Defintions of abnormality
- Created by: amanda woodruff
- Created on: 24-05-10 15:42
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- Deviation from social norms:
- Social norms are the behaviours, values and beliefs that are acceptable and bring about approval.
- Some rules are unspoken but are agree on. These rules will vary from culture to culture.
- People who deviate from from these norms are often regarded as deviant or abnormal in some way for example showing inappropiate emotions.
- This definition can be helpful as to identifying mental problems. we learn what to expect from them and when they deviate we become concerned for them.
Limitations:
- One weakness is that this definiton does not always mean that someone is psychologically abnormal. As a society we can often decide that someone deviating is eccentric rather than abnormal. However, when behaviour becomes too eccentric they may cross the line into mental illness.
- Another weakness is the role of context. Much of a person behaviour is often context dependent, and therefore out of context it may seem bizarre
- A third weakness is changes with the times. What is considered to be deviant by one generation may be perfectly acceptable to another.
- The importance of culture - some cultures have different social norms to others.
Failure to fuction adequately:
- People with pschological disorders are often experience considerable suffering and distress and general inability to cope with everyday activities such as going to work.
- so common is failure to fuction adequately doctors are required to take this into account when diagnosing someone with pschologiacl problems.
- An example would be severe depression leads to empathy and…
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