Psychopathology Lessons 1-4 (Definition of Abnormalities)

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

Psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders (abnormalities) such as depression, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Question 2

What do we have to do before we can diagnose someone with a mental disorder?

Answer 2

We must decide in what way their behaviour differs from what is ‘normal’ (for example, what is abnormal?)

Question 3

What is Deviation from Social Norms?

Answer 3

Deviation from social norms as a definition for abnormality suggests that behaviour which goes against the unwritten rules about what is considered acceptable in a given society or culture is perceived as abnormal.

Question 4

How is deviant behaviour identified?

Answer 4

A behaviour is identified as deviant by comparing it to the moral standards which that society holds (values of what is right and wrong), or the rules which that society holds (the law).

For example, a social norm is to not steal due to society deeming it immoral AND because it also goes against rules/the law.

Question 5

What are the two types of rules within society?

Answer 5

Explicit and Codes of Conduct

Question 6

What are Explicit rules?

Answer 6

Set rules that could mean breaking the law and result in serious consequences (not killing someone).

Question 7

What are Codes of Conduct?

Answer 7

Expectations that we should try and abide by (wearing a suit to prom, not a tracksuit for example).

Question 8

What are two strengths of deviation from social norms?

Answer 8

+ It is very easy to distinguish the difference between normal and abnormal behaviour. Therefore, it is easy to identify a mental disorder meaning that the person can be removed to prevent them having negative, disturbing and damaging impacts upon the general public. For example, screaming very loudly in public could make an individual quite unsettled, upset and uncomfortable.

+ In some instances, deviation from social norms may be beneficial instead of undesirable. For example, the suffragettes deviated from social norms which benefitted women across the globe as they won women the right to vote.

Question 9

What are two weaknesses of Deviation from social norms?

Answer 9

• Deviation from social norms cannot effectively diagnose someone with a mental disorder without knowing the context of the situation. For example, if an adult was wearing a spider man costume in public, they may be considered abnormal. However, if they knew the context of the situation, for example, they were on the way to be an entertainer at a child’s birthday party, it would not be considered abnormal.
• You cannot properly identify whether a person has an abnormality by simply observing their behaviour - the person may just be odd or eccentric.

Question 10

What is Failure to Function Adequately?

Answer 10

This model of abnormality suggests that if an individual is unable to cope with everyday life, such as going to work or interacting well with others, they are abnormal. This can have an impact on an individuals personal, social and occupational life.

Question 11

What is an example of the definition of abnormality: failure to function adequately?

Answer 11

Someone with agoraphobia (mental disorder/abnormality) which is a fear of open spaces, may be afraid to leave their house which will disrupt their functioning (won’t leave the house for work or go to social gatherings etc;).

Question 12

Who came up with the 7 criteria for personal dysfunction?

Answer 12

Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)

Question 13

What are the 7 criteria for personal dysfunction?

Answer 13

SUMOVIV
Suffering 
Unpredictability 
Maladaptive Behaviour
Observer Discomfort
Vividness and Unconventionality
Irrationality and incomprehensibility
Violation of moral standards

Question 14

Does possessing more or less criteria make you more abnormal?

Answer 14

The more criteria a person possesses, the more abnormal they are.

Question 15

What is Suffering?

Answer 15

Feeling sad, anxious, worried or scared (suffering due to having a mental abnormality)

Question 16

What is Unpredictability and Loss of control?

Answer 16

Behaving in an uncontrolled, and often inappropriate way

Question 17

What is Maladaptive Behaviour?

Answer 17

This is behaviour which may stop individuals from attaining life goals, both socially and occupationally.

Question 18

What is Observer Discomfort?

Answer 18

This is where a person’s behaviour causes discomfort to others

Question 19

What is violation of moral and ideal standards?

Answer 19

Displaying behaviour which is considered immoral or violates society’s ethical standards.

Question 20

What is Irrationality and Incomprehensibility?

Answer 20

Displaying behaviours which cannot be explained logically

Question 21

What is Vividness and Unconventionality?

Answer 21

Displaying behaviour which does not conform to what is generally done in a certain situation (differs quite substantially).

Question 22

What is an advantage of Failure to Function adequately as a definition for abnormality?

Answer 22

Using the GAF scale (Global assessment of functioning scale) allows psychologists to accurately assess the degree of abnormality and how well the patient is coping with everyday life.

(The GAF scale assesses the rates of social, occupational and psychological functioning). For example, if a patient appears to not be coping very well in their social life, perhaps they are not functioning adequately and are therefore abnormal.

Question 23

What are 3 disadvantages of Failure to Function adequately as a definition for abnormality?

Answer 23

• A disadvantage of this definition of abnormality is that is is very subjective and lacks being scientific. For example, the 7 criteria used in this definition are very problematic because they are very difficult to measure and analyse due to there being no scale - this makes it hard to decide if a person is really abnormal or not.
• A disadvantage of this definition is that context must be taken into consideration when using the 7 criteria. There are times in a persons life when it is normal to be Suffering, for example, when a loved one dies. In this case, it would actually be abnormal to not be Suffering.
• A disadvantage of this definition is that abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction - many people who do have a psychological abnormality may appear to be normal and do not possess any of the 7 criteria. For example, Harold Shipman murdered 215 patients over 23 years, but still appeared to function adequately where he was a respectable member of his profession and had a family, while he was committing murder.

