Unit 4: psychopathology
PAPER ONE
, Definitions of abnormality
-Psychopathology is the study of mental illness/mental distress and abnormal , maladaptive behaviour .
Abnormality is difficult define It is considered to be psychological state leading impairment of
-
to : a to
interpersonal functioning and/or distress to others.
·
Four different definitions :
↳ Deviation from social norms
↳ failure to function adequately
4) Deviation
from ideal mental health
Statistical Frequency.
·
Deviation from social norms (expectations)
↳ Norms are unwritten rules for socially acceptable behaviour .
↳ Abnormal behaviour is behaviour which deviates social norms .
from
↳ Norms
vary across cultures ,
situations , ages and gender
4) what is
acceptable in one culture will differ in another (e g. homosexuality)
.
EVALUATION
·
STRENGTHS
&
Helps people : the fact that society gives itself the right to intervene in abnormal people's
lives can be beneficial ,
as such individuals that need it may not be able to get help
+ nemselves .
Social Dimension
· : the definition gives a social dimension to the idea of abnormality , which
offers an alternative to the isolatedSick in the head" individual .
·
Situational norms : Definition considers the social dimension of behaviour , a behavior seen
as abnormal in one setting is regarded as normal in another.
·
Developmental norms : The definition establishes what behaviours are normal for different ages.
e -
g. filling a happy at aged 2 is considered normal but not at age 40.
·
Distinguishes between normal/abnormal :
Definition gives a clear indication of what is and isn't seen
as normal behaviour .
·
Protects Society :
Definition seeks to protect society from the effects an individual's abnormal
behaviour can have on others .
, ·
LIMITATIONS
&
Subjective : social norms are not real , but are based on the opinions of ruling elites within society
rather than majority opinion . A true definition of abnormality should be objective and free
from subjective factors.
Change
·
over time : Norms defined by society often relate to mords standards that vary over time
as social attitudes change .
·
Individualism : Those who do not conform to social norms may not be abnormal , but merely
individualistic or eccentric and not problematic in any sense .
·
Ethnocentric bias in diagnosis :
Western social norms reflect the behaviour of majority 'White'
population . Deviation from these norms by ethnic groups means that ethnic minorities
are over-represented in mental illness statistics .
·
cultural differences : social norms vary within and across cultures and so it's difficult to
know when they're being broken . This definition is example of cultural relativism .
·
failure to function adequately (coping)
Individuals are considered to be abnormal when :
-
↳ Behaviour suggests they cannot cope with everyday life .
↳ Behaviour causes distress leading to an inability to function (unable to work , problems with
relationships etc . )
·
Rosennan and Seligman (1989) -
proposed the following signs that can be used to determine whether
someone is coping .
or not
1. When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules e .
g. maintaining eye contact,
respect personal space .
-
2 . When a person experiences severe personal distress (themselves) or causes distress and discomfort
to others .
3
. Unpredictability the behaviour is unpredictable and sometimes uncontrolled
-
-
.
-
4 .
Irrationality -
the behaviour is irrational and hard to understand .
- 3
. Maladaptativeness -
the behaviour interferes with a person's usual daily routine .
& VALUATION
·
STRENGTHS
↑
Matches Sufferer's perception : As most people seeking Clinical help believe that they are suffering from
Psychological problems that interfere with ability to function properly , it supports the definition .
*
Assess degree of abnormality : As the GAF is scored on a continuous scale ,
it allows clinicians to set the
degree to which individuals are abnormal and thus decides who needs psychiatric help.
PAPER ONE
, Definitions of abnormality
-Psychopathology is the study of mental illness/mental distress and abnormal , maladaptive behaviour .
Abnormality is difficult define It is considered to be psychological state leading impairment of
-
to : a to
interpersonal functioning and/or distress to others.
·
Four different definitions :
↳ Deviation from social norms
↳ failure to function adequately
4) Deviation
from ideal mental health
Statistical Frequency.
·
Deviation from social norms (expectations)
↳ Norms are unwritten rules for socially acceptable behaviour .
↳ Abnormal behaviour is behaviour which deviates social norms .
from
↳ Norms
vary across cultures ,
situations , ages and gender
4) what is
acceptable in one culture will differ in another (e g. homosexuality)
.
EVALUATION
·
STRENGTHS
&
Helps people : the fact that society gives itself the right to intervene in abnormal people's
lives can be beneficial ,
as such individuals that need it may not be able to get help
+ nemselves .
Social Dimension
· : the definition gives a social dimension to the idea of abnormality , which
offers an alternative to the isolatedSick in the head" individual .
·
Situational norms : Definition considers the social dimension of behaviour , a behavior seen
as abnormal in one setting is regarded as normal in another.
·
Developmental norms : The definition establishes what behaviours are normal for different ages.
e -
g. filling a happy at aged 2 is considered normal but not at age 40.
·
Distinguishes between normal/abnormal :
Definition gives a clear indication of what is and isn't seen
as normal behaviour .
·
Protects Society :
Definition seeks to protect society from the effects an individual's abnormal
behaviour can have on others .
, ·
LIMITATIONS
&
Subjective : social norms are not real , but are based on the opinions of ruling elites within society
rather than majority opinion . A true definition of abnormality should be objective and free
from subjective factors.
Change
·
over time : Norms defined by society often relate to mords standards that vary over time
as social attitudes change .
·
Individualism : Those who do not conform to social norms may not be abnormal , but merely
individualistic or eccentric and not problematic in any sense .
·
Ethnocentric bias in diagnosis :
Western social norms reflect the behaviour of majority 'White'
population . Deviation from these norms by ethnic groups means that ethnic minorities
are over-represented in mental illness statistics .
·
cultural differences : social norms vary within and across cultures and so it's difficult to
know when they're being broken . This definition is example of cultural relativism .
·
failure to function adequately (coping)
Individuals are considered to be abnormal when :
-
↳ Behaviour suggests they cannot cope with everyday life .
↳ Behaviour causes distress leading to an inability to function (unable to work , problems with
relationships etc . )
·
Rosennan and Seligman (1989) -
proposed the following signs that can be used to determine whether
someone is coping .
or not
1. When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules e .
g. maintaining eye contact,
respect personal space .
-
2 . When a person experiences severe personal distress (themselves) or causes distress and discomfort
to others .
3
. Unpredictability the behaviour is unpredictable and sometimes uncontrolled
-
-
.
-
4 .
Irrationality -
the behaviour is irrational and hard to understand .
- 3
. Maladaptativeness -
the behaviour interferes with a person's usual daily routine .
& VALUATION
·
STRENGTHS
↑
Matches Sufferer's perception : As most people seeking Clinical help believe that they are suffering from
Psychological problems that interfere with ability to function properly , it supports the definition .
*
Assess degree of abnormality : As the GAF is scored on a continuous scale ,
it allows clinicians to set the
degree to which individuals are abnormal and thus decides who needs psychiatric help.
