Class notes for all Psychopathology topics in AQA Psychology A Level, including Definitions of Abnormality, Phobias, OCD and Depression. Includes both content and evaluation.
Statistical Normal distribution
infrequency - Anything that is statistically rare should be seen as abnormal
- Judged based on a normal distribution
→ In any characteristic, most people’s scores cluster around the
average
→ The further below or above the average → less people there
- E.g. IQ scores
→ Average = 100, most people between 85-115
→ Only 2% are below 70 or above 130
→ People below 70 = statistically rare or ‘abnormal’ - able to
receive a diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder
Evaluation
+ Real life application
→ The only way we diagnose IDD is considering someone’s IQ
score based on a normal distribution graph
→ All assessments of people with mental disorders involves
some kind of measure of how severe their symptoms are
compared to the average
- Are all abnormal behaviours infrequent?
→ In modern day about 10% will experience chronic depression
- if we just used this definition, then these people wouldn’t
get diagnosed and therefore wouldn’t get help
→ Issues with its use now that mental disorders are so much
more common
- Are all rare characteristics bad?
→ An IQ over 130 is just as rare as below 70, but we wouldn’t
consider the highest scores to be undesirable and in need of
help
→ A serious issue is that it doesn’t differentiate between
desirable and undesirable rare behaviour
Deviations from - In every society there are social norms that determine what
social norms behaviours are acceptable - they are often there for the benefit of
society
- Using this definition, abnormality = people who deviate from these
norms
, Evaluation
- Norms change a lot over time
→ What was once acceptable may now not be, and vice versa -
e.g. until 1980, homosexuality was considered a
psychological disorder by WHO and required therapy
→ This means that what is considered abnormal based on social
norms will change a lot also
- Cultural differences (cultural relativism)
→ A person from one cultural group may label someone from
another culture as abnormal according to their own
standards rather than the other’s
→ E.g. hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultures -
would be seen as a possible mental abnormality in the UK
Failure to function - Abnormal = when we are unable to cope with the demands of
adequately everyday life
- Maladaptive behaviour (not good for survival) - disrupts ability to
work and conduct satisfying relationships
- Behaviour also causes personal distress (and distress to others)
Rosenhan
- “If sanity and insanity exist, how shall we know them?”
- Signs that someone is not coping (Rosenhan + Seligman):
→ Can no longer conform to standard interpersonal roles
→ When a person experiences severe personal distress
→ When their behaviour becomes irrational/dangerous
Evaluation
+ Recognises the patients’ perspective
→ Attempts to include the subjective experience of individuals
and captures the experience of people who need help
→ Useful criteria for assessing abnormality
- Subjective assessment
→ Someone has to judge if someone is distressed or suffering
(no objective criteria)
→ Could mean that some say they are coping while another
psychiatrist may make the opposite judgement
- Not all abnormal behaviour means someone isn’t coping
→ Many people have mental health conditions but are still able
to cope and function in daily life
→ The definition overlooks people who are able to cope with
their condition
- Not all maladaptive behaviour is an indicator of mental illness
→ E.g. Smoking is maladaptive, yet we wouldn’t say it is directly
a symptom of a mental illness
, → Definition doesn’t account for people who choose to live
alternate lifestyles that may be maladaptive but don’t need
intervention
Deviation from - Doesn’t define abnormality directly, instead attempts to define a
ideal mental state of ideal mental health
health Marie Jahoda (1958)
- Defined ideal mental health through a list of characteristics,
including:
→ No symptoms of distress
→ Ability to self-actualise
→ Ability to cope with stress
→ Realistic view of the world
→ Good self-esteem
- Therefore the absence of one or more of these suggests abnormality
Evaluation
+ Comprehensive
→ Covers a wide range of criteria, and most of the reasons that
someone would seek mental health help (holistic)
→ Can be seen to have a positive outlook (humanism
connotations)
- Cultural relativism
→ A lot of the criteria may be specific to western, individualistic
cultures
→ E.g. the idea of self-actualisation or independence from other
people - doesn’t necessarily apply to collectivist cultures
- Unrealistic
→ Very few people will attain all of the criteria, and even if
someone did this wouldn’t be constant
→ Undermines the value of abnormal behaviour and won’t add
any value to thinking about who might benefit from
treatment
4.2 PHOBIAS
Heading Notes
Types of phobia Specific → anxious in the presence of a particular stimulus
Social → inappropriate anxiety in social situations
Agoraphobia → phobia of situations they cannot easily leave (e.g. crowds,
open spaces)
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