Abnormality Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are social norms?
The behaviour or characteristics that are expected, accepted and desirable within a community.
According do deviation from social norma what is abnormal behaviour?
Behaviour that violates or doesn’t conform to these expected, acceptable or desirable behaviour.
Strength of deviation of social norms -
Generally ensures that people get help as it is very clear to others in society that someone’s behaviour is abnormal.
Situational and developmental norms are taken into account.
Limitation of deviation of social norms -
Subjective and biased
Often relate to moral standards to changes over time
Cultural bias.
Define ethnocentrism -
Judging another culture based on the values and standards one’s own culture. There is a tendency to view the values and standards of one’s own culture as right and therefore superior to those of other cultures.
What is failure to function adequately?
The inability to cope with day-to-day living. When an individual’s behaviour is such that they are unable to work, form or maintain relationships, attend to their own physical needs etc.
What were the 7 abnormal features that Rosenhan and Seligman suggest might indicate a failure to function adequately?
Personal distress Maladaptive behaviour Unpredictability Irrationality Observer discomfort Violation of moral standards Unconventionality
THE MORE OF THESE FEATURES AN INDIVIDUAL SHOWS, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO BE FUNCTIONING ADEQUATELY.
Personal distress -
as might be experienced with depression or anxiety disorders.
Maladaptive behaviour -
stops individuals from attaining life goals
Unpredictability -
displaying unexpected behaviour characterised by loss of control.
Irrationality -
displaying behaviour that cannot be explained rationally
Observer discomfort -
Behaviour that makes others uncomfortable
Violation of moral standards -
displaying behaviour that goes against society’s norms
Unconventionality -
displaying unusual or eccentric behaviour
Strength of failure function adequately -
- Supported by the fact that people seek psychological help because their mental health is affecting their day-to-day life.
- It largely recognises the personal experience of the individual so the mental disorder is regarded from the sufferers perspective.
Limitation of failure to function adequately -
Abnormality is not always accompanied by disfunction (rlly clever) - Harold Shipman appeared normal but was a psychopath.
Cultural Bias
What is deviation from ideal mental health?
Jahonda turns the traditional notion of abnormality on its head by looking at positives rather than negatives.
removing the mental health stereotype
What were the 6 major criteria identified by Jahonda for ideal mental health?
- Positive attitude towards oneself.
- Self actualisation
- Autonomy
- Resisting stress
- Accurate perception of reality
- Environmental mastery
ANYONE WHO DOES NOT MEET ALL 6 OF THESE CRITERIA WOULD BE CONSIDERED ABNORMAL BY THIS DEFINITION.
Strength of deviation from ideal mental health -
emphasises positive achievements
allows creation of personal goals to work towards and achieve.
Limitation of deviation from ideal mental health -
Over demanding criteria - according to this definition most people are abnormal
Cultural bias
What is statistical infrequency?
This definition considers behaviours that are numerically rare in the population to be abnormal. It relies on psychological characteristics or behaviours being able to be measured and assigned some kind of score.
According to the statistical infrequency definition ……
any score that is so rare that falls more than two standard deviations away from the mean would be considered abnormal. This would occur in only 5% of the population.
Strength of the statistical infrequency definition -
Based on real, unbiased data.
NO value judgements are made - abnormal behaviour isn’t seen as wrong
Limitation of the statistical infrequency definition -
Not all infrequent behaviours are abnormal.
