Definitions of Abnormality Flashcards Preview

Psychology - Psychopathology > Definitions of Abnormality > Flashcards

Flashcards in Definitions of Abnormality Deck (19)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

How many definitions of abnormality are there?

A

4

2
Q

What are the definitions of abnormality?

A

Statistical Infrequency, Deviation from Social Norms, Failure to function adequately, Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

3
Q

What is Cultural Relativism?

A

The view that behavior cannot be judged properly unless it is viewed in the context of their culture in which it originates.

4
Q

What is Statistical Infrequency?

A

When an individual has a less common characteristic or behavior. (e.g being more depressed or less intelligent than the rest of the population)

5
Q

What is Deviation from Social Norms?

A

Behavior that is different from the accepted standards of behavior in a community or society.

6
Q

What is Failure to Function Adequately?

A

When someone is unable to cope with the ordinary demands of day to day living.

7
Q

What is Deviation from Ideal Mental Health?

A

When someone doesn’t meet the a set of criteria for good mental health.

8
Q

Who created the criteria for ideal mental health?

A

Jahoda (1958)

9
Q

What were the 8 criteria for ideal mental health?

A

IVE-SPACE
Independent, realistic View of the world, good self Esteem - no Symptoms, accurate Perception of world/ourself, self Actualise, Cope with stress, can Enjoy work and leisure

,

10
Q

Who proposed further signs of failure to cope?

A

Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)

11
Q

what were Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) signs of failure to cope?

A

They no longer conform to interpersonal rules, they experience severe personal distress, they behave irrationally and dangerously.

12
Q

A strength of failure to function

A

25% of people experience symptoms of a mental disorder. When we cease to function adequately people seek professional help. Failure to function criteria provides a way to target treatment to those who need it most.

13
Q

Limitation of failure to function

A

Hard to distinguish between failure to function and a conscious decision to break social norms (ie. living off the grid) This means people who make unusual choices can be labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice can be restricted.

14
Q

Strength of ideal mental health criteria

A

Is widely applicable and covers a range of reasons. Provides a checklist that can be used to assess.

15
Q

Limitation of ideal mental health criteria

A

Culture-bound. Some criteria is limited to USA and western europe, e.g self actualization

16
Q

Strength of statistical infrequency

A

useful in diagnosis and assessment processes

17
Q

Limitation of statistical infrequency

A

Unusual characteristics such as high IQ can be positive.

18
Q

Strength of deviation from social norms

A

Useful in psychiatric diagnosis. E.g antisocial personality disorder and schizotypical personality disorder which involves “strange” beliefs and behaviour

19
Q

limitation of deviation from social norms

A

culturally relative. e.g hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultures