1) Definitions of mental health

What’s considered abnormal according to statistical infrequency?

A behaviour is considered abnormal if it is extremely rare within a population

What’s an example of a statistical infrequent trait?

The average IQ score is 100 and 2% (2 standard deviation away) have an iq below 70. Scoring under 70 is unusual and abnormal causing for the diagnosis of of intellectual disability disorder

What are the disadvantages of statistical infrequency?

• Some abnormal behaviour such as depression are actually common

• Some anormale behaviour can be considered desirable such as high IQ

What are advantages of statistical infrequency?

• has real world application

• Objective and unbiased- less misdiagnosis

• Can be used to assess intellectual disability

What’s considered abnormal according to social/cultural norms?

A person’s thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the unwritten rules (implicit laws or explicit laws) about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group

What’s a real world example of normal being specific to the cultures and time we live in?

Homosexuality continues to be viewed as abnormal in some cultures

Why does deviation from social/cultural norms have issues with temporal validity?

Social norms change between cultures and are constantly changing over time, consequencetly so does people conceptions of abnormality. Homosexuality was regarded as a mental illness until 1973

Why does deviation from social norms have issues with cultural relativism?

It attempts to apply social norms definitions across cultures is ethnocentric as some behaviour may also be acceptable in different cultures

What did Rack (1984) claim?

African Caribbean’s in Britain are sometimes diagnosed as mentally ill on the basis of behaviour which is normal in their subcultures (religious beliefs such as hearing voices from spirits. Research argues that white physiciatrist are culturally blind hence why black people in the uk are 5x more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia

Whats considered abnormal according to failure to function adequately

A person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with demands of everyday life. They may be unable to perform the behaviour necessary for day to day living such as self care, hold down a job etc

Whats rosenhan and selingam (1989) criteria for FFA

• personal distress

• Maladaptive behaviour

• Vividness and unconventionality

• Unpredictably and loss of control

• Irrationality

• Causes observer discomfort

• Violates moral/social standards

Advantages of FFA

• takes into account the patient perspective- more holistic approach

  
  

Disadvantages of FFA

• can be culturally biased and subjective on what functioning

• Many people fail to function adequately at some point. The theory ignores life circumstances

• Many people engage is maladaptive behaviour but are not considered abnormal eg smoking

  
  

What’s considered abnormal according to deviation from ideal mental health?

We define what is normal and ideal and anything that deviates from that is regarded as abnormal .

What’s Jehoda (1958) definition of ideal mental health?

• we have no symptoms of distress

• We have an accurate perception of reality

• We are able to self actualise

• We can cope well with stress

• We have a realistic view of the world

• We have good self esteem

• We are autonomous and independent

• We have environmental mastery

What are advantages of DFIMH?

• provides useful targets for goal setting and treatment because the criteria emphasises good mental health.

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What are disadvantages of deviation from ideal mental health?

• may be culturally biased. Self actualisation would be considered self indulgent in collectivist cultures that emphasise family and community

• Unrealistic high standards, not many people meet all the criteria. However it does point out ways in which people could improve their mental health