definitions of abnormality Flashcards
What are the four definitions of abnormality?
Statistical infrequency
Deviation from social norms
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health
What is statistical infrequency?
Less common characteristic than majority of population
What is normal distribution?
Majority of scores cluster around the average
Further above or below average, the less people have that score
What is the average IQ?
100
68% have 85-115
What is an abnormal IQ?
2% have below 70
Intellectual disability disorder
Evaluation of statistical infrequency - real life application
Intellectual disability disorder diagnosis
All assessment of mental disorders includes measures of statistical norms
Useful part of clinical assessment
Evaluation of statistical infrequency - unusual characteristics can be positive
High IQ is as uncommon as low IQ
Super intelligence is not undesirable
Statistically infrequent does not always require treatment
Can’t use this to make a diagnosis alone
Evaluation of statistical infrequency - not everyone benefits from a label
Happy fulfilled life
No need for abnormal label
Low IQ may not cause distress
Might have a negative effect on self perception
What is deviation from social norms?
Behaviour different from accepted standards in community or society
How are social norms specific to our cultures?
Nothing is universally against social norms
Homosexuality is abnormal in some cultures but not others
How is ADD against social norms?
Antisocial personality disorder
Aggressive
Absence of prosocial internal standards - failure to conform
Don’t conform to our moral standards
Deviation from social norms evaluation - not a sole explanation
Other factors must be considered in diagnosis
ADD - distress to others
Never the sole reason
Deviation from social norms evaluation - cultural relativism
Vary between generations and cultures
Hearing voices acceptable in some cultures
Mentally abnormal in UK
Problems for a person of a culture living within another culture
Deviation from social norms evaluation - leads to human rights abuses
Draperomania - black slaves running away
Used to maintain control over minorities
Social vs statistical norms evaluation
Social norms takes desirability into account
Statistical infrequency does not
Genius is not against social norms
What is failure to function adequately?
Unable to cope with demands of day to day life
Who proposed the signs that someone is failing to function?
Rosenhan and Seligman
When is someone failing to function adequately?
No longer conforms to interpersonal rules EG eye contact, personal space
Severe personal distress
Irrational or dangerous behaviour
How is IDD diagnosed using failure to function adequately?
Person with low IQ who is distressed, cannot function
Failure to function adequately evaluation - patient’s perspective
Includes experience of individual
Captures experience of people who need help
Useful
Failure to function adequately evaluation - is it simply deviation from social norms?
Hard to differentiate Alternative lifestyles Extreme sports - behaving dangerously? Irrational religious beliefs Limiting personal beliefs
Failure to function adequately evaluation - subjective judgements
Patients may be distressed but not suffering
Checklists like Global Assessment of Functioning Scale
Someone must make decision
What is deviation from ideal mental health?
Does not meet criterial for good mental health
What are Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health?
No symptoms or distress Rational, perceive self accurately Self actualise Cope with stress Realistic view of world Good self esteem, lack guilt Independent Successfully work, love, enjoy
