Psychopathology - definitions of abnormality Flashcards
what is statistical infrequency
- individual has a less common characteristic than the rest of the population
- average IQ 100
- 68% have IQ in 85-115
- 2% score below 70 - likely to be diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder
what are the strengths of statistical infrequency
- used in clinical practice
- diagnose and can assess severity of symptoms
what are the limitations of statistical infrequency
- infrequent characteristics can be positive and negative
- someone isn’t abnormal for having a high IQ
- someone isn’t abnormal for having a low depression score
what is deviation from social norms
- behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
- homosexuality used to be considered as an abnormal behaviour
what are the strengths of deviation from social norms
- used in clinical practice
- identify characteristics of antisocial personality disorder - failure to conform to normal ethical behaviour
- recklessness, violating rights of others
what are the limitations of deviations from social norms
Cultural and situational relativism
- person from one cultural group may label someone as abnormal from another culture
- hearing voices can be linked with SZ or normal in other cultures
what is failure to function adequately
- someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living
Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)
- can no longer conform to interpersonal rules
- severe personal distress
- behaviour is irrational or dangerous
what are the strengths of failing to function adequately
- represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
- treatment and services can be targeted ti those who need them the most
- criteria
what are the limitations of failing to function adequately
- easy to label non-standard life choices as abnormal
- difficult to say if someone is failing to function adequately or deviating from social norms
- people who make unusual life choices at risk of being labelled abnormal
what is deviation from ideal mental health
- someone doesn’t meet a set of criteria for good mental health
Marie Jahoda (1958)
- no symptoms or distress
- rational
- self actualise
- cope with stress
- realistic view of the world
- good self esteem
- successfully work, love, enjoy leisure
what are the strengths of deviation from ideal mental health
- person’s mental health can be discussed meaningfully with professionals
- provides a checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others
what are the limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
- criteria located in the USA and western Europe
- cannot be applied across all cultures
- not everyone can achieve all aspects of the criteria
- can be disheartening to not meet all aspects
- practical value in the sense that it is goals and individual can work towards for themselves