psychopathology Flashcards
statistical infrequency
trait or behaviour is classified as abnormal if rare or statistically unusual
less than 5% of population
evaluation of statistical infrequency - positive characteristics
rare behaviours have no baring on abnormality
those with high iq is not seen as abnormal
depression is very common but doesnt mean its a problem
evaluation of statistical infrequency - not reported
some disorders rare because not reported
cohen - few mental illnesses reported in india because mental illness is seen as a curse
evaluation of statistical infrequency - real world application
statistical infrequency used in clinical practice as an assessment tool for diagnosis
beck’s depression inventory - determine severity of depression
deviation from social norms
a behaviour which deviates from accepted standards within society
evaluation of social norms - culturally relative
disorders are diagnosed differently in different places - behaviour seen as deviation in one society may be acceptable eg hearing voices
evaluation of social norms - varies over time
what is acceptable now may not have been 50 years ago
nymphomania - control women in past
evaluation of social norms - context
some behaviours only seen abnormal in wrong context
emphasises the importance of taking context of behaviour into account
failure to function adequately
no longer cope with ordinary demands of everyday life - lack of hygiene, poor nutrition
rosenhan and seligman - suffering, maladaptiveness, irrational, vividness
evaluation of failure to function adequately - economic conditions
holding down a job and supporting family may not always be possible and high unemployment rates prevent this
evaluation of failure to function adequately - cultural relativism
what is classed as irrational in some cultures is not in others
explain why lower class non-white patients diagnosed more often - non-traditional lifestyle
evaluation of failure to function adequately - alternative lifestyles
some people choose to live alternative lifestyles such as those off the grid or adrenaline junkies
deviation from ideal mental health
judged mental health in same way physical health
jahoda - positive attitude towards self, resistant to stress, self actualisation
evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health - unrealistic
many of us would struggle to meet many of these criteria at some point in our lives
impossibly high standard of mental health
evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health - culture-bound
some criteria can be seen as western ideals - self-actualisation
many cultures do not consider this to be a desirable trait
