Clinical Differences and Mental Health

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Deviation from social norms

Failure to function adequately

Statistical Infrequency

Deviation from ideal mental health

What does deviation from social/ cultural norms mean?

It means that we label people as abnormal if their behaviour is different from what we accept as the norms of society.

What are some limitations to the definition deviation from social/cultural norms?

• May be due to eccentricity rather than abnormality

• Behaviour may be taken out of context rather than being due to abnormality

What does failure to function adequately mean?

It means that anyone who is suffering and unable to function on a daily basis is labelled as abnormal.

What are some limitations to the definition failure to function adequately?

• It doesn’t really define abnormailty, it just determines the extent of a persons problems

• Some people behave uncharacteristically but this does not make them abnormal

• The inability to cope with life might be the cause and not a symptom

What does deviation from ideal mental health mean?

It means that psychologists consider the characteristics of mental health, rather than mental-illness.

What are some limitations to the definition deviation from ideal mental health?

• To meet all 6 points of criteria is hard and so most people will fall short of ‘ideal’ mental health

• The definition suggests that a person with ideal mental health should resist stress but some people use it to their advantage and so may be wrongly labelled as abnormal due to the way they manage stress

• His ideas are based on western ideals which are evident in some cultures and not others meaning that it cannot be applied to all cultures.

What are the 6 characteristics Jahoda proposed?

1. Self-attitude

2. Want personal growth

3. Integration

4. Autonomy

5. Perception of reality

6. Environmental Mastery

What does statistical infrequency mean?

It means a person’s trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual.

What are some limitations to the definition statistical infrequency?

• It doesn’t distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour

• Many rare behaviours or characteristics have no bearing on normality or abnormality

How does social class effect mental health disorders?

Research has indicated that there is a higher prevalence of mental health disorders in social disadvantaged groups. This is largely due to their exposure to more stressful life experiences, compared to those in more advantaged social groups.

What are the 3 main types of phobic anxiety disorders?

Specific phobia

Social phobia

Agoraphobia

Define what a specific phobia is:

It is a lasting and unreasonable fear caused by the presence or thought of a specific object or situation.

How common are specific phobias?

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates about 5%-12% of Americans have phobias.

What causes specific phobias?

The exact cause is not known.

Most appear to be associated with a traumatic experience or a learned reaction.

What are some behavioural symptoms of specific phobias?

• Avoidant/anxiety response

• Disruption of functioning

What are some emotional symptoms of specific phobias?

• Persistent, excessive fear

• Fear from exposure to phobic stimulus

What are some cognitive symptoms of specific phobias?

• Recognition of exaggerated anxiety

What are some treatments for specific phobias?

Medication is used for prevention and/or immediate alleviation of symptoms

Psychotherapy is often used to help relax the body and relieve anxiety