psychopathology

• abnormality:statistical frequency 


  behaviours that are extremely rare
• abnormality:deviation from social norms

  deviation from unstated rules about how one “ought“ to behave
• abnormality:failure to function adequately

  people are judged in ability to go about daily life
• abnormality:deviation from ideal mental health


  mental health
• ideal mental health 


  positive attitudes to self

  resistance to stress

  accurate perception of reality
• limitation of deviation from social norms

  prone to abuse

  socially acceptable now maybe not 50 years ago

  E.g- homosexuality

  50yrs ago Russia if you disagreed with state you had risk of being called insane and put in mental institution
• limitation of deviation from social norms

  cannot explain a complete definition of abnormality in some contexts of behaviour

  E.g- clothes on beach normal some outfit in classroom abnormal
• strength of deviation from social norms

  distinguishs between desirable and undesirable behaviour

  social deviancy model considers effect behaviour has on others
• limitation of deviation from social norms

  cultural relativism-social norms defined by culture
• limitation of statistical frequencies

  some abnormal behaviours desirable

  IQ over 150 rare but desirable

  Depression normal but undesirable

  cannot distinguish between desirable and undesirable
• limitation of statistical frequencies

  cut off point is subjective - must decide where to seperate normality from abnormality
• strength of statistical infrequencies

  sometimes appropriate

  useful for explaining intellectual disability- defined in terms of normal distribution of standard deviation
• limitation of statistical infrequencies

  cultural relativism

  behaviours statistically infrequent in one culture more statistically frequent in another

  no universal standards for labelling a behaviour as abnormal
• example of cultural relativism in statistical infrequencies

  schizophrenia symptom is heating voices

  common in some cultures
• limitation of failure to function adequately

  subjective as judgement depends on person making decision
• example of failure to function adequately as subjective

  if distressed may be unable to work and eat regular meals

  recognise this is undesirable and get help
• limitation of failure to function adequately

  functional behaviour

  e.g-depression/eating disorders may lead to extra attention for individuals

  can't distinguish between functional and dysfunctional so incomplete definition
• strength of failure to function adequately

  recognises subjective experience of patient - sensitive

  allows us to view mental disorders from pov of sufferer
• limitation of failure to function adequately

  cultural relativism
• how is cultural relativism a limitation of failure to function adequately?

  failure to function criteria can result in different diagnosis in different cultures as standard of one culture used to measure another
• limitation of ideal mental health

  unrealistic criteria
• how is unrealistic criteria a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health?


  according to most mental health criteria most people are abnormal

  criteria hard to measure

  not useful when identifying abnormality
• limitation of deviation from ideal mental health

  tries to apply physical health principles to mental health

  physical illnesses have physical causes - do mental disorders?

  unlikely we can diagnose these the same
• strength of deviation from ideal mental health


  focuses on positive not negative

  focuses on ideal - jahodas ideal mental health
• limitation of deviation from ideal mental health

  jahodas mental health criteria culture bound

  limits usefulness of definition to some cultures
• example of jahodas mental health criteria as culture bound

  self actualisation as a goal is relevant to individualist cultures not collectivist cultures where people promote needs of group not self
• phobias


  high levels of anxiety in response to a certain stimulus
• phobias


  irrational fears that produce a conscious avoidance of feared object or situation
• emotional characteristics of a phobia

  anxiety/panic-caused by presence or anticipation of fear
• behavioural characteristics of a phobia

  avoidance when faced with fear

  avoidance interferes with normal routine, occupation,social activities,relationships
• behavioural characteristics of phobia

  freeze/faint

  adaptive response as predator may think prey is dead
• cognitive characteristics of phobias

  irrational thinking, resistance to rational arguments

  recognises fear is excessive and unreasonable - distinguishes between a phobia and mental illness - schizophrenia where individual is unaware of unreasonableness of behaviour
• depression


  mood disorder characterised by a persistent low mood that has been present for at least 6 months
• depression diagnosis


  at least five symptoms must be apparent everyday for two weeks

  must include an impairment to function that is not accountable by other conditions or events
• emotional characteristics of depression

  sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, low self esteem, anger towards self or others
• behavioural characteristics of depression

  increased activity level -agitated, pace around room, tear at skin

  decreased activity level-tired, always want to sleep

  sleep-either sleep more or find it hard - insomnia

  appetite-reduced or eat more than usual
• cognitive characteristics of depression

  negative thoughts- negative self concept, guilt , worthlessness , negative view of world

  irrational - doesn't accurately reflect reality
• ocd


  anxiety disorder in which individuals suffer recurring, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that they must act on (compulsions) to reduce anxiety
• emotional characteristics of ocd

  anxiety/distress

  aware their behaviour is excessive - shame
• cognitive characteristics of ocd

  recurrent intrusive thoughts, impulses, inappropriate so don't want to share, excessive and creates anxiety