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Psychology - alevel - aqa
Psychopathology
Definitions of abnormality
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Cards (16)
Statistical
infrequency
Occurs when an individual has a
less
common
characteristic.
Statistical infrequency - example
IQ
and
intellectual disability disorder
:
average IQ is
100
score below
70
is abnormal - receive
diagnosis
AO3 statistical infrequency - real-world application
Used in
clinical
practice as part of
formal diagnosis
and a way to assess the
severity
of an individual's symptoms.
E.G -
Becks
depression
inventory.
30+
indicates severe
depression.
AO3 statistical infrequency - unusual characteristics can be
positive
Infrequent characteristics can be
positive
IQ above
130
we would not think as
abnormal
Unusual
does not equal
abnormal
Deviation
from
social
norms
Concerns behaviour that is different from the
accepted
standards of behaviour in a community or society
Deviation from social norms - Example
Antisocial personality disorder
is impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible.
DSM-5 - psychopaths are abnormal because they don't
conform
to our
moral standards.
AO3
deviation from social norms -
Real-world application
Used in
clinical practice.
defining characteristic of antisocial behaviour:
failure to conform to culturally acceptable ethical behaviour.
e.g -
recklessness
,
aggression
and deceitfulness
helps
diagnosis
AO3 deviation from
social norms
- variability between
social norms
in different cultures and situations
A person from one cultural group may label someone from another group as
abnormal
using their
own
standards
E.g -
hearing
voices
is the norm in some cultures
Differs in
situations
Deceitful
behaviour in
family
life is socially unacceptable but not in
corporate
deal-making
Failure
to
function adequately
Occurs when someone is
unable
to cope with the ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
unable to maintain basic standards of
hygiene
cannot hold down a
job
Failure to function adequately - example
Intellectual disability disorder
- failure to function adequately
AO3 failure to function adequately - represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
Most
people have symptoms of mental disorder to some degree.
When we cease to function adequately people seek
professional
help
or are more
noticed
and
referred
for help.
Services
can target most at need.
AO3 failure to function adequately - discrimination and social control
easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as
abnormal
Not having a
job
could simply be an alternative lifestyle to live
'off-grid'
Deviation from ideal
mental
health
Occurs when someone does not meet a set of
criteria
for good mental health
Deviation from ideal mental health criteria -
Jahoda
good mental health
:
no symptoms of
distress
rational
and can
perceive
ourselves accurately
self-actualise
cope with
stress
realistic
view of the world
good
self-esteem
and lack
guilt
independent
of other people
successfully
work
,
love
and
enjoy
our leisure
AO3 deviation from ideal mental health - a
comprehensive
definition
includes a
range
of criteria for distinguishing mental
health
from mental
disorder
individual's mental health can be discussed
meaningfully
with a range of professionals
provides a
checklist
against which we can assess ourselves
AO3 deviation from mental health - culture bound
Criteria are firmly located in the context of
US
and
Europe
Self-actualisation
would be dismissed as
self-indulgent
in much of the world
What defines
success
is very different in different cultures
difficult to apply concept of ideal mental health from one
culture
to another