AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1 Comprehensive Review
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are
extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is found in very few
people is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/
intellectual disability disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of
behaviour in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly
psychopathy) - failure to conform to lawful and culturally
normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because
they deviate from social norms/standards.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL
LIFE APPLICATION
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes
comparison to statistical norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
,LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY:
UNUSUAL ≠ BAD
IQ scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but
people with this are not diagnosed w/ a disorder like those
who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used
alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT
EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A LABEL
if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from
being labelled as abnormal - could cause a negative view
of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS:
CULTURALLY RELATIVE
different cultures label people differently - creates
problems for people from one culture living w/i another
culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS:
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead
to systematic abuse of human rights, for example
diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape
slavery or being attracted to working-class people -
diagnoses used for control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary
demands of day-to-day living.
,no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience
personal distress, behave irrationally or dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for
good mental health. can overlap w/ failure to function
adequately
JAHODA (1958)
Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being
fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being
in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION
ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE
allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/
everyday pressures - captures experience of those who
need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION
ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL
NORMS
hard to say when someone is really failing to function, or if
they just deviate from social norms. e.e people who live
alternative lifestyles. treating this as failures of adequate
functioning limits freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION
ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE
, someone has to judge distress - patients may feel
distressed but may not be viewed as suffering.
STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL
HEALTH: COMPREHENSIVE
broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons why
someone may seek help.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL
HEALTH: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
Johoda's classification may be specific to western norms.
emphasis on self-actualisation may be seen as self-
indulgence on collectivist cultures.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL
HEALTH: UNREALISTICALLY HIGH STANDARD
very few people actually attain all of the criteria at all times
∴ most people would be viewed as abnormal.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS
behavioural
- panic
- avoidance of phobic stimulus
emotional
- anxiety/fear
- unreasonable responses
cognitive
- selective attention twd phobic stimulus (difficult to focus
elsewhere)
- irratoinal beliefs
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPRESSION
behavioural
- low activity levels
1 Comprehensive Review
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are
extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is found in very few
people is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/
intellectual disability disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of
behaviour in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly
psychopathy) - failure to conform to lawful and culturally
normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because
they deviate from social norms/standards.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL
LIFE APPLICATION
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes
comparison to statistical norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
,LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY:
UNUSUAL ≠ BAD
IQ scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but
people with this are not diagnosed w/ a disorder like those
who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used
alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT
EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A LABEL
if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from
being labelled as abnormal - could cause a negative view
of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS:
CULTURALLY RELATIVE
different cultures label people differently - creates
problems for people from one culture living w/i another
culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS:
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead
to systematic abuse of human rights, for example
diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape
slavery or being attracted to working-class people -
diagnoses used for control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary
demands of day-to-day living.
,no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience
personal distress, behave irrationally or dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for
good mental health. can overlap w/ failure to function
adequately
JAHODA (1958)
Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being
fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being
in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION
ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE
allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/
everyday pressures - captures experience of those who
need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION
ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL
NORMS
hard to say when someone is really failing to function, or if
they just deviate from social norms. e.e people who live
alternative lifestyles. treating this as failures of adequate
functioning limits freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION
ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE
, someone has to judge distress - patients may feel
distressed but may not be viewed as suffering.
STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL
HEALTH: COMPREHENSIVE
broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons why
someone may seek help.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL
HEALTH: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
Johoda's classification may be specific to western norms.
emphasis on self-actualisation may be seen as self-
indulgence on collectivist cultures.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL
HEALTH: UNREALISTICALLY HIGH STANDARD
very few people actually attain all of the criteria at all times
∴ most people would be viewed as abnormal.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS
behavioural
- panic
- avoidance of phobic stimulus
emotional
- anxiety/fear
- unreasonable responses
cognitive
- selective attention twd phobic stimulus (difficult to focus
elsewhere)
- irratoinal beliefs
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPRESSION
behavioural
- low activity levels
