Definitions of
Abnormality
Statistical infrequency - This occurs when an individual has a less common
characteristic compared to the population e.g. a low score on an IQ test.
Real-life application - Almost always used in the clinical diagnoses of
mental health disorders as a comparison with a baseline or ‘normal’ value.
This is used to assess the severity of the disorder e.g. the idea that
Schizophrenia only affects 1% of the general population, but subtypes are
even less frequent (such as paranoid Schizophrenia).
Fails to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour
e.g. Einstein would be seen as just as abnormal as someone with an
extremely low IQ. This would rarely be looked down upon as negative
characteristics which require treatment.
Cultural bias: what is considered normal in one culture may be abnormal
in another. In Japan, tattoos are very rare, whereas, in the UK, one in three
adults has one. This example highlights that statistical definitions of
normality are culturally dependent and unreliable.
Deviation from social norms - This concerns behaviour that is different from
the accepted standards of behaviour in a society. There are general norms,
applicable to most cultures, as well as culture-specific norms.
Self-help and identification: if healthy behaviour is accepted as the
societal norm, a person with a mental disorder or their close friends will be
able to recognise that they are behaving abnormally and seek help.
Cultural relativism-what may be regarded as abnormal to one culture
may be considered normal in another culture. For example, an individual
would be diagnosed with antisocial personality if they experience certain
hallucinations which breaches the social norms of multiple cultures
whereas other cultures may encourage this as a sign of spirituality.
Norms can vary over time. This means that behaviour that would have
been defined as abnormal in one era is no longer defined as abnormal in
another e.g. homosexuality. Therefore, social norms are not a valid
measure of abnormality over time.
Failure to function adequately - This occurs when someone is unable to cope
with the ordinary demands of day-to-day life. This may cause distress to others.
For example, the individual cannot maintain personal hygiene, eat, and go to
work.
Considers the patient's perspective, and so the final diagnosis will include
the patient’s (subjective) self-reported symptoms and the psychiatrist’s
objective opinion. more accurate diagnoses of mental health disorders
because such diagnoses are not constrained by statistical limits.
, Context dependent; not eating can be seen as failing to function
adequately, but prisoners on hunger strikes making a protest can be seen
in a different light.
May lead to the labelling of some patients as ‘strange’ or ‘crazy’. does
little to challenge traditional negative stereotypes about mental health
disorders. Not everyone with a mental health disorder requires a diagnosis
if their illness has little impact upon themselves or others. such labelling
could lead to discrimination or prejudice faced against them.
Deviation from ideal mental health - This occurs when an individual does not
meet the set criteria proposed by Jahoda for good mental health. The criteria
includes being able to self-actualise, not being distressed, displaying high self-
esteem etc.
Demanding and unrealistic: Very few people would be able to meet all
criteria, this suggests that very few people are psychologically healthy.
Western-centric: this definition uses western ideas regarding mental
health as a universal judgment. This is culturally biased as it assumes
western views on mental health are shared worldwide.
Vague: Jahoda's criteria are vague and subjective; things like self-esteem
or personal growth cannot be measured, meaning it would be down to
personal opinion if a person has a mental health condition or not.
Phobias
Characteristics of phobias:
Behavioural: panic avoidance, endurance
Emotional: anxiety
Cognitive: selective attention to the phobic stimulus, irrational beliefs and
cognitive distortions.
Behaviourist approach to explaining phobias:
Mowrer suggested that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and
then maintained through operant conditioning. We learn to behave in response
Watson and Rayner demonstrated how Little Albert associated the fear caused
by a loud bang with a white rat. He was exposed to a white rat (NS), producing
no response. When paired with the loud bang (UCS), this produced the UCR of
fear. Through several repetitions, Albert made the association between the rat
(CS) and fear (CR). This conditioning then generalised to other objects e.g. white
fluffy Santa Claus hats.
Operant conditioning – form of learning through consequences.
