A Level AQA Psychology Paper 1 Topic 4-Psychopathology Class Notes
0 view 0 purchase
Course
Psychopathology
Institution
AQA
This document is comprehensive and understandable; it includes all subtopics of Topic 4 Psychopathology which appears in paper one of A- level AQA Psychology exams. It includes all strengths and limitations for everything and includes all relevant information to help you get A grades.
, Definitions of abnormality
-Psychopathology is the study of mental illness/mental distress and abnormal , maladaptive behaviour .
Abnormality is difficult define It is considered to be psychological state leading impairment of
-
to : a to
interpersonal functioning and/or distress to others.
·
Four different definitions :
↳ Deviation from social norms
↳ failure to function adequately
4) Deviation
from ideal mental health
Statistical Frequency.
·
Deviation from social norms (expectations)
↳ Norms are unwritten rules for socially acceptable behaviour .
↳ Abnormal behaviour is behaviour which deviates social norms .
from
↳ Norms
vary across cultures ,
situations , ages and gender
4) what is
acceptable in one culture will differ in another (e g. homosexuality)
.
EVALUATION
·
STRENGTHS
&
Helps people : the fact that society gives itself the right to intervene in abnormal people's
lives can be beneficial ,
as such individuals that need it may not be able to get help
+ nemselves .
Social Dimension
· : the definition gives a social dimension to the idea of abnormality , which
offers an alternative to the isolatedSick in the head" individual .
·
Situational norms : Definition considers the social dimension of behaviour , a behavior seen
as abnormal in one setting is regarded as normal in another.
·
Developmental norms : The definition establishes what behaviours are normal for different ages.
e -
g. filling a happy at aged 2 is considered normal but not at age 40.
·
Distinguishes between normal/abnormal :
Definition gives a clear indication of what is and isn't seen
as normal behaviour .
·
Protects Society :
Definition seeks to protect society from the effects an individual's abnormal
behaviour can have on others .
, ·
LIMITATIONS
&
Subjective : social norms are not real , but are based on the opinions of ruling elites within society
rather than majority opinion . A true definition of abnormality should be objective and free
from subjective factors.
Change
·
over time : Norms defined by society often relate to mords standards that vary over time
as social attitudes change .
·
Individualism : Those who do not conform to social norms may not be abnormal , but merely
individualistic or eccentric and not problematic in any sense .
·
Ethnocentric bias in diagnosis :
Western social norms reflect the behaviour of majority 'White'
population . Deviation from these norms by ethnic groups means that ethnic minorities
are over-represented in mental illness statistics .
·
cultural differences : social norms vary within and across cultures and so it's difficult to
know when they're being broken . This definition is example of cultural relativism .
·
failure to function adequately (coping)
Individuals are considered to be abnormal when :
-
↳ Behaviour suggests they cannot cope with everyday life .
↳ Behaviour causes distress leading to an inability to function (unable to work , problems with
relationships etc . )
·
Rosennan and Seligman (1989) -
proposed the following signs that can be used to determine whether
someone is coping .
or not
1. When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules e .
g. maintaining eye contact,
respect personal space .
-
2 . When a person experiences severe personal distress (themselves) or causes distress and discomfort
to others .
3
. Unpredictability the behaviour is unpredictable and sometimes uncontrolled
-
-
.
-
4 .
Irrationality -
the behaviour is irrational and hard to understand .
- 3
. Maladaptativeness -
the behaviour interferes with a person's usual daily routine .
& VALUATION
·
STRENGTHS
↑
Matches Sufferer's perception : As most people seeking Clinical help believe that they are suffering from
Psychological problems that interfere with ability to function properly , it supports the definition .
*
Assess degree of abnormality : As the GAF is scored on a continuous scale ,
it allows clinicians to set the
degree to which individuals are abnormal and thus decides who needs psychiatric help.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller kritiuthayan16. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.25. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
