Psychpathology

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  • Created by: EmilyM17
  • Created on: 20-11-17 19:16
Deviation of social norms definition
A persons thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the (unwritten) rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group.
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Behaviours that deviate from social norms may:
Be incomprehensible to others//Make others feel threatened or uncomfortable
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With the deviation from social norms it is necessary to consider:
The degree at which the norm is violated//The importance of that norm to the group
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Negative evaluation points
Social norms change between cultures and over time- so do people's conceptions of abnormality.Eg. Homosexuality was a mental illness untill 1973, but not anymore.
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Negative evaluation points
Classification of abnormality can only be based on context in which the behaviour occurs.
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Failiure to function adequately definition
A person is considered as abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life
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Who suggested characteristics that someone who may not be functioning adequately may have?
Rosenhan + Seligman (1989)
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What were these characteristics?
Suffering//Maladaptiveness//Vividness + unconventionality//Unpredictable + Loss of control//Irrational + Incomprehensibility//Causes observer discomfort// Violates moral + social standards
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Positive evaluation points
Measureable:objective manner//Behaviour is observable- problems can be picked up by others
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Negative evaluation points
Too much focus on the individual- may not be a problem for the individua but for others around them//Abnormality does not always stop the person functioning//Everyday life varies
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Deviation of the ideal mental health definition
Rather than defining what is abnormal, we define what is normal and anything that deviates from this is regarded as abnormal
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Who suggested the characteristics for defining a person as mentally healthy?
Jahoda (1958)
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What were these characteristics?
Positive view of oneself//Capability for growth and development//Autonomy and independence//Accurate perception of reality//Positive friendships and relationships//Environmental mastery//Resistance to stress
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Negative evaluation points
What is considered ideal is historically and culturally specific
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Negative evaluation points
Jahoda's criteria set the bar too high
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Statistical infrequency definition
A behaviour is considered abnormal if it is extremely rare
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Normal distributions
People who behave in the average way make up the middle of the curve. Abnormal people make up the tail ends of the bell curve.
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Evaluation- Desireability
Abnormality is viewed in a negative context however under some circumstances abnormality can be desirable eg. High IQ
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Evaluation- Subjectivity
The cut off point between normal and abnormal is subjectively determined
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Evaluation- Appropriateness
Defining abnormality using statistics is sometimes appropriate- such as when classifying a mental disorder when someone is more than 2 standard deviations below the mean IQ of the population
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Behaviours that deviate from social norms may:

Back

Be incomprehensible to others//Make others feel threatened or uncomfortable

Card 3

Front

With the deviation from social norms it is necessary to consider:

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Negative evaluation points

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Negative evaluation points

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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