What is psychopathology?: lesson 24

Question 1

Key facts on psychopathology?

Answer 1

• study of psychological disorders
• distinguishing normal from abnormal

Question 2

What was Rosenhams study 1978?

Answer 2

Being sane in insane places
1) got 10 sane participants to admit themselves in insane asylum by claiming to hear voices saying “hollow” “empty”
2) participants diagnosed as schizophrenic & 1 manic depressive psychosis
3) once admitted they began behaving normally
4) discharged after 19 days with schizophrenia in remission

Question 3

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 3

1) deviation from social norms
2) failure to function
3) deviation from ideal mental health
4) statistical infrequency

Question 4

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 4

• norms set by groups
• desirable and undesirable behaviour
  Limitations
• time & culture
• e.g 1895 Wilde convicted for homosexuality

Question 5

What is failure to function adequately?

Answer 5

• day to day inability to act
• distress leading to disfunction e.g irrationality, unpredictability
  Limitations
• cultural & adaptive

Question 6

What is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 6

• self attitude and actualisation
• coping ability to stressful situations
• independence
• accurate perception on reality
  Limitations
• cultural & mental health risen

Question 7

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 7

• normal distribution curve shows normal people
• people on either end are abnormal
  Limitations
• subjectivity
• some abnormal behaviour desirable

Question 8

What is an example of culture influencing mental health?

Answer 8

Anorexia nervosa & bulimia nervosa
- white females in North America and Europe
- features are somatic, anxious and dissociative
- symptoms are not eating, binging, weight loss