Abnormality

Question 1

What is Statistical Infrequency?

Answer 1

Abormal behaviours that are very rare when looked at as a standard of deviation

Question 2

How is statistical infrequency determined?

Answer 2

By statistics being taken in a population and a normal distrubution being found. Any behaviour outside of this is considered abnormal.

Question 3

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 3

Statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately and deviation from ideal mental health

Question 4

Name 3 limitations of statistical infrequency

Answer 4

Some abnormal behaviour is desirable, not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent, behaviours are dependent on cultures

Question 5

Name 3 advantages of statistical infrequency

Answer 5

1. It is based on real, unbiased data.
2. No value judgments are made
3. It can help to define mental disorders such as an intellectual disability disorder

Question 6

What is meant by ‘Deviation from Social Norms’?

Answer 6

When a behaviour doesn’t fit within what is generally considered to be socially acceptable

Question 7

In DSN, give an of a social norm

Answer 7

Wearing clothes

Question 8

In DSN, Are social norms just about how we behave?

Answer 8

No, they are also about how think eg moral or sexual attitudes

Question 9

Give 3 limitations of Deviation from social norms

Answer 9

1. It is subjective / can be abused
2. It depends on context and degree
3. It depends on the culture

Question 10

Give 3 strengths of Deviation of social norms

Answer 10

1. It protects society by defining useful behaviour
2. It distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour
3. Helpful in healthcare

Question 11

What is the Failure to Function Adequately?

Answer 11

When a person’s ability to cope with life means they display abnormal behaviour

Question 12

In FFA, how can we judge if someone is functioning adequately?

Answer 12

If someone is able to do everyday physical, mental and social tasks (eg bathing, schoolwork, making friends)

Question 13

In FFA, who made a list of the features of personal dysfunction?

Answer 13

Rosenham and Seligman

Question 14

Name and describe 3 of Rosenhan and Seligman’s features of personal disfunction

Answer 14

1. Suffering - giving excessive emotional responses
2. Observer discomfort - making others feel uncomfortable
3. Irrationality - unreasonable thinking our behaviour

Question 15

Name 3 limitations of FFA

Answer 15

1. Too much focus of the individual
2. Abnormality doesn’t always stop the person from functioning
3. Everyday life varies across cultures

Question 16

Name 3 strengths of FFA

Answer 16

1. It tagged into account how the individual feels
2. It is measurable (GAF scale)
3. The behaviour is observable

Question 17

Who defined Deviation from Ideal Mental Health?

Answer 17

Marie Jahoda 1958

Question 18

Name Jahoda’s 6 ideal mental health criteria

Answer 18

Resistance to stress
Environmental mastery
Autonomy
Accurate self view
Positive view of self
Personal growth

Question 19

How did Jahoda use her Mental Health criteria?

Answer 19

The more criteria a person fails to meet, the more abnormal they are

Question 20

Give 2 strenths of the Deviation from mental health approach

Answer 20

1. It identifies problems so that they can be targeted to get rid of them
2. It focuses on the positive outcomes for the person

Question 21

Give 3 limitations of the Deviation from the ideal of mental health

Answer 21

1. Achieving all 6 criteria is impossible
2. The Autonomy point is ok for Western cultures but may not be universal
3. The points are difficult to measure