Definitions of abnormality
- Created by: Kylin Hendy
- Created on: 29-04-13 10:05
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- Definitions of Abnormality
- Deviaton from social norms
- going against social norms
- undesirable behaviour
- Constantly deviating is viewed as abnormal
- undesirable behaviour
- Limitations
- Susceptibility of definition to abuse
- Social norms are changed over time i.e. homosexuality never used to be a social norm
- abnormality now may be normal in 10 years time
- abnormaility musty be respected and not changed
- abnormality now may be normal in 10 years time
- Social norms are changed over time i.e. homosexuality never used to be a social norm
- deviant behaviour
- some people want to be abnormal and unique so they may deviate from social norms on purpose
- affects the definition of abnormality
- some people want to be abnormal and unique so they may deviate from social norms on purpose
- cultural relativism
- social norms are different in different cultures
- individual may be considered abnormal in one culture and not in the other
- individual may get wrong treatment
- individual may be considered abnormal in one culture and not in the other
- social norms are different in different cultures
- Susceptibility of definition to abuse
- going against social norms
- Failure to function adequately
- Failure to perform day to day tasks to an adequate standard
- individuals own sense of functioning
- individual must recognise failure to function in order for them to make the decision to seek treatment
- limitations
- cultural relativism
- people from tougher background are more likely to be harrased and deprived
- could lead to abnormality and mental health problems
- abnormality has different meanings in other cultures, some behaviour would be considered abnormal in some cultures and normal in others
- could lead to abnormality and mental health problems
- people from tougher background are more likely to be harrased and deprived
- who judges functioning?
- if we rely on patient's perception of themselves then they may not realise they are abnormal and not seek treatment
- i.e. people suffering with schizophrenia do not have an accurate perception of reality
- if we rely on patient's perception of themselves then they may not realise they are abnormal and not seek treatment
- can dysfuntional behaviour be adaptive?
- shortcuts are often taken with day to day tasks in certain situations to adapt
- i.e. exams
- this does not make a person abnormal
- i.e. exams
- shortcuts are often taken with day to day tasks in certain situations to adapt
- cultural relativism
- Deviation from idea mental health
- Marie Jahoda (1958)
- 6 common categories for ideal mental health
- mastery of environment
- able to navigate a variety of different envirnoments
- accurate perception of reality
- aware of what is real
- potential for growth and development
- self-actualisation
- Maslow's hierarchy of needs
- self-actualisation
- autonomy
- independence
- positive interpersonal relationships
- self acceptance and attitudes
- secure sense of self
- mastery of environment
- 6 common categories for ideal mental health
- limitations
- can we all meet every category of ideal mental health
- average individual struggles to meet all categories by Jahoda
- no one is perfect, just because someone doesn't meet all categories it doesn't make them abnormal
- average individual struggles to meet all categories by Jahoda
- is mental health the same as physical health
- doctors use signs of health as a way of detecing physical health
- physical and mental illness have different signs, physical illness is easier to spot than mental illness
- doctors use signs of health as a way of detecing physical health
- cultural relativism
- criteria for mental health was developed in the western world where individuals have the privilage of personal independence
- different cultures have different ways of life so the categories may not be met by everyone everywhere
- this does not mean that they are abnormal
- i.e. collectivist cultures do not promote independantly achieving goas - self-actualisation
- i.e. asian cultures do not promote autonomy
- this does not mean that they are abnormal
- different cultures have different ways of life so the categories may not be met by everyone everywhere
- criteria for mental health was developed in the western world where individuals have the privilage of personal independence
- can we all meet every category of ideal mental health
- Marie Jahoda (1958)
- Deviaton from social norms
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