Psychopathology- Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What is the definition for statistical infrequency ?

Answer 1

Someone is classed as mentally ill if their condition is very rare in the population. The rarity of the behaviour is judged using statistics and is classed as abnormal if they fall 2 standard deviations away from the average (centre)

Question 2

What is a strength of using statistical infrequency to diagnose abnormality ?

Answer 2

Those individuals who are being assessed have been valued objectively as it does not rely on the sometimes subjective view of a clinician, meaning statistics show they are either normal or abnormal

Question 3

What is a limitation of using statistical infrequency to diagnose abnormality ?

Answer 3

Not all statistically rare traits are necessarily negative, for example having a higher than average IQ. This definition defines those people as needing extra support as they are abnormal but this should not be the case

Question 4

What is the definition for failure to function adequately (FFA) ?

Answer 4

The individual is defined as abnormal if they cannot cope with their daily lives, including their ability to interact with the world and meet their challenges

Question 5

What are two criticisms of the FFA criteria ?

Answer 5

1- The decision about whether someone is coping is subjective and based on a clinicians opinion so two clinicians may not come to the same end result.
2- The definition only includes people who cannot cope in society, however psychopaths can often function in society in ways that can benefit them personally and feel no distress themselves but can be harming people around them.

Question 6

What is a strength of the FFA criteria ?

Answer 6

It respects the individual and their own personal experience, taking into account what is unusual for them

Question 7

What is the definition for deviation from social norms ?

Answer 7

When someone is classed as abnormal as they do not act in the same way as the majority of the population, or how the general rules expect them too

Question 8

What is a limitation for diagnosing someone as abnormal under DFSN ?

Answer 8

It can be inappropriate to define people who move to a new culture as abnormal according to new cultural norms, for example people from an afro-carribean background living in the UK are 7 times more likely to be diagnosed with SZ due to different cultural norms

Question 9

Who’s suggested that they’re are 6 characteristics an individual should display if they have an ideal mental health ?

Answer 9

Marie Jahoda

Question 10

What are the 6 criteria for DIMH ?

Answer 10

• Positive attitudes towards ones self
• Self actualisation
• Autonomy
• Resistance to stress- Intergration
• Accurate perception of reality
• Environment Mastery (Ability to adapt to different environments accordingly)

Question 11

Give 2 limitations of defining someone as abnormal under the DIMH criteria

Answer 11

• Imposed etic, there are many cultural differences and many do not respect these values to be typical of everyone
• Very strict criteria meaning at some point in everyones life they would be classed as abnormal