Abnormalities Flashcards
Abnormalities (20 cards)
How can we define abnormality?
Deviation from social norms, Failure to function adequately, Deviation from ideal mental health, Statistical Infrequency
What are social norms?
Explicit and implicit rules about acceptable behaviours, values, and beliefs in a society
What happens to people who do not follow social norms?
They are often labelled as abnormal
Give an example of a cultural norm related to food.
Century Egg, a Chinese delicacy of eggs buried until the yolk turns dark green
What do lip plates signify in certain cultures?
They denote how valuable a woman is, measured by the number of cattle she is worth
What is an example of a cultural practice during the festival of Ashura?
Self-flagellation by Shiite Muslims as a mark of respect and devotion
True or False: Eccentric behavior is always a sign of a mental disorder.
False
What is the role of context in defining abnormality?
Social norms change according to context, e.g., swearing is acceptable at a football match but not at a classical concert
How have social norms changed over time regarding homosexuality in the UK?
It was criminal until 1967, then became accepted in society
What constitutes failure to function adequately?
Inability to cope with everyday life demands, such as self-care and social interaction
What is a limitation of the failure to function adequately definition?
Most people struggle to function adequately at some point without being considered abnormal
Who is an example of a highly functioning psychopath?
Harold Shipman
What are Jahoda’s six criteria for optimal living?
- Positive Attitude towards the self
- Self-actualisation of potential
- Resistance to stress
- Personal Autonomy
- Accurate Perception of Reality
- Adapting to and mastering the environment
What is a limitation of Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health?
The criteria set the bar too high, classifying most people as abnormal
What is a potential benefit of stress?
Some people work more efficiently under pressure
What is a cultural limitation of Jahoda’s ideal mental health criteria?
The criteria are based on Western ideas and may not apply universally, e.g., women in Saudi Arabia
What defines statistical infrequency in abnormality?
Exhibiting behavior that is rare or uncommon
True or False: Statistically infrequent behavior is always undesirable.
False
What is a limitation regarding subjectivity in statistical infrequency?
The cut-off point for statistical infrequency is subjectively determined
How do doctors use statistics in clinical diagnosis?
They diagnose disorders based on statistical thresholds, e.g., Intellectual disability disorder for IQ scores in the bottom 2.5%
