Definitions of Abnormality Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is normal and abnormal
In order to protect and treat people with an abnormality psychologists need to be able to define them as having abnormal psychopathology
Definition 1 - Deviation from Social norms A01
Social norms are unwrittten rules in society that we all follow based on moral convections of that culture. A persons thinking or behaviour is considered abnormal if they go against and violate these norms. It is judged by society rather than one person.
Definition 1 - Deviation from Social norms AO3
CRITICISM - susceptibility to abuse - Muslims in china are deemed abnormal by the Chinese government and are put in re education camps - questions whether it accurately identifies abnormality that needs treatment or is a way of governments justifying social prejudice - however is successful in differentiating between normal and abnormal unlike DIMH
CRITICISM - culturally relative - DSN is dependent on culture eg DSM-V uses DSN and it is based on white western culture but generalises to all other cultures - however can avoid cultural bias
CRITICISM - dependent on the context and degree of the DSN - eg wearing a swimming costume on the beach is normal but wearing it in a classroom would be abnormal - if abnormal should be abnormal irrespective of the context and is therefore subjective - however all definitions have issues with subjectivity
Definition 2 - Failure to function adequately A01
A person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everday life. Rosenhan and Seligman suggest there is several criteria for failing to function. Suffering and personal distress, irrational beliefs, maladaptive and dangerous behaviour, inability to keep basic standards of hygiene and nutrition, unable to conform to social norms, inability to cope in new situations and work and school and causes other people discomfort due to behaviour.
Definition 2 - Failure to function adequately A03
CRITICISM - who judges what is abnormal - someone who is deciding what functioning is is subjective and effected by class and ethnicity - individuals will receive different diagnoses eg men more likely to be diagnosed with Sz - this can be more susceptible to abuse as it may be a certain behaviour that the psychologist doesn’t like which is why they deem it as not functioning
CRITICISM - what is defined as functioning and not functioning - what the individual deems as functioning may be different to the psychologist eg self harm - criticism because self harm may be functional to the person although it seems dysfunctional to others eg self harm preventing suicide - however better if more than one psychologist decide abnormalities to reduce bias
STRENGTH - considers individual subjective experience - definition allows us to view the mental disorder from the view of the person with it and how the behaviour is affecting everyday life, therefore unique to the individual - strength because it doesn’t overgeneralise abnormality to all people with the same behaviour - however looks at behaviour from a negative perspective as to what the person cannot do
Definition 3 - Statistical Infrequency A01
This definition looks at the number of people within a population who have a certain trait. Any relatively usual trait/ behaviour is normal and if it is rare it is considered abnormal. This can be measured by using normal distribution graph where the middle is the common and normal behaviour and the two extremes are abnormal.
Definition 3 - Statistical Infrequency A03
STRENGTH - objective as based on statistical data - uses normal distribution and uses statistical significance to define abnormality eg 1%, 5% or 10% significant difference from the normal population - eliminates unconscious bias or human error and is less subjective so more reliable - however still requires a judgement of the cut off for being abnormal
CRITICISM - does not distinguish between abnormal being functional or not - would consider a high IQ as abnormal and low as a disability - therefore doesn’t distinguish between a deseriabkt trait suggesting both high and low IQ needs treatment - however does distinguish between normal and abnormal
CRITICISM - culturally relative - depends on which normal population data that is being used emphasis IQ test is a western test - abnormality is not defined universally so may be invalid to define as abnormal from another culture
- however can gather normal population data from every culture and define abnormality within that culture
Definition 4 - Deviation from ideal mental health A01
Jahoda was the first person to look at normal behaviour and what deviates from this is considered abnormal. The criteria is
- positive self esteem
- self actualisation
- ability to cope with stress
- autonomy and independence
- accurate perception of reality
- mastery of the environment
Definition 4 - Deviation from ideal mental health A03
STRENGTH - positive approach to defining abnormality - looks at what is desirable rather than undesirable and the person can work on themselves - she defines normality not abnormality - however does not state how many of the criteria needs to be met to be considered normal and is therefore vague
CRITICISM - DIMH is hard to measure as vague eg self actualisation and accurate perception of reality - not effective as everyone would be defined as abnormal as no one will meet all normal criteria - however views everyone as unique and that there is no normality and everyone needs help
CRITICISM - compares physical illness to mental illness - physical health is observable and can be felt and measured objectively but mental health cannot be directly measured or observed - criteria for DIMH is not observable or easy to measure - however criticism is relevant to all definitions
