4 definitions of abnormality: DFSN, SI, FTFA & DFIMH

• What does psychopathology mean?

  The scientific study of psychological disorders
• Being abnormal can be seen as?


  • Extreme highs/lows (intense mood swings)
  • Self-harm/suicidal thoughts
  • Extremely tired/energetic
  • Panic attacks
  • Irregular eating habits
  • Forgetting to do regular tasks (showering, brushing teeth)
• What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

  • Deviation from social norms
  • Statistical infrequency
  • Failure to function adequately
  • Deviation from ideal mental health
• What does Deviation from social norms mean?


  Any behaviour that goes against a social norm (a behaviour that is considered socially acceptable). (e.g., skipping a queue, no personal space).
• What does Eccentric mean?

  Slightly strange behaviour (choice)
• What does Deviation mean?

  Going against the social norm (not a choice)
• Real life application for deviation from social norms

  
  

  • Antisocial personality disorder (APD) – failing to conform to lawful or culturally acceptable behaviour (e.g., murder, substance misuse)
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – experiencing unwanted, recurring thoughts (e.g., extreme cleaning and regularly checking your house)
  • Depression – constantly feeling low (e.g., not leaving the house)
  • Phobias – having either a specific, social, or agoraphobic fear (e.g., agoraphobic people may not leave their house ever)
• What is a strength of deviation from social norms?

  Real life application

  • OCD, depression, phobias, APD
• What is a strength of deviation from social norms?



  Social control

  • Having social norms keeps society controlled
• What is a limitation of deviation from social norms?

  Culture bound

  • Different cultures have different social norms (traveller culture)
• What is a limitation of deviation from social norms?



  Time bound

  • Social norms have changed over time (e.g., homophobia)
• What does Statistical infrequency mean?

  Behaviour that is statistically uncommon (mathematical method)

  • (e.g., people that fall 2 or more standard deviations away from the average IQ are considered abnormal)

  -> Must be based on normally distributed data
• Real life application for statistical infrequency

  Statistical infrequency is used in the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder (problems involving mental abilities) – patients will take IQ tests, neurological tests and vision, hearing, and speech tests. They will then compare their results with the general population (if their results

  are 2 or more SD away from the average, they may be diagnosed with IDD)
• What is a strength of statistical infrequency?

  Real life application

  • Diagnosis of mental health disorders (IDD)
• What is a strength of statistical infrequency?


  Objective

  • Based off mathematical statistics
• What is a limitation of statistical infrequency?


  Element of subjectivity

  • Someone must decide a cut-off point
• What is a limitation of statistical infrequency?


  Doesn't distinguish between positive/negative abnormality

  • High IQ counts as being abnormal, but isn't a bad thing
• What does Failure to function adequately mean?

  Cannot cope with everyday life (unable to manage demands of day-to-day living)
• What are the 7 different features which a person may show?

  • Observer discomfort
  • Maladaptive behaviour
  • Violation of moral standards
  • Personal distress
  • Unconventional
  • Irrational
  • Unpredictable
• What does Observer discomfort mean?

  Other people may feel uncomfortable seeing behaviour (seeing someone cry)
• What does Maladaptive behaviour mean?


  Don’t respond well to a new situation (having to leave school when you feel uncomfortable)
• What does Violation of moral standards mean?

  Behaviour that is seen as wrong is society (spitting in someone’s face)
• What does Personal distress mean?

  A person with abnormal behaviour is also considered to be suffering to some extent as a result of their behaviour (feeling upset/anxious)
• What does Unconventional mean?

  Behaviour that doesn’t follow social norms (not wearing shoes in public)
• What does Irrational mean?

  Thoughts and behaviours that are without logical and reasonable foundations (saying you’re going to fail without starting)
• What does Unpredictable mean?

  Behaviour that appears to occur without any warning (hitting your friend randomly)
• Real life application for failure to function

  As seen, any of the 7 features being shown (examples in brackets)

  • People with mental health disorders that cause them to act differently can be diagnosed by being assessed against the 7 features (e.g., ADHD or ODD)
• What is a strength of failure to function?

  Holistic

  • Includes multiple factors (emotions, environment, morals)
• What is a strength of failure to function?

  Real life application

  • Used by doctors to help diagnose people (ADHD/ODD)
• What is a limitation of failure to function?

  Subjective

  • Based on opinions (features can be seen in everyone)
• What is a limitation of failure to function?

  Deterministic

  • Ignores free will (people may choose to act differently or have a different lifestyle, e.g., travellers)
• What does Deviation from ideal mental health mean?

  Attempts to define ‘perfect mental health,’ and any characteristics/behaviours that goes against it is seen as abnormal

  • Jahoda (1958) suggested that there are 6 criteria for ‘good mental health’...
• What are the 6 criteria of good mental health?

  • Self-attitudes: positive views of yourself
  • Self-actualisation: capable of personal growth
  • Autonomy: independent and self-regulating
  • Perceptions of reality: accurate views of reality
  • Integration: resistant to stress
  • Environmental mastery: able to adapt to your environment
• Real life application for deviation from ideal mental health

  Can be used to diagnose people with mental health disorders – if they don’t conform to all 6 criteria, psychologists may use further tests to help them find a diagnosis and get them treatment (OCD, depression, and anxiety symptoms
• What is a strength of deviation from ideal mental health?


  Holistic

  • Lots of different criteria
• What is a strength of deviation from ideal mental health?

  Comprehensive

  • Easy to asses ourselves against the criteria

  -This may cause us to feel worse about ourselves
• What is a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health?

  Unrealistic expectations

  • Most people won't meet all 6 criteria
• What is a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health?

  Cultural relativism

  • Criteria cannot be applied to all cultures