Definitions of abnormality

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What are the four definitions of abnormality?
- Deviations from social norms
- Failure to function adequately
- statistical infrequency
- Deviation from ideal mental health
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Outline deviation from social norms.
- Abnormal behaviour is when someone goes against the acceptable behaviour and social norms of the group.
-Concerned with behaviour that is antisocial and undesirable.
-Not conforming to moral standards
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Outline failure to function adequately.
- Abnormal when an individual cannot cope with every day life.
- Cannot experience usual emotions or behaviours.
- inability to function in day to day situations. (Affects work & relationships)
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Outline statistical Infrequency.
- Rare thoughts and behaviours are abnormal
-Characteristics can be measured and a distribution curve can be drawn.
-Individuals who score close to the mean are considered normal.
-Individuals far from the mean are considered abnormal.
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Give an example of statistical infrequency.
Intellectual disability disorder - those with an IQ below 70 are statistically abnormal.
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Outline deviation from ideal mental health.
-If someone deviates from one or more of the 6 criteria they would be vulnerable to a psychological disorder.
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What are the 6 criteria for normal mental health?
Normal mental health includes:
+ attitude towards self
Self actualisation & Personal growth
Resistant to stress
Personal autonomy
Accurate perception of reality
Environmental mastery
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What are the disadvantages of social norms in explaining abnormality?
- Cannot be the sole explanation
-Social right abuses of those considered different
- Social norms vary from culture to culture
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What are the evaluations of failure to function adequately?
- Based on subjective judgement
- Acknowledges patients day to day life
-Hard to distinguish if someone is failing to function adequately or just deviating from social norms
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What can you use to evaluate statistical infrequency?
- Real life application (Mental disorders and measuring how severe symptoms are to norms)
- Unusual traits can be positive
-Labelling people as statistically abnormal can have a negative effect.
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What can you use to evaluate deviations from ideal mental health?
- Criteria covers a broad range for mental health
- Few people would attain all the criteria so it sets high expectations for mental health
- Specific to western cultures.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Outline deviation from social norms.

Back

- Abnormal behaviour is when someone goes against the acceptable behaviour and social norms of the group.
-Concerned with behaviour that is antisocial and undesirable.
-Not conforming to moral standards

Card 3

Front

Outline failure to function adequately.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Outline statistical Infrequency.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Give an example of statistical infrequency.

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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