Psychopathology - definitions of abnormality Flashcards

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1
Q

what is statistical infrequency

A
  • 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
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2
Q

what are the strengths of statistical infrequency

A
  • used in clinical practice
  • diagnose and can assess severity of symptoms
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3
Q

what are the limitations of statistical infrequency

A
  • 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
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4
Q

what is deviation from social norms

A
  • behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
  • homosexuality used to be considered as an abnormal behaviour
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5
Q

what are the strengths of deviation from social norms

A
  • used in clinical practice
  • identify characteristics of antisocial personality disorder - failure to conform to normal ethical behaviour
  • recklessness, violating rights of others
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6
Q

what are the limitations of deviations from social norms

A

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

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7
Q

what is failure to function adequately

A
  • 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

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8
Q

what are the strengths of failing to function adequately

A
  • represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
  • treatment and services can be targeted ti those who need them the most
  • criteria
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9
Q

what are the limitations of failing to function adequately

A
  • 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
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10
Q

what is deviation from ideal mental health

A
  • 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

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11
Q

what are the strengths of deviation from ideal mental health

A
  • person’s mental health can be discussed meaningfully with professionals
  • provides a checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others
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12
Q

what are the limitations of deviation from ideal mental health

A
  • 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
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