psychopathology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9khqej
1. definitions of ab- deviation from social norms, failure to function adequate-
normality ly, statistical infrequency and deviation from ideal mental
health
2. deviation from behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of
social norms behaviour in a community or society.
3. Norms unwritten rules and expectations by which a society
guides the behavior of its members. this suggests that
abnormality is seen as someone who breaks these rules.
4. social norms The Social norms definition can be questioned, as social
evaluation 1 norms change over time. For example a behaviour that
broke social norms and was considered abnormal in 1950
may not be viewed as abnormal today. Being an unmar-
ried mother in the 1940's and 1950's would be breaking
social norms and therefore this behaviour was classed
as abnormal. This is a limitation because it is not the
individual who has changed but the classification of the
behaviour by society. This brings into question the validity
of using this definition alone to define abnormality.
5. social norms Social norms differ between cultures and this may be
evaluation 2 problematic. In British culture it is considered to be polite
to finish the food on your plate at mealtimes. However, in
India, to finish all food from you plate is a sign that you
are still hungry. This is a limitation because shows that
what is considered 'normal' in one culture may actually be
'abnormal' in another. This means that this definition does
not produce an accurate definition of abnormal behaviour
that can be generalised.
6. social norms The "deviation from Social norms" definition is limited
evaluation 3 because it suggests that all behaviour which breaks social
norms is "abnormal" and it doesn't distinguish between
socially deviant behaviour and mental abnormality. For
example, someone found guilty of being a drink-driver
may have broken a social norm, but they are not con-
sidered to have a mental abnormality. This is a limitation
, psychopathology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9khqej
because it shows that the deviation from social norms
definition is inadequate in identifying abnormality as there
are many behaviours that are clearly socially deviant but
not psychological abnormalities.
7. Statistical infre- Abnormality is defined as those behaviours and individual
quency characteristics that can be measured and are statistically
extremely rare.
8. normal distribu- majority of people's behaviour is in the middle and they
tion graph are defined as normal. 2.5% that fall below and above the
normal standard are considered abnormal.
2.5% 13.% 34% 34% 13.5% 2.5%
9. statistical infre- A strength is that it offers the prospect of clear guidelines
quency evalua- for identifying behaviours as normal and abnormal. The
tion 1 definition introduces an element of objectivity into the
process of defining abnormality so that different mental
health care workers can all view the same kind of behav-
iour in the same kind of way. This is a strength because
it offers a more scientific way of measuring abnormality,
reducing subjectivity and therefore leading to a more
accurate way of defining abnormality.
10. statistical infre- one weakness is that the definition does not classify
quency evalua- whether all behaviour is undesirable. many abnormal be-
tion 2 haviours are quite desirable such as a high IQ but it is
not an undesirable trait. This is a weakness just because
someone falls above or below the the common standard
doesn't always mean they are abnormal.
11. statistical infre- A weakness of this definition is that it can be criticised
quency evalua- as being ethnocentric as some cultures differ in terms of
tion 3 what they consider normal behaviour. This is a weakness
because the definition cannot be applied/generalised to
every culture and therefore in using this definition may
lead to some individuals being inaccurately defined as
being abnormal.
12.
, psychopathology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9khqej
failure to func- Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary
tion adequately demands of day-to-day living. this can be seen as mal-
adaptive (not good for survival) which disrupts their ability
to work, make good relationships and personal distress.
13. key characteris- Rosenhan and Seligman 1989 suggested 7 characteris-
tics of failure tics.
to function ade-
quately
14. maladaptive be- behavior that hinders a person's ability to function and
havior attain life goals both socially and occupationally
15. vivid and uncon- behaviour is unusual
ventional behav-
iour
16. unpredictability behaviour is unexpected
17. irrational behav- a person's behaviour doesn't make sense to other people
ior
18. Observer dis- Displaying behaviour that causes discomfort to others.
comfort
19. personal dis- the person finds their behavior troubling
tress
20. violation of Behaviour that violates moral standard
moral standards
21. failure to func- Consideration of how the individual feels: This definition
tion evaluation 1 is focused on the individual and how they are managing
in everyday life from their perspective, so if someone
feels as though they are struggling they will be deemed
abnormal and get help. however it may not be completely
effective as it is difficult to assess distress but this def-
inition at least acknowledges that the experience of the
patient is important.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9khqej
1. definitions of ab- deviation from social norms, failure to function adequate-
normality ly, statistical infrequency and deviation from ideal mental
health
2. deviation from behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of
social norms behaviour in a community or society.
