Summary
Summary Psychopathology
- Institution
- AQA
Summary of 18 pages for the course Unit 3 PSYA3 - Topics in Psychology at AQA (Psychopathology)
[Show more]
Content preview
Definitions of AbnormalityStatistical Infrequency
AO1
Under this definition of abnormality, a person's trait, thinking or
behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual.
With this definition, it is necessary to be clear about how rare a trait or
behaviour needs to be before we class it as abnormal.
However this definition obviously has limitations, it fails to
recognize the desirability of the particular behaviour.
Going back to the example, someone who has an IQ level above the
normal average wouldn't necessarily be seen as abnormal, rather on
the contrary they would be highly regarded for their intelligence.
This definition also implies that the presence of abnormal behaviour in
people should be rare or statistically unusual, which is not the case.
Instead, any specific abnormal behaviour may be unusual, but it is not
unusual for people to exhibit some form of prolonged abnormal
behaviour at some point in their lives.
AO3
Strengths:
- This definition can provide an objective way, based on data, to define
abnormality if an agreed cut-off point can be identified.
Limitations
- However, this definition fails to distinguish between desirable and
undesirable behaviour. Statistically speaking, many very gifted
individuals could be classified as ‘abnormal’ using this definition. The
use of the term ‘abnormal’ in this context would not be appropriate.
- Many rare behaviours or characteristics (e.g. left-handedness) have
no bearing on normality or abnormality. Some characteristics are
regarded as abnormal even though they are quite frequent. Depression
may affect 27% of elderly people (NIMH, 2001). This would make it
common but that does not mean it isn’t a problem
Deviation from Social Norms
AO1
A person's thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates
the (unwritten) rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour
in a particular social group. Their behaviour may be incomprehensible
to others or make others feel threatened or uncomfortable. Social
behaviour varies markedly when different cultures are compared.
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 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 liztkd. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
77254 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now