PSYCHOLOPATHOLOGY
Definitions of abnormality
A behaviour that departs from the norm or is distressing to the individual or those around
them or violates society’s ideas as to what is acceptable behaviour.
Statistical infrequency
- Behaviours that are statistically rare are seen as abnormal.
- What is regarded as statistically rare depends on the normal distribution, most people
will fall around the mean for the behaviour in question with declining amounts of
people away from the mean.
- Any individual who falls outside the normal distribution, 5%, are viewed as abnormal.
Example to demonstrate this
- Intellectual disability disorder, average is 100 compared to 2% of people falling below
70. This is infrequent.
Evaluation
- The definition is appropriate for many mental illnesses where statistical criteria is
available, allowing for an objective, value free assessment.
- Not all infrequent behaviours are abnormal - e.g high intelligence - desirable.
- Not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent - depression 10%.
Deviation from social norms
- Every society has a set of norms which guide acceptable behaviour.
- Abnormal behaviour deviates from these norms - any behaviour that violates
society’s norms is abnormal.
Examples to demonstrate this
- Schizophrenic symptom - delusions of grandeur - believing you are an important
figure which you are not - not socially accepted.
Evaluation
- Allows consideration of social dimensions - allows for understanding that a behaviour
may be normal in one setting but abnormal in another (nudist beach/in a town
centre).
- People can break social norms but are simply seen as eccentric e,g Harry Styles.
- Norms change over time - until 1990 homosexuality was classified as a mental
illness, now gay marriage is legal - we cannot truly define any certain act as
abnormal because as norms change, so would our believes about what constitutes to
abnormal behaviour.
Failure to function Adequately
- Abnormality is when a behaviour prevents the individual from coping with everyday
life - distress leading to dysfunction.
- Rosenham and Seligman identified 7 features of abnormality such as distress,
irrationality, unpredictability and violation of moral standards - more criteria a person
meets, more abnormal they are.
Examples to demonstrate this
- Schizophrenia sufferers can have disturbing and terrifying hallucinations which can
lead to bizarre behaviour which is irrational and unpredictable.
Evaluation
, - Allows for the assessment of the degree of abnormality - the more symptoms the
sufferer shows, the more abnormal they are, assess who needs psychriatic help.
- Abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction - such as Harold Shipman
case - seemed like a respectable, ordinary doctor.
- Debate over who has the right to judge what behaviour is irrational or unpredictable -
subjective.
Deviation from ideal mental health
- Rather than identifying behaviour that is abnormal, Johado identified 6 characteristics
as to what are desirable and portray good mental health.
- Self actualisation, high self esteem, autonomy.
- Further away from reaching these, more abnormal.
- Perceive mental illness to be similar to physical illness.
Examples to demonstrate this
- Schizophrenics - hallucinations cause high amounts of stress, low self esteem as a
result of their condition - told they are worthless.
Evaluation
- Takes a positive approach to mental problems by focusing on what is desirable
rather than what is undesirable.
- Accused of having overdemanding criteria - we do not all meet all the criteria - life is
stressful at some points within itself, having high self esteem all the time is
unrealistic.
- Criteria is difficult to measure - argued that mental health can be considered as
physical health but diagnosing mental health is far more subjective.
Behavioural characteristics of phobias
Panic - running away, screaming, crying, freezing.
Avoidance - avoiding phobic stimulus, every situation, hard to carry on with normal life.
Endurance - when phobic stimulus is unavoidable, eg, plane ride.
Emotional characteristics of phobias
Anxiety - unpleasant state of arousal - preventing any positive emotion - even when thinking
about phobic stimulus.
Responses are unreasonable - goes beyond what may be reasonable in that situation - such
as a disproportionate reaction to a money spider.
Cognitive characteristics of phobias
Selective attention - over focus on phobic stimulus - beneficial in surviving but dysfunctional
when they are suffering from the phobia intensenley.
Irrational beliefs - about phobic stimulus - e.g - all dogs bite
Behavioural approach to explaining phobias
Mowrer - two process models.
