Chapter 5 UNIT 1

Normality

Refers to thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are deemed to be both common and acceptable

6 main influential approaches to normality

socio-cultural approach
functional approach
historical approach
medical approach
statistical approach
situational approach

Socio-cultural approach

Thoughts, feelings and behaviour that are appropriate or acceptable in a particular society or culture are viewed as normal and those that are inappropriate or unacceptable are considered abnormal.

functional approach

Thoughts, feelings and behaviour are viewed as normal if the individual is able to function effectively in society

historical approach

what are considered normal and abnormal thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a society may depend upon the time period when the judgement is made

medical approach

Abnormal thoughts, feelings or behaviour are viewed as having an underlying biological cause and can usually be diagnosed and treated.

statistical approach

any thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a large group of people can be represented through a normal distribution.

situational approach

in society a thought, feeling or behaviours may be accepted as normal in one situation but in another situation it is viewed as abnormal

Typical behaviour

behaviour that is consistent with how an individual usually behaves

Atypical behaviour

behaviour that is unusual/unnatural compared to how an individual usually behaves

Adaptive behaviour

Are age-appropriate "everyday living skills" behaviour that enables the individual to adjust to the environment appropriately and effectively

Maladaptive behaviour

Interfere with a persons ability to carry out usual activities in an effective way - disrupts everyday functioning

Mental health VS Mental health disorder

Mental health refers to the current state of a persons psychological well-being and functioning. Mental health disorder is a diagnosed psychological state characterised by the presence of a sever disturbance, sense of distress and thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are typical of the individual which significantly impact their ability to function independently.

Mental health - labelling/stigmatisation of individuals

They can get help and adequate medicine
A negative stigma or self-stigma may form when a person defines someone by their illness rather than who they are as an individual

Mental health as a continuum

Represent the different mental health states at different positions along the continuum

Mental health problem

result of life stressor, less severe and shorter in duration than a mental disorder/illness

Mental illness

a psychological dysfunction experienced by an individuals which usually involves distress, impairment in the ability to cope with everyday life, and thoughts, feelings and/or behaviour that are not typical of the person or appropriate within their society and/or culture.

When does a person become mentally ill, rather than just having poor mental health?

When the pattern of cognitions/mood/behaviour present as dysfunctional

Psychological dysfunction

refers to a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioural functioning during which a persons thoughts, feelings or behaviour differ from those they normally experience in that situation.

impaired funcitoning

inability to cope with everyday life

the biopsychosocial model

A way of describing and explaining how biological, psychological and social factors combine and interact to influence a person's mental health.

Biological factors(internal) - biopsychosocial model

Relate to the functioning of the body and its systems, Influenced by our genetics.

Psychological factors(internal) - biopsychosocial model

Relate to patterns of cognitive and affective functioning. (thought processes and patterns etc)

Social factors(external) - biopsychosocial model

relate to an individuals interaction with their external environment

Schizophrenia

Mental illness that is characterised by perceptual, emotional and intellectual distortions and a loss of contact with reality.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Delusions: Are a false belief that are strongly held, despite evidence that they cannot be true
Hallucinations: Are false perceptions in the absence of sensory input. The hallucinations are auditory rather than visual

Types of delusions

-persecution(harm them)
-identity(belief that they are someone else)
-thought broadcasting(others can hear their thought)
-control(belief that their thoughts/behaviours are being controlled by external sources)
-guilt(belief that they committed a terrible sin)
-grandeur(belief that they have great power/knowledge/talent)
-reference(belief that objects, events or other people have particular significance for them)

The two-hit hypothesis

proposes that 2 events - genetic vulnerability and environmental stress - cause the development of schizophrenia. Both events are necessary and must occur in that order

the first hit

Initially some disruption to the brain at the prenatal stage during embryonic development (genetic factor)

the second hit

The trigger to schizophrenic symptoms. The result of the first hit is an increased vulnerability to a 'second hit' that may occur later in life. (environmental factor)