Question 24

What is Statistical Infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 24

Statistical Infrequency as a definition of abnormality suggests that any kind of rare or unusual behaviour which is statistically rare is abnormal.

Question 25

What is an example of statistically ‘normal’ behaviour and statistically ‘abnormal’ behaviour?

Answer 25

When looking at IQ scores, the average IQ score is 100.

• 65% of the population will have an IQ score between 85-115
• 95% of the population will have an average IQ score (between 70-130)
• 2.5% of the population will have a below average IQ score of 70 or less
• 2.5% of the population will have an above average IQ score of 130 or over

Therefore, in terms of IQ scores, abnormal people are those whose scores do not lie between 70-130 as those scores are considered statistically rare.

Question 26

How can we display statistical data such as IQ scores?

Answer 26

On a normal distribution curve

Question 27

In statistical terms, where do instances of abnormalities lie on a normal distribution curve?

Answer 27

At both extremes of the normal distribution curve

Question 28

What does a left skewed distribution curve look like and what does it show? (3)

Answer 28

A left skewed distribution curve has a long tail on the left.
A left skewed distribution curve has the mean first, then the median and lastly the mode at the peak of this curve.
A left skewed distribution curve has most of its data concentrated on the right hand side meaning that it is displaying statistically higher scores.

Question 29

What does a right skewed distribution curve look like and what does it show? (3)

Answer 29

A right skewed distribution curve has a long tail on the right.
A right skewed distribution curve has the mode first at the peak of the curve, then the median and lastly the mean.
A right skewed distribution curve has most of its data concentrated on the left hand side meaning that it is displaying statistically lower scores.

Question 30

What is an advantage of Statistical Infrequency as a definition for abnormality?

Answer 30

Judgments are made off of objective, scientific and unbiased data which can help indicate abnormality for example, through IQ scores. This means that a person with a psychological abnormality can easily be identified and given the help which they need.

Question 31

What are three disadvantages of Statistical Infrequency as a definition for abnormality?

Answer 31

• This definition fails to account for behaviour which is statistically rare but desirable (not abnormal). For example, having an IQ score over 130 may be statistically rare, but it does not make you abnormal - high intelligence is desirable.
• Some psychological abnormalities were not statistically rare. For example, 27% of elderly people can be affected by depression. This makes depression ‘common’ and not statistically rare, but this does not mean that it is not still a problem/abnormality.
• Not all statistically rare behaviours can be associated with normality / abnormality. For instance, left handed people are statistically rare, but they are no more normal or abnormal than right handed people.

Question 32

What is Deviation from Ideal Mental Health as a definition for abnormality?

Answer 32

Deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality, suggests that behaviour is abnormal if it fails to meet prescribed criteria for psychological normality.

Question 33

Who devised the concept of ideal mental health?

Answer 33

Marie Jahoda (1958)

Question 34

Jahoda came up with 6 criteria. What is the function of these 6 criteria in terms of abnormality?

Answer 34

Jahoda argued that the concept of normality was too vague and needed to be operationalised more. Therefore, Jahoda suggested that in order to be classed as ‘normal’, and have a positive mental health, individuals had to fulfil all 6 of her criteria at the same time. An absence of these criteria indicates that an individual is ‘abnormal’.

Question 35

What are the 6 criteria which Jahoda identified?

Answer 35

APPIES
Autonomy
Personal growth
Perception of reality
Integration
Environmental Mastery
Self-attitudes

Question 36

What is Autonomy?

Answer 36

The degree at which an individual is independent, self-reliant and able to make personal decisions for oneself.

Question 37

What is Personal Growth?

Answer 37

The extent of an individuals self-actualisation (striving to reach their full potential / personal development).

Question 38

What is Perception of Reality?

Answer 38

Perceiving the world in a non-distorted way and having a realistic, objective view of the world without the interference of hallucinations or delusions.

Question 39

What is Integration?

Answer 39

The ability to manage everyday anxiety-provoking and stressful situations

Question 40

What is Environmental Mastery?

Answer 40

This is the extent to which an individual is competent in all aspects of life where they can successfully meet the demands of any situation by having the flexibility to adapt well to changing life circumstances.

Question 41

What are Self Attitudes?

Answer 41

Having self-respect, high self-esteem, confidence and a strong, positive sense of identity.

Question 42

What are 3 disadvantages of Deviation from Ideal Mental Health as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 42

• The criteria used to judge ideal mental health is subject to cultural relativism (differences across cultures) and should not be used to judge different cultures. For example, collectivist cultures (India or Japan) focus on communal goals and see ‘autonomy’ as undesirable which is different to individualistic cultures (western societies) which see ‘autonomy’ as desirable. Therefore, people a part of these cultures would be classed as ‘abnormal’ when in reality they’re not. Therefore, the disadvantage of this definition is that it cannot be used across cultures.
• Jahoda’s 6 criteria are very demanding and unrealistic where it would be very unlikely that someone would fulfil all 6 criteria at the same time. For example, very few people experience Personal Growth at all times in their life.
• Many of the criteria are very vague and difficult to measure meaning that identifying if someone is abnormal is very subjective and potentially inaccurate. For example, how can we measured if someone has reached their full potential? Therefore, a weakness of this definition is that it is not scientific or objective.