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AQA A Level Psychology Psychopathology Latest Exam (Questions And Verified Answers) 2025 Updated
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AQA A Level Psychology PsychopathologyAQA A Level Psychology Psychopathology Latest
Exam (Questions And Verified Answers) 2025
Updated
Outline Limitations of 'Failure to Function Adequately' as a definition of abnormality.
-Not everyone admits when they are failing as some may feel content with the way they are functioning,
making it difficult to diagnose.
-It may not be obvious that someone is not functioning, therefore it is difficult to diagnose using this
definition alone.
-It lacks cultural relativism, as what is considered adequate in on culture differs to another.
Define the four definitions of Abnormality
Definition 1: Deviation from Social Norms - Standards of acceptable behaviour are set by a social group
and anything that deviates from this behaviour is deemed abnormal. In the past being homosexual was
seen as deviant from social norms, campaigners have now changed the social perception and have made
it normal. This proves that this explanation is subject to change.
Definition 2: Failure to Function Adequately - This is where people are not able to cope with everyday
demands such as eating in public. It interferes with everyday life and the individual judges when their
behaviour becomes abnormal.
Definition 3: Deviation from Ideal Mental Health - Physical illness being defined as the absence of signs
of physical healthiness. This definition says we should look at mental illness in the same way, there are 6
categories that if are not there then this would suggest mental illness. They are: Self Attitudes, Self
Actualisation (max potential), Integration, Autonomy, Reality and Mastery of Environment.
Definition 4: Statistical Deviation - Uses numbers to define abnormality, unusual behaviours occurring
frequently. (using distribution curve)
Outline Limitations of 'Deviation from Social Norms' as a definition of abnormality.
-It lacks any cultural relativism as different actions are considered normal in different cultures thus the
definition cannot be generalised across cultures.
-The definition will need to evolve with time as social norms do.
, AQA A Level Psychology Psychopathology
-There is no objective factual way of saying wether what someone is doing is deviating from social
norms or not.
Outline Limitations of 'Deviation from Ideal Mental Health' as a definition of abnormality.
-The criteria that we should meet is over demanding, can individuals realistically achieve all 6 categories
at once.
-Also the definition lacks cultural relativism, collectivist cultures believe in the greater good for the
community but individualistic cultures believe in the 'autonomy' therefore it cannot be generalised
across cultures.
-The definitions are all very subjective, you think you achieving to full potential but someone else may
think you aren't.
Outline Limitations of 'Statistical Deviation' as a definition of abnormality.
-Characteristics that are 'abnormal' are not all negative for example having a IQ would make you
technically abnormal but you wouldn't want to treat it.
-If someone is happy and content with their life then there is no point in labelling them abnormal just
because the don't fit in with everyone else's statistics.
Outline the Behavioural, Emotional and Cognitive characteristics for Phobias
Behavioural
Panic, in response to a stimulus people may freeze of scream and run away.
Avoidance, people will often avoid facing their fears which can make it difficult to go out and about.
Endurance, the opposite of avoidance where the sufferer takes it and endures it.
Emotional
Anxiety, phobias are classified as anxiety disorders, this prevents relaxation and makes it difficult to feel
positive emotions.
Unreasonable emotional responses, the emotional response we have is much to over the top of what is
reasonable and is disproportional to the danger.
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