Abnormality
Statistical infrequency - This occurs when an individual has a less common
characteristic compared to the population e.g. a low score on an IQ test.
Real-life application - Almost always used in the clinical diagnoses of
mental health disorders as a comparison with a baseline or ‘normal’ value.
This is used to assess the severity of the disorder e.g. the idea that
Schizophrenia only affects 1% of the general population, but subtypes are
even less frequent (such as paranoid Schizophrenia).
Fails to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour
e.g. Einstein would be seen as just as abnormal as someone with an
extremely low IQ. This would rarely be looked down upon as negative
characteristics which require treatment.
Cultural bias: what is considered normal in one culture may be abnormal
in another. In Japan, tattoos are very rare, whereas, in the UK, one in three
adults has one. This example highlights that statistical definitions of
normality are culturally dependent and unreliable.
Deviation from social norms - This concerns behaviour that is different from
the accepted standards of behaviour in a society. There are general norms,
applicable to most cultures, as well as culture-specific norms.
Self-help and identification: if healthy behaviour is accepted as the
societal norm, a person with a mental disorder or their close friends will be
able to recognise that they are behaving abnormally and seek help.
Cultural relativism-what may be regarded as abnormal to one culture
may be considered normal in another culture. For example, an individual
would be diagnosed with antisocial personality if they experience certain
hallucinations which breaches the social norms of multiple cultures
whereas other cultures may encourage this as a sign of spirituality.
Norms can vary over time. This means that behaviour that would have
been defined as abnormal in one era is no longer defined as abnormal in
another e.g. homosexuality. Therefore, social norms are not a valid
measure of abnormality over time.
Failure to function adequately - This occurs when someone is unable to cope
with the ordinary demands of day-to-day life. This may cause distress to others.
For example, the individual cannot maintain personal hygiene, eat, and go to
work.
Considers the patient's perspective, and so the final diagnosis will include
the patient’s (subjective) self-reported symptoms and the psychiatrist’s
objective opinion. more accurate diagnoses of mental health disorders
because such diagnoses are not constrained by statistical limits.
, Context dependent; not eating can be seen as failing to function
adequately, but prisoners on hunger strikes making a protest can be seen
in a different light.
May lead to the labelling of some patients as ‘strange’ or ‘crazy’. does
little to challenge traditional negative stereotypes about mental health
disorders. Not everyone with a mental health disorder requires a diagnosis
if their illness has little impact upon themselves or others. such labelling
could lead to discrimination or prejudice faced against them.
Deviation from ideal mental health - This occurs when an individual does not
meet the set criteria proposed by Jahoda for good mental health. The criteria
includes being able to self-actualise, not being distressed, displaying high self-
esteem etc.
Demanding and unrealistic: Very few people would be able to meet all
criteria, this suggests that very few people are psychologically healthy.
Western-centric: this definition uses western ideas regarding mental
health as a universal judgment. This is culturally biased as it assumes
western views on mental health are shared worldwide.
Vague: Jahoda's criteria are vague and subjective; things like self-esteem
or personal growth cannot be measured, meaning it would be down to
personal opinion if a person has a mental health condition or not.
Phobias
Characteristics of phobias:
Behavioural: panic avoidance, endurance
Emotional: anxiety
Cognitive: selective attention to the phobic stimulus, irrational beliefs and
cognitive distortions.
Behaviourist approach to explaining phobias:
Mowrer suggested that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and
then maintained through operant conditioning. We learn to behave in response
Watson and Rayner demonstrated how Little Albert associated the fear caused
by a loud bang with a white rat. He was exposed to a white rat (NS), producing
no response. When paired with the loud bang (UCS), this produced the UCR of
fear. Through several repetitions, Albert made the association between the rat
(CS) and fear (CR). This conditioning then generalised to other objects e.g. white
fluffy Santa Claus hats.
Operant conditioning – form of learning through consequences.
