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Psychopathology
🖊Definitions of abnormality
statistical infrequency - when an individual has less common characteristics,
those which are not observed in the majority of the population
e.g. intellectual disability disorder (IDD)
unusual characteristics can be positive - high IQ is unusual but doesn’t
need treatment and isn’t undesirable
labelling is a negative thing because it can limit someone’s opportunities
and it changes how people view them
Deviation from social norms - behaviour that is different from the accepted
standards of behaviour in the community or society
standards of normality are based on collective judgements in society
norms are specific to each culture and generation and few behaviours are
universally abnormal
e.g. antisocial personality disorder (APD - psychopathy)
characteristics: superficial charm, high intelligence, anti social behaviour
Psychopathology 1
, knowledge of it allows us to conduct more accurate clinical assessments
to measure severity of symptoms
it is an abuse of human rights - it provides a way to maintain control over
minority groups
cultural relativism
Failure to function adequately - when someone is unable to cope with the
demands of daily living, such as maintaining basic standards of hygiene,
nutrition, hold down a job and maintain relationships
Rosenhan and Seligman - signs that people are not coping include: severe
stress, dangerous behaviours, no longer conforming to interpersonal rules
e.g. - IDD - may not be able to cook for themselves or make safe decisions if
they have a low IQ
useful for assessing abnormality because it considers the patients
perspective
could be the same as deviation from social norms because society pick
the criteria for not functioning adequately
judgements are subjective as it requires judging distress
Deviation from ideal mental health - when someone does not meet the criteria
for good mental health according to the criteria proposed by Jahoda
1. No symptoms of distress
2. rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
3. can self-actualise
4. can cope with stress
5. realistic view of the world
6. good self esteem and lack of guilt
7. independent of other people
8. can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure
covers a range of criteria for mental health
Psychopathology 2
Psychopathology
🖊Definitions of abnormality
statistical infrequency - when an individual has less common characteristics,
those which are not observed in the majority of the population
e.g. intellectual disability disorder (IDD)
unusual characteristics can be positive - high IQ is unusual but doesn’t
need treatment and isn’t undesirable
labelling is a negative thing because it can limit someone’s opportunities
and it changes how people view them
Deviation from social norms - behaviour that is different from the accepted
standards of behaviour in the community or society
standards of normality are based on collective judgements in society
norms are specific to each culture and generation and few behaviours are
universally abnormal
e.g. antisocial personality disorder (APD - psychopathy)
characteristics: superficial charm, high intelligence, anti social behaviour
Psychopathology 1
, knowledge of it allows us to conduct more accurate clinical assessments
to measure severity of symptoms
it is an abuse of human rights - it provides a way to maintain control over
minority groups
cultural relativism
Failure to function adequately - when someone is unable to cope with the
demands of daily living, such as maintaining basic standards of hygiene,
nutrition, hold down a job and maintain relationships
Rosenhan and Seligman - signs that people are not coping include: severe
stress, dangerous behaviours, no longer conforming to interpersonal rules
e.g. - IDD - may not be able to cook for themselves or make safe decisions if
they have a low IQ
useful for assessing abnormality because it considers the patients
perspective
could be the same as deviation from social norms because society pick
the criteria for not functioning adequately
judgements are subjective as it requires judging distress
Deviation from ideal mental health - when someone does not meet the criteria
for good mental health according to the criteria proposed by Jahoda
1. No symptoms of distress
2. rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
3. can self-actualise
4. can cope with stress
5. realistic view of the world
6. good self esteem and lack of guilt
7. independent of other people
8. can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure
covers a range of criteria for mental health
Psychopathology 2
