Psychopathology Essay plans
Discuss definitions in the field of Mental health (16)
AO1 Statistical infrequency:
• Abnormal if behaviour is uncommon within society
• Represented on the extreme ends on a normal distribution bell curve
• Supported by up to date statistics (SD)
• 95% of population have IQ between 70-130,
• Only 5% Below 70 or above 130 so infrequent in society
• Below 70 can be diagnosed with IDD (intellectual disability disorder)
Deviation from social norms:
• Abnormal behaviour is that which goes against the expectations given by society
• Behaviour may offend other members of society in some way or is different
• ASPD (antisocial personality disorder) includes impulsive and aggressive
behaviour, this goes against acceptable/ expected behaviour in society so is
diagnosed
AO3 + objective (SI) +real world application (DSN)
• Using statistical measures to measure • Can be used in clinical
abnormally is objective as uses empirical practice EG. A defining
data characteristic of ASPD is
• Practical application to health care works to failure to conform to
diagnose mental illness as everyone follows acceptable behaviour
same set of guidelines (aggression)
• But deciding the cutoff point of normal to • Criteria can differentiate
abnormal is subjective between desirable and
• Yet is better than subjective opinions undesirable traits
clinicians who may disagree on vague • Allowing for more accurate
concept eg. If client is coping treatment suited to indivdual
Counter: desirably (SI) Counter: ethnocentric bias
• Not all infrequencies are abnormal, doesn’t (DSN)
account for desirability of behaviour • Diagnosis of mental illness
• highly intelligent people with 130+ score is may be biased towards
statically rare and are thus abnormal by this minority ethnicity groups
definition because they deviate from
• But aren’t diagnosed with disorder eg. IDD norm
• African-Carrie an immigrants
7 times more likely
-alternative evidence (SI) -Cultural relativism/time (DSN)
• Not all desirable traits show a normal • Societal norms change
distribution global within cultures and
• Definition only differentiates between Normal overtime
and abnormal not desirable and undesirable • Homosexuality is illegal in
• NHS survey (2014) found 1 in 6 adults in 70+ countries so classified
England (17%) met criteria for a common as abnormal there but
mental health disorder normal to other countries
• There’s no global standard
for defining abnormality so it
isn’t standardised
Discuss definitions in the field of Mental health (16)
, Psychopathology Essay plans
AO1 Failure to function adequately
• Abnormality judged as inability to cope with demands of everyday living
• Rosenhan and Selgiman (1989) criteria: observer discomfort, irrational,
maladaptive behaviour
• eg.can’t maintain hygiene/ nutrition/ maintain relationships or go to work/school
• Failure to follow interpersonal rules so behaviour causes personal distress and
distress to others
Deviation from ideal mental health
• Absence of signs of mental health used to judge abnormality
• Marie Jahoda’s criteria- accurate perception of reality, self actualisation,
resistance to stress, high self-esteem, autonomy, enviroment mastery
• More criteria someone fails to meet more abnormal they are
AO3 +Individual patient perspective (FFA) holistic and constructive (DMH)
• Allows treatment based on individual perspective and • Focuses on positive and
experience instead of population desirable behaviours not
• Global Assessment of Function (GAF) scale assesses just undesirable
the severity of functioning in 10 sect. • Range of criteria cover
• allowing professionals to consider subjective many reason why need help
experience, ranking symptom severity and decide • Provides checklist to
intensity of treatment assess ourselves and
• Increased external validity others
Counter: individual differences, not indicator • More informed discussion
• Not all maladaptive behaviour an indicator of with professionals
abnormality Counter: unrealistic criteria
• One person with OCD have rituals that prevent • Times everyone
functioning, another person with OCD suffer same experiences stress eg.
