Psychopathology - definitions of abnormality

Question 1

what is statistical infrequency

Answer 1

• individual has a less common characteristic than the rest of the population
• average IQ 100
• 68% have IQ in 85-115
• 2% score below 70 - likely to be diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder

Question 2

what are the strengths of statistical infrequency

Answer 2

• used in clinical practice
• diagnose and can assess severity of symptoms

Question 3

what are the limitations of statistical infrequency

Answer 3

• infrequent characteristics can be positive and negative
• someone isn’t abnormal for having a high IQ
• someone isn’t abnormal for having a low depression score

Question 4

what is deviation from social norms

Answer 4

• behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
• homosexuality used to be considered as an abnormal behaviour

Question 5

what are the strengths of deviation from social norms

Answer 5

• used in clinical practice
• identify characteristics of antisocial personality disorder - failure to conform to normal ethical behaviour
• recklessness, violating rights of others

Question 6

what are the limitations of deviations from social norms

Answer 6

Cultural and situational relativism
- person from one cultural group may label someone as abnormal from another culture
- hearing voices can be linked with SZ or normal in other cultures

Question 7

what is failure to function adequately

Answer 7

• someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living

Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)
- can no longer conform to interpersonal rules
- severe personal distress
- behaviour is irrational or dangerous

Question 8

what are the strengths of failing to function adequately

Answer 8

• represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
• treatment and services can be targeted ti those who need them the most
• criteria

Question 9

what are the limitations of failing to function adequately

Answer 9

• easy to label non-standard life choices as abnormal
• difficult to say if someone is failing to function adequately or deviating from social norms
• people who make unusual life choices at risk of being labelled abnormal

Question 10

what is deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 10

• someone doesn’t meet a set of criteria for good mental health

Marie Jahoda (1958)
- no symptoms or distress
- rational
- self actualise
- cope with stress
- realistic view of the world
- good self esteem
- successfully work, love, enjoy leisure

Question 11

what are the strengths of deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 11

• person’s mental health can be discussed meaningfully with professionals
• provides a checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others

Question 12

what are the limitations of deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 12

• criteria located in the USA and western Europe
• cannot be applied across all cultures
• not everyone can achieve all aspects of the criteria
• can be disheartening to not meet all aspects
• practical value in the sense that it is goals and individual can work towards for themselves