Psychopathology

• Deviation from social norms

  Behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
• Deviation from social norms strength


  Supports general ideas of abnormality- for instance someone w SCHIZOPHRENIA may be talking to themselves. Could lead to diagnosis as non- experts can identify potential signs of MA and refer to doctor.
• Deviation from social norms weakness


  CULTURE SPECIFIC- hearing voices may be seen as gift in some culture but would be seen as abnormal in the West/ UK.
• Failure to function adequately


  When individual CANNOT COPE WITH RESPONSIBILITY of day to day life. Beth causes distress to point where individual cannot function (work/relationships) then can be seen as abnormal.
• Failure to function adequately strength


  Helps to distinguish between mild and severe cases of MA. - Many have depression/anxiety but Helps identify those who cannot cope so that they can get diagnosed and treated.
• Failure to function adequately Weakness


  HAROLD SHIPMAN - killed over 200 deaths over 23 years. Adequate functioning as could go to work and be seen as reputable doctor.
• Statistical infrequency


  NUMERICALLY RAREbehaviour. E.g :SCHIZOPHRENIAaffects less than1/100people.Measure behaviour and plot onNORMAL DISTRIBUTION CURVEand if behaviour falls intop 2.5% or bottom 2.5%= abnormal.
• Statistical infrequency strength


  Once way of collecting data and a threshold of which behaviour is abnormal is established-OBJECTIVE WAY OF MEASURING MA.Can be used to diagnoseIDD- IQ > 70. Only2% has IQ > 70.-NO SUBJECTIVE CLINICIAN INTERPRETATION
• Statistical infrequency weakness


  Does not account for desirability of some rare behaviour and undesirability of common behaviour.E,g 1 : low iq as rare as high IQ buthigh IQ is seen as desirableand not considered a MA. E.G 2:Depression is common - 1 in 5 people.According to definition should not be a MA because not rare.