Definitions Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is statistical infrequency?
A persons thinking or behaviour is abnormal if its statistically rare & unusual.
What does statistical infrequency mean?
Any unusual behaviour or characteristics can be thought of as ‘normal’ and any behaviour that is different to this is ‘abnormal’
What is an example of statistical infrequency?
Schizophrenia, <1% of the population has it making it statistically infrequent.
What are the evaluation points of statistical infrequency?
(+) Objective method
(-) Not all abnormal behaviour benefits from treatment
(-) Cultural bias
(-) Label is not useful.
How does statistical infrequency provide an objective method for defining abnormality?
-Definition requires a clinician to use statistics to measure normal behaviour. e.g. they can look at a normal distribution curve to identify which scores would be classed as ‘abnormal’ when diagnosing intellectual disability disorder.
-It provides a practical method of diagnosing & does not rely of the subjective interpretation of the clinician.
How come not all abnormal behaviour benefits from treatment of statistical infrequency?
-IQ scores over 130 are just as unusual as those below 70 but is not classed as an undesirable (abnormal) characteristic that needs treatment. But according to the definition, the behaviour is statistically abnormal but doesn’t need treatment to return it to ‘normal’.
-If the definition is used alone to make a diagnosis, it may be invalid.
How is statistical infrequency culturally biased?
-The normal distribution curve that the abnormal behaviour is judged against may be affected by the culture that the date was gathered in so may only reflect the statistical frequency of that behaviour in one specific culture
-It might not be valid to use statistics from one culture to judge the frequency of the behaviour in another culture.
Why is the statistical infrequency label not useful?
-If someone is living a happy fulfilled life, there is no benefit to labelling them as abnormal.
-For example, someone with a low IQ but who is not distressed and quite capable of working etc would not need a diagnosis of intellectual disability.
-If the person was labelled as ‘abnormal’ this might have a negative effect on the way others view them & the way they view themselves.
What are social norms?
The rules of behaviour that are considered acceptable/normal in a group in a society
What is deviation form social norms?
Behaviours or attitudes that break the implicit or explicit rules & standards that exist within a society.
All societies have norms and people who do not follow them are often regarded as deviant or abnormal.
What is an example of deviation from social norms?
Anorexia - in western societies.
What are the evaluation points for deviation from social norms?
(+) Easy to use
(-) Norms change
(-) How do we class criminal behaviour?
(-) Eccentricity is not a form of abnormality.
How is deviation from social norms easy to use?
-It is relatively easy for a doctor/psychologist to identify when a behaviour breaks an unwritten or written rule.
-The definition enables people who have a mental abnormality to be identified. Once they are they can receive appropriate treatment to make them better.
Why is it a limitation for deviation of social norms that norms change?
-For example, until the 1970’s homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder in the USA & in the UK, unmarried mothers were considered ‘morally insane’ and could be put in mental asylums for long periods of time.
-If clinicians are using culturally or historically biased norms to diagnose abnormality they might inaccurately label someone as abnormal.
What is failure to function adequately?
-Not being able to cope with everyday living.
-Not functioning adequately may cause distress and suffering for the individual and/or may cause distress for others.
What are Rosenhan and Seligman Criteria of failure to function adequately?
Maladaptiveness: Behaviour that prevents one from achieving well being and important life goals.
Irrationality: Behaviour that makes no sense to others.
Unpredictability: Impulsive behaviour that seems uncontrollable.
Observer discomfort: Behaviour that makes other people uneasy or uncomfortable.
Suffering: Being affected by emotion to an excessive degree.
What is an example of failure to function adequately?
OCD
What are the evaluation points for failure to function adequately?
(+) Can be used to make an objective diagnosis
(-) Very subjective & open to interpretation and bias
How can failure to function adequately be used to make an objective diagnosis?
-‘Global Assessment of Functioning Scale’ is used by clinicians to rate an individuals social, occupational and psychological functioning and is scored on a numerical scale.
-The scale allows clinicians to clearly judge the degree to which an individual is abnormal rather than just using their opinion.
How is FFA subjective & open to interpretation?
-It is not clear how serious the features of failure to function have to be in order to be abnormal. Only when problems interfere with daily life are they abnormal whereas suffering personal distress or observer discomfort is not as easy to interpret objectively.
-May lead to invalid & unreliable diagnosis
What is deviation from ideal mental health?
A definition for abnormality that suggests if a person does not achieve one of the six criteria they are acting abnormally.
What is the criteria for ideal mental health?
(PRAISE)
Personal growth
accurate perception of Reality
Autonomy
Integration
Self-attitude
mastery of the Environment
What is an example for deviation for ideal mental health?
Depression
What are the evaluation for deviation for ideal mental health?
(+) Successful practical applications
(-) Difficult to achieve this standard
