Psychology: Definitions of Abnormality Flashcards
(23 cards)
How would you define psychopathology?
psycho - psychology (study of the mind)
pathology - study of causes of disease
e.g. depression, anxiety, phobias, schizophrenia, personality disorders etc
What are the two diagnostic manuals used?
~ ICD-11
~ DSM-5
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
- Statistical Deviation
- Deviation from Social Norms
- Failure to Function Adequately
- Deviation for Ideal Mental Health
Why is it hard to define normal for psychologists?
- It is more difficult to diagnose a mental illness than a physical from ‘abnormal’
- Harder to find cause of a mental illness
- Harder to agree on symptom
Define statistical infrequency
When an individual has a characteristic that is rare enough to be classed as abnormal e.g. being less intelligent than most of population
- Mathematical definition that solely uses quantitative data (number and statistics)
What does statistical infrequency assume in terms of human characteristics?
It assumes that human characteristics which can be measured will form a Normal Distribution curve - most scores will cluster around then reduce in frequency the further away from the mean we go
What is a normal distribution curve?
The mean, median, and mode are all at the peak of the curve
Give an example of a disorder that may be diagnosed using statistical deviation
- Bellow 70 IQ
- Bottom 2.5% population
- Intellectual Disability Disorder
68% within 1 standard deviation - most of population
A03- explain 3 evaluation points (strengths or limitations) of this definition of abnormality. If you are aiming for an A/A*, try to link the points together
- Through taking the whole population into account it offers a while picture of abnormality - strength
… LINKS TO … - No consideration of cultural or gender differences of the measurements tool - limitation
- Using standard deviations to categories abnormality is an arbitrary cut - off point and inflexible - limitation
Define failure to function adequately (FFA)
A person is no longer able to cope with the ordinary demands of day to day living and live independently in society
e.g. unable to maintain basic hygiene or nutrition, can’t keep a job, or maintain relationships with people they care about
Give three examples of failing to function
- Can’t leave bed
- Trouble sleeping
- Not eating
What does FFA cause in themselves and others?
- Causes personal distress and suffering, but also observer discomfort
- Can be used other definitions to diagnose e.g. intellectual disability disorder
What are Rosenhan + Seligman’s (1989) characteristics of FFA?
Rosenhan = key figure in defining psychological disorders
They proposed additional signs that can determine when someone is unable to cope:
- No longer conforming to standard interpersonal rules e.g. eye contact or personal space
- Experiences severe personal distress
- Behaviour is irrational or damagers to themselves / others
A03- explain 3 evaluation points (strengths or limitations) of this definition of abnormality. If you are aiming for an A/A*, try to link the points together
Strength - Considers the individual: only definition to consider patient’s subjective experience –> individual may be happier with diagnosis
Countercritism: 2 people could have the same symptoms and get different diagnoses –> poor validity in defining abnormality
Strength - Face Validity - offers a clear threshold for help most can agree with. 1 in 4 annually suffer with a psychological disorder, but it is the point at which they can no longer cope they get help
Countercritism: could only be short term - someone may not cope post-event but not have depression
Limitation - Cultural relativism: criteria of how people should function in UK (predominantly based on white, middle class males) may not be valid for everyone
e.g. siestas could be failing to function in the normal in other culture
- Additionally, more working class and BAME people are diagnosed with psychological disorders –> imposing a white middle class British functioning on diverse population
Define social norms
Expectations from a group about acceptable behaviour
Define deviation from social norms. How is this an implicit definition?
Behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community
Implicit: we make a collective judgement as a society what is right
Give an example of a disorder that can be defined using deviation from social norms
- Jumping queues
- Talking loudly in public
- Burping in public
What is Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)?
ASPD - defined in the DSM-5 as having an absence of prosocial standards associated with a failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour
- Often impulsive, aggressive, lack empathy and irresponsible due to faulty amygdala functioning
A03- how is deviation from social norms culture, time and context specific? How can this be both a strength and a limitation?
Culture dependent: many behaviours that deviate from social norms in our country be acceptable in countries e.g. hearing voices
Countercritism: ASPD an example of a universal abnormal behaviour (Kunglangeta - Eskimos word for ASPD)
Time Dependent: Many behaviours were previously illegal but are now accepted as normal e.g. homosexuality
Context Dependent: some behaviours are acceptable in some contexts but not others e.g. wearing swimsuit to shops Vs the beach
A03- explain 1 evaluation point (strength or limitation) of this definition of abnormality. If you are aiming for an A/A*, try to link the points together
Real World Application: it is useful definition as it is used to diagnose people with psychological disorders e.g. ASPD and Schizotypal Personality Disorder where the term strange is used to characterise behaviour.
Human Rights Abuse: defining someone as abnormal because of our society gives the opportunity for people’s human rights to be abused e.g. Drapetomania and Homosexuality
Who is the key researcher for deviation from ideal mental health?
Marie Jahoda (1958)
- Created this definition later as there was so much disagreement about what abnormality is
- Not considered with what makes someone abnormal
- Focused on what it means to be normal: once we have a picture of psychological well-being then we can identify what deviating from this is
What is the criteria for ideal mental health? How many do you have to have in order to be classified as having good mental health?
- We are able to resist stress
- We are rational - we have a realistic perception of ourselves + the world
- We can self-actualise
- We have good self-esteem
- We are autonomous
- We can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure (mastery of the environment)
A03- explain 3 evaluation points (strengths or limitations) of this definition of abnormality. If you are aiming for an A/A*, try to link the points together
Limitation - Culture-bound: certain elements of the definition may not apply to all cultures, so is showing cultural bias by only taking UK and USA cultures into account (lacks generalisability). E.g. self-actualisation not applicable to collectivist cultures as seen as self-indulgent