rituals but complete on time Grieving but would be
• Each person would be diagnosed differently using this classed as abnormal
definition, questions validity • Validity of how many
criteria absent needs
assessment
-social control (FFA) -culture bias (DMH)
• Not all abnormal behaviour associated with failure to • Criteria based on behaviour
cope, some choose alt. Lifestyles in individualistic cultures
• EG. Ppl live off-the-grid may seem like not being able to (ethnocentric)
• Eg. autonomy isn’t
function labelled as irrational
important for collectivists
• In diagnosis hard to say when someone chosen non- • Collectivist focus on needs
standard lifestyle or can't cope of the group (eastern)
• Leads to social control of behaviour within society, as • Decrease external
fit criteria of abnormally population validity of
definition, can’t be
Counter: subjective threshold for professional help generalised and applied
• Many may have symptoms of mental disorder but can Counter: individual differences
persevere through it • People more aware of own
• Prioritises treatment for those who need it most behaviour so more
informed discussion with
professionals
Discuss definitions in the field of Mental health (16)
AO1 Statistical infrequency:
• Abnormal if behaviour is uncommon within society
• Represented on the extreme ends on a normal distribution bell curve
• Supported by up to date statistics (SD)
• 95% of population have IQ between 70-130,
• Only 5% Below 70 or above 130 so infrequent in society
• Below 70 can be diagnosed with IDD (intellectual disability disorder)
Deviation from social norms:
• Abnormal behaviour is that which goes against the expectations given by society
• Behaviour may offend other members of society in some way or is different
• ASPD (antisocial personality disorder) includes impulsive and aggressive
behaviour, this goes against acceptable/ expected behaviour in society so is
diagnosed
AO3 + objective (SI) +real world application (DSN)
• Using statistical measures to measure • Can be used in clinical
abnormally is objective as uses empirical practice EG. A defining
data characteristic of ASPD is
• Practical application to health care works to failure to conform to
diagnose mental illness as everyone follows acceptable behaviour
same set of guidelines (aggression)
• But deciding the cutoff point of normal to • Criteria can differentiate
abnormal is subjective between desirable and
• Yet is better than subjective opinions undesirable traits
clinicians who may disagree on vague • Allowing for more accurate
concept eg. If client is coping treatment suited to indivdual
Counter: desirably (SI) Counter: ethnocentric bias
• Not all infrequencies are abnormal, doesn’t (DSN)
account for desirability of behaviour • Diagnosis of mental illness
• highly intelligent people with 130+ score is may be biased towards
statically rare and are thus abnormal by this minority ethnicity groups
definition because they deviate from
• But aren’t diagnosed with disorder eg. IDD norm
• African-Carrie an immigrants
7 times more likely
-alternative evidence (SI) -Cultural relativism/time (DSN)
• Not all desirable traits show a normal • Societal norms change
distribution global within cultures and
• Definition only differentiates between Normal overtime
and abnormal not desirable and undesirable • Homosexuality is illegal in
• NHS survey (2014) found 1 in 6 adults in 70+ countries so classified
England (17%) met criteria for a common as abnormal there but
mental health disorder normal to other countries
• There’s no global standard
for defining abnormality so it
isn’t standardised
Discuss definitions in the field of Mental health (16)
, Psychopathology Essay plans
AO1 Failure to function adequately
• Abnormality judged as inability to cope with demands of everyday living
• Rosenhan and Selgiman (1989) criteria: observer discomfort, irrational,
maladaptive behaviour
• eg.can’t maintain hygiene/ nutrition/ maintain relationships or go to work/school
• Failure to follow interpersonal rules so behaviour causes personal distress and
distress to others
Deviation from ideal mental health
• Absence of signs of mental health used to judge abnormality
• Marie Jahoda’s criteria- accurate perception of reality, self actualisation,
resistance to stress, high self-esteem, autonomy, enviroment mastery
• More criteria someone fails to meet more abnormal they are
AO3 +Individual patient perspective (FFA) holistic and constructive (DMH)
• Allows treatment based on individual perspective and • Focuses on positive and
experience instead of population desirable behaviours not
• Global Assessment of Function (GAF) scale assesses just undesirable
the severity of functioning in 10 sect. • Range of criteria cover
• allowing professionals to consider subjective many reason why need help
experience, ranking symptom severity and decide • Provides checklist to
intensity of treatment assess ourselves and
• Increased external validity others
Counter: individual differences, not indicator • More informed discussion
• Not all maladaptive behaviour an indicator of with professionals
abnormality Counter: unrealistic criteria
• One person with OCD have rituals that prevent • Times everyone
functioning, another person with OCD suffer same experiences stress eg.
rituals but complete on time Grieving but would be
• Each person would be diagnosed differently using this classed as abnormal
definition, questions validity • Validity of how many
criteria absent needs
assessment
-social control (FFA) -culture bias (DMH)
• Not all abnormal behaviour associated with failure to • Criteria based on behaviour
cope, some choose alt. Lifestyles in individualistic cultures
• EG. Ppl live off-the-grid may seem like not being able to (ethnocentric)
• Eg. autonomy isn’t
function labelled as irrational
important for collectivists
• In diagnosis hard to say when someone chosen non- • Collectivist focus on needs
standard lifestyle or can't cope of the group (eastern)
• Leads to social control of behaviour within society, as • Decrease external
fit criteria of abnormally population validity of
definition, can’t be
Counter: subjective threshold for professional help generalised and applied
• Many may have symptoms of mental disorder but can Counter: individual differences
persevere through it • People more aware of own
• Prioritises treatment for those who need it most behaviour so more
informed discussion with
professionals
