definitions of abnormality

• what is statistical deviation?

  a measure of how infrequent data is compared to other data
• why should statically rare behaviour be seen as abnormal?

  because the individuals data falls outside the normal distribution (two standard deviation points from mean data)
• what is an example of statistically rare behaviour?

  insomnia, hypersomnia
• what are strengths of statistical infrequency?

  identifying intellectual disabilities, nearly all diagnosis of mental disorders include some kind of measurement against statical norms
• what are the limitations of statistical infrequency?

  you have to be able to draw a line between normal and abnormal, not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent
• what is abnormal?

  behaviour that deviates from society's norms
• what are deviants?

  people who go against the norms
• what are some examples of abnormal behaviour?

  temper tantrums, rudeness, aggression, talking to yourself
• what are strengths of deviation from social norms?

  protects society against effects abnormal behaviour has on others, helps people as it gives society the right to intervene and help them
• what are limitations of deviation from social norms?

  it is subjective, can be used as a way of controlling minority groups into order, social norms are different for each culture
• what is failing to function?

  unable to cope with demands of everyday life, such as self care, having a job, interact with others, the individual or family and friends decide if they are abnormal
• what are three signs that someone is failing to function?

  can't deal with demands of everyday life, behaviour is maladaptive, irrational or dangerous, behaviour causes personal stress to distress to others
• what are the strengths of failing to function?

  patient can assess own abnormality as there is a checklist that focuses on observable behaviour
• what are the limitations of failing to function?

  abnormality is not always accompanied with dysfunction, there are normal abnormalities such as grief, abnormal is different for introverts and extroverts
• what are the characteristics of ideal mental health?

  positive attitude to yourself, self actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality, environmental mastery
• what is self actualisation?

  experiencing personal growth and development, doing everything you are capable of
• what is accurate perception of reality?

  perceiving the world in a non distorted fashion, having an objective and realistic view of the world
• what is environmental mastery?

  being competent and able to meet the demands of any situation and having the ability to adapt to the circumstances
• what are strengths of deviation from ideal mental health?

  targets areas of dysfunction, shows which area to work on, positive approach to diagnosis
• what are weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health?

  criteria is over demanding
• what is autonomy?

  being independent, self reliable, able to make decisions