Psychopathology - P1

definitions of abnormality - part 1 - AO1

• statistical infrequency - descriptive statistics - mean, median, mode - used to describe the typical value in data sets. Behaviours that are rare are considered abnormal.

• Deviation from social norms - behaviour that goes against the societal norms and values. Some can be against the law - change over time - homosexuality.

Definitions of abnormality - part 1 - AO3.

Statistical infrequency:

1. Some abnormal behaviours are desirable. Very few people have an IQ over 150, but this behaviour is desirable not undesirable. Depression is very common, but it is undesirable. Using statistical infrequency to define abnormality means we cannot distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours.

2. The cut-off point for what is normal and abnormal is subjective. For example, one symptom of depression is difficulty sleeping, however, some may think abnormal sleep is less than 6 hrs and some may think the cut off should be 5 hrs. These disagreements make it harder to define abnormality.

Deviation from social norms:

1. What was socially acceptable now may not have been in the past. For example, homosexuality is acceptable in most countries in the world, but it was against the law 50 yrs ago. If we define abnormality in terms of deviation from social norms, there is a danger of creating definitions based on prevailing morals and attitudes.

2. Another limitation is that the judgements on deviance are related to context. For example, someone wearing a bikini on the beach is regarded as normal, but doing the same thing in a classroom would be abnormal and deviant. Social deviance cannot offer a complete definition because it has to relate to both context and degree.

Definitions of abnormality - part 2 - AO1

• failure to function adequately - unable to cope in day-to-day life, like working, laundry cooking etc. can cause distress for individual and others. Some people are content not working but this behaviour is seen as abnormal to the outside world.

• Deviation from ideal mental health - Jahoda - characteristics that enable someone to be happy:

  • self-attitudes - high self esteem

  • Personal growth - self actualisation

  • Integration - coping in stressful situations.

  • Autonomy - independence

  • Accurate perception of reality

  • Mastery of the environment - ability to love and function at work.

• Absence of these leads to abnormality and unhappiness.

Definitions of abnormality - part 2 - AO3

Failure to function adequately:

1. The judgement is subjective. Some people may understand that their behaviour is undesirable and gain help. Some people might be quite content with their situation, even though it is causing distress to others. The judge to depends on who is making the decision.

2. The behaviour that seems dysfunctional may actually be functional for the individual. For example, someone wearing people with eating disorders gain attention and enjoy that and so the behaviour is desirable to them. This means that the definition incomplete as there is a failure to distinguish between functional and dysfunctional behaviours.

Deviation from ideal mental health:

1. The criteria is unrealistic. According to this criteria, a majority of us would be considered abnormal. We have to ask how many need to be lacking for us to be considered abnormal. The criteria is also quite difficult to measure. This means that the approach may be interesting but not very usable when it comes to defining abnormality.

2. The definition equates mental health to physical health. Physical illnesses tend to have physical causes or symptoms. This makes them easier to diagnose. Most mental disorders don’t have these, which makes it unlikely that we can diagnose mental abnormalities like we do physical ones.

Mental disorders - AO1

phobias:

• group of mental starters characterised by high levels of anxiety when in presence of particular stimulus.

  • emotional - anxiety, fear

  • Behavioural - avoidance, freeze/faint

  • Cognitive - irrational thoughts, excessive fear

Depression:

• mood disorder

  • emotional - sadness, loss of interest

  • Behavioural - reduced activity, lack of sleep

  • Cognitive - negative thoughts, negative view of world

OCD:

• anxiety disorder - obsessions and compulsions

  • emotional - anxiety, stress

  • Behavioural - compulsions

  • Cognitive - obsessions