests potential treatments for the patients.
What is a positive of the failure to function adequately definition?
it allows judgement by others of whether individuals are functioning properly as it focuses on observable behaviour.
What is a limitation of the failure to function adequately definition?
the GAF is subjective as while it measures levels of functioning. kit doesn’t consider behaviour from an individual’s point of view. E.g. wearing flamboyant clothes might be normal for an eccentric but not for an introvert.
imposed etic which is where the researcher analyses findings in a biased manner against their own cultural belief. E.g. lifestyle choices.
What is meant by deviation from ideal mental health definition?
this occurs when a person fails to meet a certain set of criteria for perfect psychological well-being.
E.g. Gandhi deviated from ideal mental health because he starved himself to get his political view across which affected his psychological well being.
What are Jahoda’s six ideal mental health characteristics?
positive attitude towards ones self
self actualisation (motivated)
resisting stress
environmental mastery ( flexible and adapt)
accurate perception of reality
autonomy ( independent)
What is a positive of the deviation from ideal mental health definition?
it targets areas of dysfunction resulting in a personalised treatment.
What is a negative of the deviation from ideal mental health definition?
it is culture bound. For example, Jahoda’s criteria reflects western culture valueing autonomy whereas the asian culture value group achievement.
What is meant by the statistical infrequency definition?
This definition focuses on rare and less common characteristics compared to the statistical average of common normal characteristics in the rest of the population.
How is statistical infrequency usually presented?
usually presented as a distribution curve which highlights the mean average of common characteristics of the normal population compared to 5% of the population falling outside of the curve. This 5% deviate from the statistical norm.
