PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
DEFINITIONS OF
ABNORMALITY:
DEVEATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: when a behaviour
does not fit within what is socially acceptable. E.g., not
washing your hands after using the toilet, not getting out of
bed, or never washing.
CONS:
A major con of this definition is that it does not consider
other cultures, furthermore, the definition is highly subjective
and can vary from one culture or subculture to another
Another issue with this definition is that it does not stay the
same over time. For example, at one point it was normal to
ride horses everyday however, in the present day it would
now seem abnormal. This is bad because in psychology we
aim for definitions to stay the same over time and not adjust
for different times.
PROS:
,Flexibility: A strength is that it is flexible dependent on
situation and age. A social norm is to wear full clothing whilst
out shopping, but a bikini is acceptable on a beach. It is also
socially acceptable to drink milk out of a bottle with a teat if
you are a baby, but not as an adult.
Clarity: In most instances if you have lived within a culture for
a long time, you will be aware of what is, and what is not
acceptable.
Helps society: Adhering to social norms means that society is
ordered and predictable. This is argued to be advantageous.
DEVEATION FROM IDEAL MEANTAL HEALTH: The idea
is that there are various theoretical descriptions of
‘normality’ and if someone does not fit within this theoretical
idea of normality their behaviour is abnormal.
Marie Jahoda in 1958.
She suggested that there were 6 criteria that needed to be
fulfilled for ideal mental health (‘normality’). The six criteria
were a positive attitude towards the self, self-actualisation,
autonomy, resistance to stress, environmental mastery and
an accurate perception of reality.
Positive attitude towards the self - This is linked to the
individual’s level of self-esteem.
Self-actualisation - Being in a state of contentment, feeling
that you have become the best you can be.
, Autonomy - This is having the independence and self-reliance.
The ability to function as an individual and not depending on
others.
Resistance to stress - This criteria is that an individual should
not feel under stress and they should be able to handle
stressful situations competently.
Environmental mastery - That the person can adapt to new
situations and be at ease at all situations in their life.
Accurate perception of reality - This criteria is focused on how
the individual sees the world around them and to achieve
ideal mental health they should have a perspective that is
similar to how others see the world. This is focused very much
on the distortions of thinking that some people, e.g., people
with schizophrenia, may experience.
Jahoda stated that for ideal mental health to be achieved the
individual should experience all of these criteria for optimum
ideal mental health and that if some are not fulfilled the
person will experience difficulties.
PROS:
Positive: This definition focuses on what is helpful and
desirable for the individual, rather than the other way round
Achievement of goals: This idea allows for clear goals to be
set and focused upon to achieve ideal mental health, and, in
Jahoda’s opinion, to achieve normality.
DEFINITIONS OF
ABNORMALITY:
DEVEATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: when a behaviour
does not fit within what is socially acceptable. E.g., not
washing your hands after using the toilet, not getting out of
bed, or never washing.
CONS:
A major con of this definition is that it does not consider
other cultures, furthermore, the definition is highly subjective
and can vary from one culture or subculture to another
Another issue with this definition is that it does not stay the
same over time. For example, at one point it was normal to
ride horses everyday however, in the present day it would
now seem abnormal. This is bad because in psychology we
aim for definitions to stay the same over time and not adjust
for different times.
PROS:
,Flexibility: A strength is that it is flexible dependent on
situation and age. A social norm is to wear full clothing whilst
out shopping, but a bikini is acceptable on a beach. It is also
socially acceptable to drink milk out of a bottle with a teat if
you are a baby, but not as an adult.
Clarity: In most instances if you have lived within a culture for
a long time, you will be aware of what is, and what is not
acceptable.
Helps society: Adhering to social norms means that society is
ordered and predictable. This is argued to be advantageous.
DEVEATION FROM IDEAL MEANTAL HEALTH: The idea
is that there are various theoretical descriptions of
‘normality’ and if someone does not fit within this theoretical
idea of normality their behaviour is abnormal.
Marie Jahoda in 1958.
She suggested that there were 6 criteria that needed to be
fulfilled for ideal mental health (‘normality’). The six criteria
were a positive attitude towards the self, self-actualisation,
autonomy, resistance to stress, environmental mastery and
an accurate perception of reality.
Positive attitude towards the self - This is linked to the
individual’s level of self-esteem.
Self-actualisation - Being in a state of contentment, feeling
that you have become the best you can be.
, Autonomy - This is having the independence and self-reliance.
The ability to function as an individual and not depending on
others.
Resistance to stress - This criteria is that an individual should
not feel under stress and they should be able to handle
stressful situations competently.
Environmental mastery - That the person can adapt to new
situations and be at ease at all situations in their life.
Accurate perception of reality - This criteria is focused on how
the individual sees the world around them and to achieve
ideal mental health they should have a perspective that is
similar to how others see the world. This is focused very much
on the distortions of thinking that some people, e.g., people
with schizophrenia, may experience.
Jahoda stated that for ideal mental health to be achieved the
individual should experience all of these criteria for optimum
ideal mental health and that if some are not fulfilled the
person will experience difficulties.
PROS:
Positive: This definition focuses on what is helpful and
desirable for the individual, rather than the other way round
Achievement of goals: This idea allows for clear goals to be
set and focused upon to achieve ideal mental health, and, in
Jahoda’s opinion, to achieve normality.
