BMT - Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
What is deviation from social norms?
Unwritten rules for acceptable behavior (i.e. not wearing pants on your head in public)
abnormal behavior is behavior that goes against social norms
What are strengths of deviation from social norms?
- Protects society
protects society from the effects an individual’s abnormal behavior can have on others - Social Dimension
the definition gives social dimensions to the idea of abnormality which offers alternative to the isolated ‘sick-in-the-head’ individual
What are limitations of deviation from social norms?
- Change over time
- Individualism
those who do not conform to social norms may not be abnormal but eccentric and not problematic - Cultural differences
What is the failure to function adequately definition?
Rosenhan and Seligman -
sees individuals as abnormal when their behavior suggests that they cannot cope with everyday life.
What are the 7 features of personal dysfunction?
observer discomfort personal distress irrationality unpredictability manipulative behavior violation of moral standards unconventionality (OPIUM VU)
What is personal distress?
a key feature of abnormality. includes depression and anxiety disorders
What is manipulative behavior?
behavior stopping individuals from attaining life goals, both socially and occupationally
What is unpredictability?
Displaying unexpected behaviors characterized by loss of control, like attempting suicide after failing a test.
What is observer discomfort?
displaying behavior causing discomfort to others
What is violation of moral standards?
displaying behavior violating society’s moral standards
What is unconventionality?
displaying unconventional behaviors
What do clinicians use to asses how well an individual copes with everyday life and what does it rate?
Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF)
rates their level of social, occupational and psychological functioning
What are some strengths of the FFA definition ?
- Personal Perspective
recognizes the personal experience of sufferers and thus allows mental disorders to be regarded from the perception of the individuals suffering them. - Assesses degree of abnormality
as the GAF is scored on a continuous scale, it allows clinicians to see the degree to which individuals are abnormal and thus decide who needs psychiatric help
What are some limitations of the FFA definition?
- Abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction
psychopaths can cause great harm yet still appear normal (i.e. Harold Shipman murdered at least 215 of his patients seemed to be respectable by was abnormal) - Distress to others
behavior may cause distress to other people and be regarded as dysfunctional while the person in question feels no distress, like Stephen Gough, the naked rambler
What is deviation from the ideal mental health definition?
The idea is that there are various theoretical descriptions of ‘normality’ and if someone does not fit within this theoretical idea of normality their behavior is abnormal.
What are the 6 characteristics of ideal mental health stated by Jahoda?
self-actualization positive attitude towards oneself environmental mastery autonomy resisting stress accurate perception of reality (SPEARA)
What is positive attitude towards oneself?
Having self-respect and a positive self-concept
What is self-actualization?
Experiencing personal growth and development
What is autonomy?
being independent, self-reliant and able to make personal decisions
What is resisting stress?
having effective coping strategies and being able to cope with everyday anxiety-provoking situations
What is accurate perception of reality?
Perceiving the world in a non-distorted fashion. Having an objective and realistic view of the world
What is environmental mastery?
Being competent in all aspects of life and able to meet the demands of any situations. Having the flexibility to adapt to changing life circumstances
What makes an individual more abnormal than others?
The more characteristics individuals fail to meet, the more abnormal they are
What are strengths of the ideal mental health definition?
Targets areas of dysfunction - allows targeting of which areas to work on when treating abnormality.
Positivity - emphasises positive achievements rather than failures and distress and stresses a positive approach to mental problems by focusing on what is desirable
