Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
(35 cards)
What are statistical norms
Any commonly seen behaviour or characteristic.
Give an example of statistical infrequency
Intellectual disability disorder requires an IQ in the bottom 2% of the population.
How does statistical infrequency define someone as abnormal
Someone is mentally abnormal if their mental condition is very rare in the population, the rarity of the behaviour is judged objectively using statistics, comparing the individual’s behaviour to the rest of the population.
What graph can be used to represent a populations average spread of a specific characteristic
The normal distribution curve
Give a strength of statistical infrequency
A positive evaluation of using statistical infrequency to define abnormality is those individuals who are assessed as being abnormal have been evaluated objectively; this is better than other definitions that depend on the subjective opinion of a clinician, for example, deciding if the client is coping or not is a vague concept, and two observers may disagree.
Give a weakness of statistical infrequency
A criticism of statistical infrequency is the psychological community decides the cut-off point for what is statistically rare enough to be defined as abnormal; this is a subjective decision with real implications. For example, defining intellectual disability as 70 IQ and under means people with an IQ just over 70 may be denied support.
What are social norms
unwritten expectations of behaviour that can vary from culture to culture and change over time.
Give an example of deviation from social norms
Antisocial personality disorder involves socially unacceptable behaviour.
How does deviation from social norms define someone as abnormal
People who deviate from societal expectations may be seen as abnormal or social deviants.Expectations can vary between cultures.
Give some examples of norms that vary between cultures
Acceptance of homosexuality, Face and hair covering, Acceptable food and how to eat it
Give a strength of defining abnormality according to social norms
A positive evaluation of defining abnormity according to social norms is it does not impose a western view of abnormality on other non-western cultures. For this reason, it is argued diagnosing abnormality according to social norms is not ethnocentric; it respects the cultural differences between societies.
Give a weakness of defining abnormality according to social norms
it can be inappropriate to define people who move to a new culture as abnormal according to the new cultural norms.
People from an Afro-Caribbean background living in the UK are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than people living in the UK or people from Afro-Caribbean nations living in Afro-Caribbean nations.
This is due to category failure; a Western definition of mental illness is applied to individuals not acting according to Western cultural norms.
In Afro-Caribbean cultures, hallucinations and conversations with angels may be considered part of a typical religious experience, so a doctor in the West Indies would be less likely to diagnose schizophrenia based on these symptoms than a doctor in the UK.
Define adequate functioning
Coping with the demands of everyday life.
Give an example of a failure to function adequately
not holding down a job
How does failure to function adequately define someone as abnormal
The individual is defined as abnormal if they cannot cope in their daily lives, including their ability to interact with the world and meet their challenges.
What are Rosenhan and Seligman’s features of failure to function
Maladaptive behaviour
Personal anguish
Observer discomfort
Irrationality
Unconventionality
What is meant by maladaptive behaviour (FFA)
Individuals behave in ways that go against their long-term interests
What is meant by personal anguish (FFA)
The individual suffers from anxiety and distress
What is meant by observer discomfort (FFA)
The individual’s behaviour causes distress to those around them
What is meant by irrationality (FFA)
It is difficult to understand the motivation behind the individuals behaviour
What is meant by unconventionality (FFA)
behaviour doesn’t match what is typically expected by society
Give a weakness of failure to function adequately (Psychopaths)
FFA only includes people who cannot cope; psychopaths can often function in society in ways that benefit them personally.
Having lower empathy can lead to success in business and politics. However, while they feel no distress themselves, psychopathy often has negative implications for the people around them.
Give another weakness of failure to function adequately (Subjective)
A criticism of the failure to function definition of abnormality is that the decision about whether someone is coping is subjective and based on the clinician’s opinion. This judgement may be biased, meaning that two observers (clinicians) might not agree on whether someone is managing.
Define mental health
Characteristics of a psychologically healthy person.
