Pyschopathology

Question 1

Statistical infrequency

Answer 1

Those behaviours that are extremly rare, unusual, uncommon are considered as abnormal

Question 2

How is statistical approach useful

Answer 2

Characteristics that can be measured or quantified e.g intelligence

Question 3

Normal distribution

Answer 3

Most human characteristics will fall near the average

Question 4

Disadvantages of statistical infrequency

Answer 4

1. Unusual characteristics can be positive - don’t look at desirability (high IQ could be positive/don’t need treatment)
2. Not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent - 10% of adults experience depression
3. Cut off points are subjective - deciding when behaviour is abnormal (less valid)

Question 5

Advantages of statistical infrequency

Answer 5

1. Objective measures - quantitative measure, reliable data, not opinions

Question 6

Deviations from social norms

Answer 6

Behaviour that is different from the accepted standard behaviour of a community, seen as deviating from implicit rules one ought to follow.

Question 7

Advantages of deviations from social norms

Answer 7

Flexible definition - considers context of behaviour rather than rigid rules, more sophisticated definition e.g ok to drink at 11am on holiday but not in work

Question 9

Disadvantages of deviations from social norms

Answer 9

1. Not all behaviour deviating from social norms are signs of mental illness
2. Cultural relativism - behaviour changes within cultures, subjective as cultures vary in norms (africa common to hear voices, in uk it would be considered as mental illness)
3. Lead to human right abuse/ mean of social control - norms are set by those in power, some may exploit this in oer to discriminate those who don’t conform (Drapetomania - psychological disorder causing black slaves to run away from enslavement)