Definitions of abnormality
A behaviour that departs from the norm or is distressing to the individual or those around
them or violates society’s ideas as to what is acceptable behaviour.
Statistical infrequency
- Behaviours that are statistically rare are seen as abnormal.
- What is regarded as statistically rare depends on the normal distribution, most people
will fall around the mean for the behaviour in question with declining amounts of
people away from the mean.
- Any individual who falls outside the normal distribution, 5%, are viewed as abnormal.
Example to demonstrate this
- Intellectual disability disorder, average is 100 compared to 2% of people falling below
70. This is infrequent.
Evaluation
- The definition is appropriate for many mental illnesses where statistical criteria is
available, allowing for an objective, value free assessment.
- Not all infrequent behaviours are abnormal - e.g high intelligence - desirable.
- Not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent - depression 10%.
Deviation from social norms
- Every society has a set of norms which guide acceptable behaviour.
- Abnormal behaviour deviates from these norms - any behaviour that violates
society’s norms is abnormal.
Examples to demonstrate this
- Schizophrenic symptom - delusions of grandeur - believing you are an important
figure which you are not - not socially accepted.
Evaluation
- Allows consideration of social dimensions - allows for understanding that a behaviour
may be normal in one setting but abnormal in another (nudist beach/in a town
centre).
- People can break social norms but are simply seen as eccentric e,g Harry Styles.
- Norms change over time - until 1990 homosexuality was classified as a mental
illness, now gay marriage is legal - we cannot truly define any certain act as
abnormal because as norms change, so would our believes about what constitutes to
abnormal behaviour.
Failure to function Adequately
- Abnormality is when a behaviour prevents the individual from coping with everyday
life - distress leading to dysfunction.
- Rosenham and Seligman identified 7 features of abnormality such as distress,
irrationality, unpredictability and violation of moral standards - more criteria a person
meets, more abnormal they are.
Examples to demonstrate this
- Schizophrenia sufferers can have disturbing and terrifying hallucinations which can
lead to bizarre behaviour which is irrational and unpredictable.
Evaluation
, - Allows for the assessment of the degree of abnormality - the more symptoms the
sufferer shows, the more abnormal they are, assess who needs psychriatic help.
- Abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction - such as Harold Shipman
case - seemed like a respectable, ordinary doctor.
- Debate over who has the right to judge what behaviour is irrational or unpredictable -
subjective.
Deviation from ideal mental health
- Rather than identifying behaviour that is abnormal, Johado identified 6 characteristics
as to what are desirable and portray good mental health.
- Self actualisation, high self esteem, autonomy.
- Further away from reaching these, more abnormal.
- Perceive mental illness to be similar to physical illness.
Examples to demonstrate this
- Schizophrenics - hallucinations cause high amounts of stress, low self esteem as a
result of their condition - told they are worthless.
Evaluation
- Takes a positive approach to mental problems by focusing on what is desirable
rather than what is undesirable.
- Accused of having overdemanding criteria - we do not all meet all the criteria - life is
stressful at some points within itself, having high self esteem all the time is
unrealistic.
- Criteria is difficult to measure - argued that mental health can be considered as
physical health but diagnosing mental health is far more subjective.
Behavioural characteristics of phobias
Panic - running away, screaming, crying, freezing.
Avoidance - avoiding phobic stimulus, every situation, hard to carry on with normal life.
Endurance - when phobic stimulus is unavoidable, eg, plane ride.
Emotional characteristics of phobias
Anxiety - unpleasant state of arousal - preventing any positive emotion - even when thinking
about phobic stimulus.
Responses are unreasonable - goes beyond what may be reasonable in that situation - such
as a disproportionate reaction to a money spider.
Cognitive characteristics of phobias
Selective attention - over focus on phobic stimulus - beneficial in surviving but dysfunctional
when they are suffering from the phobia intensenley.
Irrational beliefs - about phobic stimulus - e.g - all dogs bite
Behavioural approach to explaining phobias
Mowrer - two process models.
