psychopathology

• our definition of abnormal must be objective:

  • it cannot depend on others' point of view
  • should have the same result no matter who applies it
• 4 main definitions of abnormality:

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

  deviation from the rules regulating how one should behave are seen as undesirable by society
• statistical infrequency

  deviating from the norm or average - things that can be measured and differ from the average.
• example of statistical infrequency

  consuming below the average calories
• failure to function adequately

  abnormality that prevents people from performing the range of behaviours society would expect from them
• criteria that are typical of FFA (failure to function adequately) are discomfort, unpredictability, and irrationality among others
• Statistical infrequency 


  behaviour is abnormal if it deviates from the average
• eval for statistical infrequency

  pros - real-life application

  cons - doesn't classify whether it is undesirable (eg abnormally high IQ)

  reduces people to a statistic
• eval of deviation from social norms

  pros - takes into consideration cultural differences

  cons - cultures have different norms so its hard to generalise
• what is depression an example of?

  failure to function adequately
• eval of FFA

  pro - includes subjective experiences of the individual

  con - hard to tell whether someone is failing to function adequately or deviating from social norms
• Marie Jahonda's six characteristics for deviation from ideal mental health:

  1. positive attitude towards self
  2. self-actualisation
  3. autonomy
  4. resistance to stress
  5. environmental mastery
  6. accurate perception
• what is cultural relativism?

  embracing and taking into consideration different cultures and differences within cultures.
• deviation from ideal mental health

  pros: covers a broad range of categories

  cons: subjective, hard to know; most people don't fulfill all criteria normally
• Ethical guidelines:

  C - informed consent

  D - deception

  C - confidentiality

  D - debrief

  W - right to withdrawal

  P - protection from harm