, 9/25/24, 4:48 PM
abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are
extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is found in
very few people is regarded as abnormal.
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed
w/ intellectual disability disorder
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or
society
abnormality based on social context
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to conform to
lawful and culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because they
deviate from social norms/standards.
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical norms.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY:
REAL LIFE APPLICATION
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
IQ scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not diagnosed
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL w/ a disorder like those who have IQ<70.
INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from being labelled as abnormal -
INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS could cause a negative view of self and others.
FROM A LABEL
different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from one
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL culture living w/i another culture
NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
creates cultural bias in assessment
too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic abuse of
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL
human rights, for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape
NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
slavery or being attracted to working-class people - diagnoses used for control.
occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave
irrationally or dangerously.
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
overlap w/ failure to function adequately
Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being fulfilled.
JAHODA (1958) (3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/ everyday pressures - captures
ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S experience of those who need help
PERSPECTIVE
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION hard to say when someone is really failing to function, or if they just deviate from social
ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM norms. e.e people who live alternative lifestyles. treating this as failures of adequate
SOCIAL NORMS functioning limits freedom.
AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
2/10
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