- Flashcards
Definition of psychopathology
The scientific study of psychological disorders (mental illnesses).
Definition of deviation from social norms
Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
Definition of statistical infrequency
Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, for example being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the population
Definition of failure to function adequately
Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living
Definition of deviation from ideal mental health
Jahoda identified 6 major criteria for optimal living, which she believed promoted psychological health and well-being, enabling an individual to feel happy (free of distress) and behave competently.
She claimed that anyone lacking any of these qualities would be vulnerable to mental disorder, and therefore ‘abnormal’. The more characteristics they fail to meet and the further they are from realising them, the more abnormal they are.
Definitions of abnormality
How health professionals decide whether someone is ‘normal’ (mentally healthy) or ‘abnormal’ (mentally ill).
What are the 6 criteria and their definitions
- Self-attitudes – having high self-esteem and a strong sense of identity, high self-respect and a positive self-concept
- Personal growth and self-actualisation – the extent to which an individual develops their full capabilities i.e. fulfilling their potential
- Integration – being able to cope with stressful situations
- Autonomy – being independent and self-reliant and able to make personal decisions
- Having an accurate perception of reality – perceiving the world in a non-distorted fashion. Having an objective and realistic view of the world.
- Mastery of the environment – being competent in all aspects of life and being able to meet the demands of any situation e.g. the ability to love, function at work and in interpersonal relationships, adjust to new situations and solve problems.
A strength of deviation from social norms
It factors in the desirability of behaviour, which is ignored by other definitions of abnormality
This means that behaviours that are numerically rare (and so statistically abnormal) can be socially acceptable and therefore not abnormal
More useful than statistical infrequency
Definition of social norms
Social norms are the rules that a society (hence social) has about what are acceptable behaviours, values and beliefs. These are adhered to by those socialised into that group. Can be explicit or implicit.
3 limitations of deviation from social norms
The definition is that social norms vary as times change –> lack temporal validity
Over-reliance on using social norms to define abnormality can lead to violations of human rights –> nymphomania –> definition can be used unethically
Suffers from cultural relativism –> social norms are defined by the culture –> not be externally valid
A strength of statistical infrequency
Real life application –> clinical assessment for the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder –>definition is externally valid
3 weaknesses of statistical infrequency
Some statistically rare/infrequent behaviours that are actually quite desirable (IQ) –> using statistical infrequency to define abnormality means that we are unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours
Suffers from cultural relativism –> Not externally valid
When someone is living a happy and fulfilled life, there is no benefit in them being labelled as abnormal –> definition could cause unnecessary psychological harm and so a cost-benefit analysis should be applied before using it to define someone as abnormal.
A strength of failure to function adequately
It attempts to include the subjective experience of the individual and its importance –> seems to be a useful way of assessing abnormality by taking into account the person’s subjective experience.
3 weaknesses of failure to function adequately
Psychopaths can cause great harm and yet still appear normal –> the definition lacks validity because it is not able to measure what it intends to measure
Suffers from cultural relativism –> not externally valid - creates problems for people from one culture living within another culture group as their behaviour may be classed as coping with everyday living in their own culture, but not coping with everyday living in the culture in which they are now living
Someone has to judge whether a patient is distressed or distressing others –> The judgements are subjective and so may mean that people who would benefit from help may not get it as they are not classed as abnormal and vice versa
2 strengths of deviation from ideal mental health
The definition is very comprehensive - covers a broad range of criteria for mental health, and therefore most of the reasons why someone would seek help from mental health services or be referred for help –> the definition is a useful tool for thinking about mental health
Presents ideal criteria –> it makes it clear how everyone could improve their mental health, and therefore could be used to identify who might benefit from seeking treatment
3 weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health
Suffers from cultural relativism (criteria might not be ideal for other cultures) –> not externally valid
The criteria are quite difficult to measure –> not really useable when it comes to identifying abnormality because the criteria are too subjective
Perceptions of reality change over time –> suggests that the definition may not be a valid way of identifying abnormality unless such changes are taken into account.
Definition of phobia
An irrational fear of an object or situation that interferes with everyday living
Definition of depression
A mental disorder characterised by low mood and energy levels
Definition of OCD
A condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour. Obsessions are cognitive whereas compulsions are behavioural.
Definition of behavioural characteristics
Ways in which people act
Definition of emotional characteristics
Related to a person’s feelings or mood
Definition of cognitive characteristics
Refers to the process of ‘knowing’, including thinking, reasoning, remebering and believing
2 emotional characteristics of phobias
Anxiety – anxiety is an unpleasant state of high arousal, prevents the sufferer relaxing, can be long-term.
Emotional responses are unreasonable – the emotional responses that we experience in relation to phobic stimuli go beyond what is reasonable (i.e. it is disproportionate to the danger posed by the phobic stimulus).
3 behavioural characteristics of phobias
Panic – includes crying, screaming or running away. Children may react slightly differently, such as by freezing, clinging or having a tantrum.
Avoidance – when a person is faced with the object or situation which creates the fear, the immediate response it to avoid it in order to reduce the chances of such anxiety responses occurring this can make it hard to go about daily life.
Endurance – instead of avoiding, endurance may occur. This is when a sufferer remains in the presence of the phobic stimulus but continues to experience high levels of anxiety, may be unavoidable in some situations
3 cognitive characteristics of phobias
Selective attention to the source of the phobia – if a person sees the phobic stimulus, it is hard to look away from it.
Irrational beliefs – they may hold irrational beliefs in relation to the stimuli.
Cognitive distortions – The phobic person’s perceptions of the phobic stimulus maybe distorted. So someone with a phobia of snakes may see them as alien and aggressive looking.