3. Norms unwritten rules and expectations by which a society
guides the behavior of its members. this suggests that
abnormality is seen as someone who breaks these rules.
4. social norms The Social norms definition can be questioned, as social
evaluation 1 norms change over time. For example a behaviour that
broke social norms and was considered abnormal in 1950
may not be viewed as abnormal today. Being an unmar-
ried mother in the 1940's and 1950's would be breaking
social norms and therefore this behaviour was classed
as abnormal. This is a limitation because it is not the
individual who has changed but the classification of the
behaviour by society. This brings into question the validity
of using this definition alone to define abnormality.
5. social norms Social norms differ between cultures and this may be
evaluation 2 problematic. In British culture it is considered to be polite
to finish the food on your plate at mealtimes. However, in
India, to finish all food from you plate is a sign that you
are still hungry. This is a limitation because shows that
what is considered 'normal' in one culture may actually be
'abnormal' in another. This means that this definition does
not produce an accurate definition of abnormal behaviour
that can be generalised.
6. social norms The "deviation from Social norms" definition is limited
evaluation 3 because it suggests that all behaviour which breaks social
norms is "abnormal" and it doesn't distinguish between
socially deviant behaviour and mental abnormality. For
example, someone found guilty of being a drink-driver
may have broken a social norm, but they are not con-
sidered to have a mental abnormality. This is a limitation
, psychopathology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9khqej
because it shows that the deviation from social norms
definition is inadequate in identifying abnormality as there
are many behaviours that are clearly socially deviant but
not psychological abnormalities.
7. Statistical infre- Abnormality is defined as those behaviours and individual
quency characteristics that can be measured and are statistically
extremely rare.
8. normal distribu- majority of people's behaviour is in the middle and they
tion graph are defined as normal. 2.5% that fall below and above the
normal standard are considered abnormal.
2.5% 13.% 34% 34% 13.5% 2.5%
9. statistical infre- A strength is that it offers the prospect of clear guidelines
quency evalua- for identifying behaviours as normal and abnormal. The
tion 1 definition introduces an element of objectivity into the
process of defining abnormality so that different mental
health care workers can all view the same kind of behav-
iour in the same kind of way. This is a strength because
it offers a more scientific way of measuring abnormality,
reducing subjectivity and therefore leading to a more
accurate way of defining abnormality.
10. statistical infre- one weakness is that the definition does not classify
quency evalua- whether all behaviour is undesirable. many abnormal be-
tion 2 haviours are quite desirable such as a high IQ but it is
not an undesirable trait. This is a weakness just because
someone falls above or below the the common standard
doesn't always mean they are abnormal.
11. statistical infre- A weakness of this definition is that it can be criticised
quency evalua- as being ethnocentric as some cultures differ in terms of
tion 3 what they consider normal behaviour. This is a weakness
because the definition cannot be applied/generalised to
every culture and therefore in using this definition may
lead to some individuals being inaccurately defined as
being abnormal.
12.
, psychopathology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_9khqej
failure to func- Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary
tion adequately demands of day-to-day living. this can be seen as mal-
adaptive (not good for survival) which disrupts their ability
to work, make good relationships and personal distress.
13. key characteris- Rosenhan and Seligman 1989 suggested 7 characteris-
tics of failure tics.
to function ade-
quately
14. maladaptive be- behavior that hinders a person's ability to function and
havior attain life goals both socially and occupationally
15. vivid and uncon- behaviour is unusual
ventional behav-
iour
16. unpredictability behaviour is unexpected
17. irrational behav- a person's behaviour doesn't make sense to other people
ior
18. Observer dis- Displaying behaviour that causes discomfort to others.
comfort
19. personal dis- the person finds their behavior troubling
tress
20. violation of Behaviour that violates moral standard
moral standards
21. failure to func- Consideration of how the individual feels: This definition
tion evaluation 1 is focused on the individual and how they are managing
in everyday life from their perspective, so if someone
feels as though they are struggling they will be deemed
abnormal and get help. however it may not be completely
effective as it is difficult to assess distress but this def-
inition at least acknowledges that the experience of the
patient is important.
