PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - types of abnormality (2)

Question 1

what is failure to function to adequately?

Answer 1

occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living

Question 2

what did Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) propose ?

Answer 2

• found signs people show which determine that they aren’t coping:
• when someone no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules
• experience severe personal distress
• irrational or dangerous behaviour towards themselves or others.

Question 3

what are the 6 features of personal dysfunction?

Answer 3

• personal distress
• maladaptive behaviour = unexpected behaviours
• unpredictability
• violation of moral standards
• observer discomfort
• unconventionality = displaying unconventional behaviours
• irrationality

Question 4

what is an example of failure to function adequately?

Answer 4

For example a diagnosis for intellectual disability would not be diagnosed for low IQ score only, they also must be failing to function adequately.

Question 5

what is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 5

occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health

Question 6

what does ideal mental health look like? what did Jahoda (1958) suggest?

Answer 6

• Jahoda suggested we have good mental health if we:
• have no symptoms of distress
• rational
• we can self actualise
• can cope with stress
• have a realistic view of the world
• good self-esteem
  -lack of guilt

Question 7

Evaluate the failure to function criterion.

Answer 7

+ represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
anyone facing severe symptoms = cannot function adequately.
This means that treatment can be targeted to those who need it the most.

+ focuses on observable behaviours = allows judgement by others of whether individuals are functioning properly as it focuses on observable behaviours.

-not easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
eg it is hard to tell whether someone is failing to function when they participate in spiritual practices.
This means people who take part in unusual choices are at risk of being labelled as abnormal = freedom of choice will be restricted.

• normal abnormality = there are times when an individual may suffer from distress. e.g when loved ones die. grieving is psychologically healthy to overcome loss.

Question 8

evaluate deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 8

+ IMH criterion is all-inclusive
eg Jahodas concept covers most of the reasons why we may seek for mental health = so individuals mental health can be discussed meaningfully with professionals = provides a checklist against which we can assess ourself.

• different parts of Jahodas criterion is not equally applicable across a range of cultures.
  eg in germany high value is placed on personal independence but in italy it is low.
  This means it is difficult to apply the concept of ideal mental health from one culture to another.
• diagnosing mental health is more subjective = relying on self reports = not reliable
• IMH changes over time. eg 13th century Europe = seeing visions was a positive sign of religious commitment. Now it is seen as schizophrenia.