psychopathology

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Definitions Of Abnormality -
Statistical infrequency
• Behaviors that are extremely rare
• Found in very few people— high IQ
• Can be shown on a bell curve, usually about 5% of the population
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Statistical infrequency
Evaluation
• Strength – no value judgements are made and is sometimes appropriate
• Some abnormal behavior is desirable (such as high IQ)
• Cut-off point is subjective—who determines it?
• Culturally relative – based on western cultures - infrequent in one culture
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Definitions Of Abnormality -
Deviation from social norms
• Anyone who deviates from socially created norms (standards of behavior) is considered abnormal
• These norms are created by a group or society
• Some rules are implicit whereas others are laws—for example, not laughing at a funeral = implicit, whereas m
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Deviation from social norms
Evaluation
• Strength – distinguishes between undesirable and desirable behaviors
• Judgements on whether something is deviant or not relates to both context and degree— not always a clear line
• Changes over time -definition is based on social attitudes at the tim
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Definitions Of Abnormality -
Deviation from ideal mental health
• Person’s behavior measured against a check list of ideal psychological characteristics
• Judges mental health- a person requires certain attributes to be mentally healthy.
• Jahoda identified 6 characteristics: self attitudes, personal growth and sel
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Deviation from ideal mental health -
Evaluation
• Strength – positive approach, focusing on what is desirable, not undesirable
• Unrealistic criteria—we could all be considered abnormal
• Suggests that MH is = PH awe are unable to diagnose mental health in the same way
• Culturally relative – self actu
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Definitions Of Abnormality -
Failure of function adequately
• People are judged on their ability to go about daily life—eating regularly, washing regularly, holding down a job etc.
• If they are unable to function adequately and they are distressed, or others are distressed by their behavior, then it is considered
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Failure of function adequately -
Evaluation
• Strength – recognizes perspective of the individual, easy to judge via assessment
• Depends on who judges whether you are failing to function adequately
• Some dysfunctional behavior can be quite functional as it rewards the individual with attention.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Statistical infrequency
Evaluation

Back

• Strength – no value judgements are made and is sometimes appropriate
• Some abnormal behavior is desirable (such as high IQ)
• Cut-off point is subjective—who determines it?
• Culturally relative – based on western cultures - infrequent in one culture

Card 3

Front

Definitions Of Abnormality -
Deviation from social norms

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Deviation from social norms
Evaluation

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Definitions Of Abnormality -
Deviation from ideal mental health

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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