Defining Abnormality Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is psychopathology?
The scientific study of psychological disorders.
What are the 4 ways of defining abnormality?
- Statistical infrequency.
- Deviation from social norms.
- Failure to function adequately.
- Deviation from ideal mental health.
What is statistical infrequency?
- This states that human behaviour is abnormal if it is statistically rare or outside the range which is typical for most people.
- Most aspects of human behaviour can be displayed on a normal distribution curve. Less than 5% of the population will be found at plus or minus two standard deviations so any behaviours falling into these points are statistically rare.
What is an example of statistical infrequency?
- The average IQ is set at 100. Majority of people (68%) have an IQ of 85 to 115.
- Only 2.5% of the population have a score below 70. This is unusual and can be classed as a psychological disorder.
- The same applies for the 2.5% on the other end of spectrum, who can be called as genius, which is also abnormal according to this definition.
- Furthermore, around 1% of the population have schizophrenia. This is infrequent enough to be statistically rare and therefore abnormal.
Evaluate statistical infrequency.
+ It has real world applications. For example, it is used in clinical practice, both as part as formal diagnosis and as a way to assess the severity of symptoms. An example of statistical infrequency is Beck’s depression inventory where a score of 30+ is widely interpreted as indicating severe depression. This is a strength as it can help increase the reliability of diagnosis between doctors. However, cut off points are arbitrary and subjective.
— Some abnormal behaviours are not statistically rare. For example, 20-30% of people will suffer depression during their lifetime. Statistically, this is relatively common, but it is not considered normal. This is therefore a weakness as it limits how useful the definition is.
+ It less ethnocentric as the behaviours that are rare are considered abnormal. For example, statistical infrequency definitions of abnormality are based on mathematical criteria and doesn’t take cultural views/opinions into account. However, the criteria may be biased by cultural views.
What is deviation from social norms?
- Abnormality can be measured by how far a person’s behaviour deviates from the socially accepted norms or values of their society.
- Norms are the unwritten and unstated rules of how we should behave if we are to be accepted by our social society.
What is an example of deviation from social norms?
Antisocial personality disorder:
- A person with antisocial personality disorder is impulse, aggressive and irresponsible.
- One important symptom is the “absence of pro social internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful or culturally normative ethical behaviour”.
- This means that the judgement that a psychopath is abnormal is because they don’t conform to our moral standards.
Evaluate deviation from social norms.
- Dependent on social context:
— For example, going to the bathroom to urinate is normal behaviour whereas urinating in a classroom is seen as abnormal.
— Defining abnormality is a relative concept. - Views can change over time:
— For example, homosexuality was classed as a disease until 1980 in America.
— Therefore it is not reliable as morals and norms change. - Cultural relativism:
— Hearing voices is regarded as abnormal and a symptom of psychiatric illness. However in remote cultures such as the Shamans, hearing voices is desirable.
— Each culture has a different view and what is normal and abnormal.
+ Some behaviours are considered abnormal regardless of culture, so the definition is not entirely irrelevant. - Aids social interaction:
+ People avoid behaving in socially deviant ways to not upset others.
What is failure to function adequately?
- An individual has the inability to cope with life, reaching a point of dysfunction.
- Rosenhan & Seligman suggested the concept of dysfunction could include:
1. Personal distress (experienced as intense unhappiness, sleep loss, constant tiredness)
2. Dysfunctional or maladaptive behaviour (stops the person from achieving satisfaction from goals)
3. Irrational behaviour (when behaviour does not appear to make sense or unable to communicate effectively)
What is an example of failure to function adequately?
Schizophrenia:
- This is when a person can have hallucinations which lead to irrational behaviour.
Evaluate failure to function adequately.
- Subjective experience is recognised:
+ Views the mental disorder from the point of view of the person experiencing it.
+ Relatively easy to judge. - Useful to identify abnormality:
+ Easy to assess the maladaptive consequences of abnormal behaviour.
+ Can help to identify those who might be suffering.
— May not be linked to abnormality but other factors, such as failure to keep a job may be due to the economic situation. - Social context:
— Some dysfunctional behaviour might be adaptive and functional for the individual, such as doing on a hunger strike or a bereaved person showing signs of suffering.
— It is subjective to know when suffering through grief becomes abnormal, therefore the definition is difficult to apply consistently. - Some psychological disorders do not prevent a person from functioning adequately:
— Harold Shipman was able to kill over 200 patients whilst functioning adequately.
— Not all abnormalities would be identified through the definition alone.
What is deviation from ideal mental health?
-There is a criteria to measure ideal mental health. The absence of the criteria indicates abnormality
- The criteria:
1. Self attitudes
2. Personal growth and self actualisation
3. Integration
4. Autonomy
5. Having a perception of reality
6. Mastery of the environment
What is an example of deviation from ideal mental health?
Depression:
- Patients usually have low self esteem (negative self attitudes) and struggle to make decisions (not autonomous).
Evaluate deviation from ideal mental health.
- Positive approach:
+ Offers an alternative perspective that focuses on what is desirable rather than what is not.
+ Furthermore, it can be translated into useful therapeutic aims and goals to be set during treatment. - Unrealistic criteria:
— According to the criteria, most people are abnormal.
— Furthermore, the criteria is difficult to measure. It is not useable when it comes to identifying abnormality. - Equates medical and physical health:
— Physical illnesses have physical causes that can be detected and diagnosed.
- Most mental disorders form from life experiences, so diagnosing mental abnormal in the same way as physical abnormality is unlikely. - Cultural relativism:
— The goal of self actualisation is only relevant to individualistic cultures.
- If the criteria was applied to collectivist cultures, many would be classed as abnormal.
- Limits the usefulness of the definition.
