definitions of abnormality

Subdecks (1)

Cards (39)

  • explain deviation from norms?
    • behaviour that deviates from these norms is abnormal
    • abnormal - whatever violates social norms
  • what does the definition of deviation from social norms allow?
    • a distinction between desirable & undesirable behaviours
    • social deviants - people who behave undesirably
  • explain how tourette's is abnormal using the deviation from social norms definition?
    • swearing in public
    • breaks the unwritten rule
    • seen as an undesirable behaviour
    • will be considered social deviants
  • explain failure to function adequately?
    • perceives individuals as abnormal when the behaviour shows they cannot cope with everyday life (ftfa)
  • what characteristics were related to ftfa did rosenhan & seligman identify?
    1. maladaptive - interference to keep normal daily routine
    2. unpredictable & uncontrolled behaviour
    3. observer feels discomfort when seeing this behaviour
    4. irrational behaviour
  • explain how depression is abnormal using the ftfa defintion?
    • a person may be unable to get out of bed in the morning & will be unable to maintain a normal pattern of behaviour meaning they cannot function adequately
  • explain deviation from ideal mental health? (imh)
    • perceives abnormality as the absence of well being
  • what did marie jahoda identify were the 5 main features of ideal mental health?
    1. self actualisation
    2. ability to resist stress
    3. have a positive self esteem & strong sense of identity
    4. accurate perception of reality
    5. mastery of the environment
  • explain how autism is abnormal using the imh definition?
    • mastery of environment is missing as change is not coped with well as individuals thrive when there is a structure of routine
    • a disruption may cause emotional distress
  • explain statistical deviation/infrequency?
    • behaviour is abnormal if it falls outside of the range that is typical for most people
  • explain how anorexia/obesity is abnormal using the stat deviation definition?
    • causes people's weight to be lower/higher than the majority, this makes their weight unusual/infrequent
  • X of deviation from social norms?
    1. ignores role of context
    2. social norms change over time
    3. culturally relative
  • X of failure to function adequately?
    1. not always accompanied by dysfunction
    2. ignores role of context
    3. culturally relative
  • X of deviation from ideal mental health?
    1. over demanding criteria
    2. criteria changes over time
    3. culturally relative
  • X for statistical deviation?
    1. not all unusual characteristics are negative
    2. not everyone benefits from a label
  • * real life application for statistical deviation?
    • docs can identify severity of disorders
    • seeing how statistically infrequent their symptoms are & treat it accordingly
    • valid
    • able to have a positive impact on patient's lives & society
  • ignores role of context X for dsn?
    • surgeon may wash hands several times a day,
    • if this was an ordinary person it would be considered deviating from social norms so labelled abnormal
    • ? valid
    • may falsely label a person as abnormal when they are actually not
    • leads to misdiagnosis & receiving unnecessary treatments
  • social norms change over time X for dsn?
    • homosexuality was abnormal in 1900s
    • but now not seen as an abnormality
    • ? temporal
    • cannot classify someone as being abnormal & guarantee they actually are in todays society as attitudes constantly change over time
    • means our approach to defining mental illness is out of date
  • cultural relativity X for dsn?
    • social norms vary within cultures so difficult to know when being broken
    • sleeping during day may be sign of depression
    • in spain have siestas - midday nap - their social norm
    • ? population
    • cannot be generalised to other cultures
    • someone may be defined as abnormal in one culture but normal in another
  • X not always being accompanied by dysfunction for ftfa?
    • harold shipman killed 215 people over 23 yrs
    • maintained outward apperance of a respectable member of his profession & went undetected due to his ability to appear normal
    • ? valid
    • may define abnormal people as normal as can go about their normal day
    • meaning person will be misdiagnosed for psychotic behaviour
    • may go untreated/not convicted - has implications on legal system
  • ignores role of context X for ftfa?
    • are times in people's lives when its normal to suffer from distress
    • grieving is normal & may display maladaptive behaviour does not mean person is abnormal
    • ? valid
    • can falsely label those who are going through stressful time when are actually normal
    • may be unnecessarily given treatment
  • cultural relativity X for ftfa?
    • what is considered to be normal functioning varies from culture to culture
    • e.g sleeping in the daytime in britain would be abnormal but in spain its normal
    • ? population
    • cannot be generalised to different countries & culture whose normal functioning is different to ours
  • over demanding criteria X for dimh?
    • most people do not meet all the ideals
    • teens struggle to achieve self actualisation as are not given chance/opportunity
    • ? valid
    • can label people who are mentally healthy & normal as abnormal
    • high % of people would be falsely labelled abnormal
  • criteria changes over time X for dimh?
    • perception of reality aspect of ideal m.h changes over time
    • in 13th century europe seeing visions was + sign of religious committment
    • now would be seen as sign of schizophrenia
    • ? temporal
    • doesn't account for changes in perceptions of imh so could label someone as abnormal in today's society who is found to be normal in the future
  • culturally relative X of dimh?
    • criteria used to judge ideal m.h are subjective to cultural relativism
    • should not be used to judge others of different cultures
    • ? population
    • cannot be used to accurately identify abnormality cross culturally
    • cannot be generalised to wider population
  • X not all unusual characteristics are negative for sd?
    • having high iq may deviate from stat norm
    • but is not undesirable feature
    • is actually useful for that person & for others as their knowledge can positively contribute to society
    • ? valid
    • can label those with desirable characteristics as abnormal since its infrequent
  • X not everyone unusual benefits from a label for sd?
    • those with dwarfism may not respond well to being labelled abnormal since their height is not same as stat average
    • ? valid
    • ignores fact that unusual characteristics don't define person's ability to function in everyday life
    • could unnecessarily impact mental health & well being