Definitions Of Abnormality

Question 1

Statisical Infrequency (SI)

Answer 1

Individual is stated ‘abnormal’ when they have a less common characteristic.

Question 2

What is the percentage an individual is below or above to be stated as ‘abnormal’? (SI)

Answer 2

2%

Question 3

Deviation from social norms (DSN)

Answer 3

Individual is stated ‘abnormal’ when
their behaviour differs from that which society expects. (social norms)

Question 4

Failure to function adequately (FFA)

Answer 4

Individual is stated ‘abnormal’ when they cannot keep up with the demands of everday living.

Question 5

What are indicators to FFA?

Answer 5

*Personal distress and anxiety,
*Observer discomfort,
*Stops them from working,
*Stops them from keeping hygienic,
*Causing themselves or others harm,
*Behaviour is maladaptive, irrational or dangerous

Question 6

Deviation from ideal mental health (DIMH)

Answer 6

Individual is stated ‘abnormal’ when if signs of good mental health is absent.

Question 7

Who developed a critea for DIMH?

Answer 7

Jahoda 1958

Question 8

What did the critea for DIMH include?

Answer 8

*accurate perception of reality,
*Good self-esteem,
*Self-actualisation,
*Resistance to stress,
*Environmental mastery,
*Autonomy

Question 9

(Ao3) - Statisical Infrenquency

Answer 9

❌ Cultural Relativism - hearing voices (schizophrenia) is common in some
African cultures - Difference in stat
Freq - Not universal
❌ Desirable and undesirable - some abnormal behaviour is desirable like high IQ - problems when treating as they may not need it - cannot be used alone
✅ Good in some situations - e.g IQ distribution - real life application - increases validity

Question 10

(Ao3) - Deviation from Social Norms

Answer 10

❌ Cultural Relativism - DSM is based on western social norms -
ethnocentric to class people as abnormal from eastern cultures -
DSM doesn’t consider cultural difference so it can’t be generalised
❌ Temporal validity - homosexuality - being classed as abnormal is
dependent on social norms at the time - inconsistent results across history
✅ Desirable and undesirable - considers effects on others and easy
to see which behaviours are ‘good’ - helps society to function - more
holistic approach

Question 11

(Ao3) - Failure to Function Adequately

Answer 11

❌ Cultural relativism - what is functioning (class and cultural) -
lower class and non-white patients live different lifestyles - doesn’t consider cultural differences so can’t be generalised
❌ Objective judgement - different views on what is functioning (job,
extreme sports) - limiting personal freedom and discriminating -
depends on who makes the judgement
✅ Takes on patients view - view mental disorder from patients’
points of view - easy to judge, list behaviours and checks - treatment
can be to patients specific

Question 12

(Ao3) - Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Answer 12

❌Cultural Relativism - The criteria is based on western culture (self-actualisation is common in individualistic cultures) - ethnocentric as it judges good mental health based on western ideas - cant be generalised
❌High Standards - Hard to achieve ‘self-actualisation’ - criteria is difficult to measure - method is hard to use
✅Desirable and Undesirable - Positive criteria - in line with positive psychology movement - more positive and holistic approach at defining

Question 13

Cultural Relativism

Answer 13

The idea that one cannot judge behaviour properly unless it is viewed in the cultural context from where originated.

Question 14

Individualistic Culture

Answer 14

Culture that focus’ on our own needs rather than others.

Question 15

Collectivist Culture

Answer 15

Culture that focus’ on thinking about the group rather than own needs.