AQA A Level Psychology Paper 1 Clinical Psychology & Mental Health
(Psychopathology) Essay Plans
,Definitions of abnormality AO3
AO1 Statistical infrequency has real world applications
- Useful in diagnostic practice
Statistical Infrequency - IDD requires an IQ in the bottom 2%.
- Out of the statistically normal range - Assessing depression
- Using objective statistics - EG - BDI = Beck’s Depression Inventory (only 5% of
- Comparing to the rest of the population = standard people)
- Quantity of behaviour measured in standard - E: To objectively / quantitatively diagnose a range of
deviations from the mean conditions (NHS) better than subjectivity of opinion
- Rarely seen / anomalous behaviour = abnormal - L: Can be used to RELIABLY diagnose individuals
- IQ = Normally distributed, average is 100 (assessments/ processes) promotes higher inter-clinician
- IDD = Intellectual Disability Disorder reliability.
- DSM diagnosis = 70 IQ points or lower
- Just over 2% of the population Unusual characteristics can be positive & social stigmas
- IQ scores 130+ are also “abnormal” & as rare as IDD
- Anxiety is also a common mental health disorder.
- E: Labelling theory → No benefits of labelling, they carry
social stigmas.
- Fosters a self-fulfilling prophecy → lower self-esteem and
reduced confidence, potential social stigmas in the
workplace and society.
- L: Can’t be a sole basis for defining abnormality & may do
more harm than good.
Subjectivity & the issue of the ‘cut-off point’
Deviation from social norms - The definition requires making a judgement about where
‘frequent’ ends & ‘infrequent’ begins
Social norms - Arbitrary & subjective.
- Unwritten behavioural expectations dependent on - L: Lack of objective threshold means the definition is
culture, time & contexts. difficult to consistently apply in clinical practice
Social ‘deviant’ - Low reliability (SZ)
, - Those who break the norms of society, high culture
specificity & based on the social context.
- Deviation from the group norm is ‘abnormal’ Social norms have real world application
- EG - Tolerance to religion, homosexuality - Useful to diagnose ASPD, clear failure to conform with
ASPD ethical standards.
- Antisocial personality disorder - Arguably NOT ethnocentric - culturally relative (emic
- Failure to conform with lawful / culturally normal ethical approach)
behaviour - E: Used in the NHS as a measure of ‘abnormality’ and
- Deviate from social norms/standards & lack empathy diagnose “schizotypal” personalities involving ‘strange’
behaviour and beliefs
- L: Can be used in psychiatric diagnosis, providing access to
treatment & access to help in clinical settings
- Valuable criterion for diagnosis
Social norms are situationally & culturally relative
- Abnormality can be perceived differently by different
cultural/societal standards.
- A-C men schizophrenia 10x - reuse from SZ
- E: In Afro-Carribean cultures hearing voices is socially
acceptable/ the “norm”
- BUT not socially acceptable in the UK.
- L: Difficult to judge deviation from social norms in different
contexts, difficulty diagnosing too
- Low cross-culture reliability
(Psychopathology) Essay Plans
,Definitions of abnormality AO3
AO1 Statistical infrequency has real world applications
- Useful in diagnostic practice
Statistical Infrequency - IDD requires an IQ in the bottom 2%.
- Out of the statistically normal range - Assessing depression
- Using objective statistics - EG - BDI = Beck’s Depression Inventory (only 5% of
- Comparing to the rest of the population = standard people)
- Quantity of behaviour measured in standard - E: To objectively / quantitatively diagnose a range of
deviations from the mean conditions (NHS) better than subjectivity of opinion
- Rarely seen / anomalous behaviour = abnormal - L: Can be used to RELIABLY diagnose individuals
- IQ = Normally distributed, average is 100 (assessments/ processes) promotes higher inter-clinician
- IDD = Intellectual Disability Disorder reliability.
- DSM diagnosis = 70 IQ points or lower
- Just over 2% of the population Unusual characteristics can be positive & social stigmas
- IQ scores 130+ are also “abnormal” & as rare as IDD
- Anxiety is also a common mental health disorder.
- E: Labelling theory → No benefits of labelling, they carry
social stigmas.
- Fosters a self-fulfilling prophecy → lower self-esteem and
reduced confidence, potential social stigmas in the
workplace and society.
- L: Can’t be a sole basis for defining abnormality & may do
more harm than good.
Subjectivity & the issue of the ‘cut-off point’
Deviation from social norms - The definition requires making a judgement about where
‘frequent’ ends & ‘infrequent’ begins
Social norms - Arbitrary & subjective.
- Unwritten behavioural expectations dependent on - L: Lack of objective threshold means the definition is
culture, time & contexts. difficult to consistently apply in clinical practice
Social ‘deviant’ - Low reliability (SZ)
, - Those who break the norms of society, high culture
specificity & based on the social context.
- Deviation from the group norm is ‘abnormal’ Social norms have real world application
- EG - Tolerance to religion, homosexuality - Useful to diagnose ASPD, clear failure to conform with
ASPD ethical standards.
- Antisocial personality disorder - Arguably NOT ethnocentric - culturally relative (emic
- Failure to conform with lawful / culturally normal ethical approach)
behaviour - E: Used in the NHS as a measure of ‘abnormality’ and
- Deviate from social norms/standards & lack empathy diagnose “schizotypal” personalities involving ‘strange’
behaviour and beliefs
- L: Can be used in psychiatric diagnosis, providing access to
treatment & access to help in clinical settings
- Valuable criterion for diagnosis
Social norms are situationally & culturally relative
- Abnormality can be perceived differently by different
cultural/societal standards.
- A-C men schizophrenia 10x - reuse from SZ
- E: In Afro-Carribean cultures hearing voices is socially
acceptable/ the “norm”
- BUT not socially acceptable in the UK.
- L: Difficult to judge deviation from social norms in different
contexts, difficulty diagnosing too
- Low cross-culture reliability
