Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
- Statistical infrequency
- Deviation from social norms
- Deviation from ideal mental health
- Failure to function adequately
Define abnormality
Abnormality is something that does not conform to societal norms, often seen in a negative way
What are descriptive statistics and what are they used for?
- mean, median and mode
- Used to represent the typical value in any set of data
How is statistical infrequency used to describe abnormality?
If we can define what is normal or most common then we have an idea of what is abnormal (i.e. not the norm)
Give an example of statistical infrequency
- Average IQ = 100
- Most people have IQ between 85-115
- 2% have below 70, they are defined as abnormal
A03 - Statistical infrequency - real life application
- real life application in diagnosis of disorders
- Becks depression inventory is a common scale used to assess severity of patients depression which can be used to be compared to a statistical norm
- SI is common element to clinical assessment
- Therefore, SI is used as a preliminary tool
- However diagnosis is made in conjunction with other definitions such as FTFA
- Cannot use alone as a definition of abnormality
A03 - Statistical infrequency - No accurate way of defining abnormality
- not accurate way of defining abnormality
- just because they are classed as abnormal, doesn’t mean that they need support
- E.g. person with low IQ, who is not distressed, is capable of working/maintaining friendships, may not need diagnosis and therefore treatment
- Unable to distinguish between desirable/undesirable traits
- holds little value to those who need support/treatment
- IQ over 150 is desirable
What are social norms?
- unwritten rules of society.
- they determine how people should or should not behave.
- based largely on context and culture
Define deviation from social norms?
Individual who deviates from social norms are classed as abnormal
Example of deviation of social norm
Normal to talk to yourself at home but not normal in public
Explain the social norm in Haiti
- having inner monologue and believing it is a dead ancestor is abnormal but in Haiti it is believed that it’s a dead ancestors voice
A03 - Deviation from social norms - culturally relative
- social norms are culturally relative
- they are different depending on the cultures they exist in
- the issue lies that our view of abnormality based on our own culture is used to assess abnormality in other cultures
- western countries play a dominant role in diagnosing/treating mental disorder
- this means that individuals from other cultures may be wrongfully deemed as abnormal and therefore diagnosed
A03 - Deviation from social norms - Does not account for distress
- walking down the street in PJ’s would be deviation from social norm
- does not mean someone needs psychological help for it
- we need to consider whether behaviour causes harm to others or themselves
- therefore alone, deviation from social norms is insufficient definition for abnormality
Define failure to function adequately
individual may no longer be able to cope with the demands of everyday life and they fail to function adequately
what might individuals fail to do (failure to function adequately)
- unable to maintain basic standards of nutrition + hygiene
- no longer hold jobs/relationships
What does FTFA account for that previous definitions do not?
Distress and suffering caused to individual and potentially others
What are the 3 signs that Rosenhan and Seligman propose to determine if people are FTFA?
- When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules (maintaining eye contact, respecting personal space)
- Experiences severe personal distress
- Behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others
What are the 6 areas the DSM includes in the assessment of ability? (FTFA)
- understanding + communicating
- getting around
- self care
- getting along with other people
- life activities
- participation in society
A03 - FTFA - Accounts for distress
- Allows us to view mental disorders from the point of view of the persons experiencing it
- Particularly important when considering the consequences of defining abnormality
- we should look to consider those ‘abnormal’ and therefore treat individuals that may need support
- Additionally FTFA is easy to judge objectively as we can list behaviours
A03 - FTFA - who makes the decision
- down to whoever judges the behaviour
- maybe the patient is experiencing personal distress (unable to eat/go to work)
- patient might recognise this as undesirable and may feel distressed
- On the other hand, individual may be content with the situation/unaware
- it is others who feel uncomfortable and judge behaviour as abnormal
- e.g. some schizophrenics are dangerous (Peter Sutcliffe)
- Therefore judgment depends on who is making decision (subjective)
Define deviation from ideal mental health
Deviation from ideal mental health instead looks at what makes someone normal first as a way of defining abnormality.
What did Jahoda (1958) suggest?
Says that we define physical illness by looking at the absence of signs of physical health. Therefore It should be the same when concluding mental illness.
What are the 6 categories suggested by Jahoda?
- Self attitudes
- Personal growth and self actualisation
- Integration
- Autonomy
- Having accurate perception of reality
- Mastery of environment
A03 - Deviation from ideal mental health - comprehnsive
- covers a broad range of criteria for mental health
- unlike other reasons it accurately covers reasons why someone would seek help from mental health services or be referred for help
- this means that alone, deviation from ideal mental health is an effective tool in defining abnormality
- and therefore deciding who may need support or treatment.
