Psychopathology L1 - 4 (Abnormalities)

Question 1

Deviation from social norms:

Answer 1

Any behaviour that doesn’t follow accepted social norms

Question 2

How do norms, values and accepted way to behave vary?

Answer 2

They vary from culture to culture and time period to period

Question 3

What does deviation from social norms focus on?

Answer 3

• The impact of one’s behaviour on others
• How desirable the behaviour is

Question 4

Positives of deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality:

Answer 4

• Distinguishes difference between desirable and non-desirable behaviour
• Could lead to progression/change
• Increases our understanding + knowledge of mental disorders

Question 5

Negatives of deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality:

Answer 5

• Context must be considered
• It does not clearly indicate someone has a psychological abnormality

Question 6

Failure to function adequately:

Answer 6

Model of abnormality where a person is unable to cope with day to day life because they are experiencing psychological discomfort

Question 7

What is used to assess social, occupational + psychological functioning?

Answer 7

GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale)

Question 8

Who proposed the 7 criteria, what are they (SUMOVIV) and what does the score mean?

Answer 8

Proposed by Rosenhan + Seligman. The higher the score, the more abnormal. 7 criteria:
- Suffering –> suffering due to abnormality
- Unpredictability + Loss of control –> variable, sometimes inappropriate behaviour
- Maladaptiveness –> can’t achieve major life goals
- Observer Discomfort –> others feel discomfort when they break social norms
- Unconventionality + Vividness –> behave very differently to normal people
- Irrationality + Incomprehensibility –> unclear why they would act that way
- Violation of moral standards –> abnormal if they break moral standards

Question 9

What are the evaluations (however…) of the 7 criteria?

Answer 9

• Suffering –> Expected in some contexts
• Unpredictability –> Some behave like this eg. After binge-drinking
• Maladaptiveness –> Could also be due to a lack of relevant knowledge
• Observer Discomfort –> Could be due to cultural differences
• Unconventionality –> Could non-conformists/eccentrics
• Irrationality –> Could just be unclear to us due to lack of knowledge
• Violation of moral standards –> Standards may be out of date/ approved by minority leaders

Question 10

Positives of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality:

Answer 10

• Psychologists can assess degree of abnormality with the criteria

Question 11

Negatives of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality:

Answer 11

• Abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction eg. Ted Bundy
• Model is subjective and difficult to measure/analyse
• Context is significant for some of the criteria

Question 12

Statistical infrequency:

Answer 12

When an individual possesses a less common, rare characteristic than most of the population

Question 13

How can statistical infrequency be displayed?

Answer 13

On a Normal Distribution Curve

Question 14

Features of a left-skewed graph:

Answer 14

• Negative skewness
• Tail of distribution lies to left
• Mean + median have lesser value than mode
• Scores concentrated to right of distribution

Question 15

Features of a right-skewed graph:

Answer 15

• Positive skewness
• Tail of distribution lies to right
• Mean and median have a greater value than mode
• Scores are concentrated to left of distribution

Question 16

Positives of statistical infrequency:

Answer 16

• Statistical infrequency can be a good thing
• Judgements are based on objective, scientific and unbiased data

Question 17

Negatives of statistical infrequency:

Answer 17

• Labels some as abnormal, which can negatively affect self-confidence
• Subjective cut-off point that can be questioned

Question 18

What is deviation from ideal mental health based on?

Answer 18

• the Humanist approach, which focuses on motivation + self-development
• the ‘Hierarchy of needs’ devised by Maslow whereby humans’ basic needs are met first before other things

Question 19

Who devised deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 19

Marie Jahoda

Question 20

What is self-actualisation?

Answer 20

Humans should strive to reach their full potential

Question 21

6 criteria of positive mental health (APPIES)

Answer 21

• Autonomy –> independent of social influence
• Perception of reality –> no distortion of reality, w/ empathy + social sensitivity
• Personal growth –> self-actualisation
• Integration –> cope w/ stressful situations
• Environmental mastery –> well-adapted to environment
• Self-attitudes –> high self esteem + sense of identity

Question 22

Strengths of deviation from ideal mental health:

Answer 22

• Positive and productive, as criteria provides a therapeutic goal for humans
• Can highlight + target areas of dysfunction for psychologists

Question 23

Weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health:

Answer 23

• Abstract and difficult to define/measure
• Very few people can obtain all six criteria at once