Definitions of abnormality
AO1- ‘you are abnormal if...’ AO1- ‘you are abnormal if...’'
- (deviation from statistical norm) - (deviation from ideal mental health)
-> behaviour at the extremes of the -> asked psychologists/ psychiatrists
normal distribution curve (top/ bottom what the ideal mental health is in order
5%) to make 6 criteria
-> statistically rare/ unusual behaviour -> abnormal if missing 1/more
-> eg. believing people c-> behaviour -> self- attitudes (healthy attitudes/
at the extremes of the normal high self-esteem), autonomy, mastery
distribution curve (top/ bottom 5%) of the environment (competent in all
-> statistically rare/ unusual behaviour areas of life)
-> eg. believing people can be
possessed by the devil and attempting - (deviation from social norm)
an exorcisman be possessed by the -> behaviour far away from
devil and attempting an exorcism expectations/ acceptances of a society
-> violates unwritten rules
- (failure to function adequately) -> behaviour is too extreme and
-> abnormal if shows either self- shouldn't do
suffering or 2 of the following criteria... -> eg. Homosexuality viewed abnormal
-> loss of control in some cultures (Brunei- stoned to
-> violation of moral standards (eg. death), antisocial personality disorder/
rape) psychopathy behaviour doesn’t conform
-> observer discomfort to moral standards so viewed as AB
AO3- STRENGTHS AO3- WEAKNESSES
Deviation from statistical norm Deviation from statistical norm
-> doesn’t consider desirability eg. High IQ is
-> objective, doesn’t matter where it is desirable but considered AB
measured (not culturally relative) so -> won’t treat common disorders
reliable
-> used in clinical practice eg. Deviation from social norm
Intellectual disability disorder IQ below -> subjective= depends on who measures it
70 (bottom 2%) -> unreliable= everyone has different views on
expectations/ acceptant behaviour
-> culturally dependent= era dependent (eg.
Deviation from social norm homosexuality was a diagnosable disorder in
-> treats common disorders 1968, 2024 it is normal so label has changed not
-> usefulness in clinics eg. Antisocial behaviour)
-> human rights abuses eg. Nymphomania
personality disorder (failure to conform (women’s uncontrollable/ excessive sexual
to culturally acceptable behaviour) desire) used to control women
-> considers desirability (social/
development context) Deviation from ideal mental health
-> culturally relative- not everyone wants
Deviation from ideal mental health autonomy/ value self-actualisation eg, (Bedouin
tribe- Africa) killed for showing autonomy
-> based off experts’ answers= face -> simplistic/ strict= only 6 criteria, everyone at
validity least once AB
-> comprehensive= covers range of
criteria, reasons we may need help, can Failure to function adequately
assess mental health with -> culturally relative= where to draw line of
professionals, hints on how to fix issues adequately functioning/ who draws it (value
judgement)
-> behaviour can be understandable eg.
Failure to function adequately Bereavement (not AB)
, -> self-suffering= listens to the person -> discrimination= those who choose to deviate
-> respects individual and their own from social norms eg. Not having a job/
permanent address (living ‘off-grid’)
experience
Phobias- the behaviourist approach
AO1 AO1- the two-process model
= anxiety disorders marked by a (Mowrer)
strong persistent, irrational fear that
must interfere with normal living -> abnormal behaviour is learned
-> eg. (specific) simple= through CC as we learn to associate
arachnophobia, (complex) social= the object with anxiety/ fear
large crowds/ agoraphobia (public/ (generalisation, discrimination,
open spaces) extinction, spontaneous recovery)
-> phobia is maintained through OC:
keeping phobic behaviour of running
away/ avoidance because it makes
us feel better as anxiety is avoided,
a decrease in fear reinforces
avoidance behaviour
AO3- STRENGTHS AO3- WEAKNESSES
Research support Research against
-> (DiNardo) 50% dog phobics had -> (DiNardo) 50% don’t recall an
an event event, evidence people can have a
-> (Hackmann) 96% social phobics phobia without exposure
recall an event -> not everyone with negative event
-> (case study- Little Albert) phobia develops a phobia (50%)
association, generalisation to other
white/ fluffy objects eg. Masks
Limited explanatory power...
-> often only once experiences the
Real-life application event (eg. Bit by a dog) yet
-> systematic desensitisation and develops phobia
flooding -> theory states exposure must be
-> effective in treating phobias repeated for phobia to occur
-> cannot explain why some phobias
are quicker to learn/ harder to
remove
...Reductionistic
-> cognitive aspects of phobias eg.
Irrational beliefs, cognitive
distortions about phobic stimulus
AO1- ‘you are abnormal if...’ AO1- ‘you are abnormal if...’'
- (deviation from statistical norm) - (deviation from ideal mental health)
-> behaviour at the extremes of the -> asked psychologists/ psychiatrists
normal distribution curve (top/ bottom what the ideal mental health is in order
5%) to make 6 criteria
-> statistically rare/ unusual behaviour -> abnormal if missing 1/more
-> eg. believing people c-> behaviour -> self- attitudes (healthy attitudes/
at the extremes of the normal high self-esteem), autonomy, mastery
distribution curve (top/ bottom 5%) of the environment (competent in all
-> statistically rare/ unusual behaviour areas of life)
-> eg. believing people can be
possessed by the devil and attempting - (deviation from social norm)
an exorcisman be possessed by the -> behaviour far away from
devil and attempting an exorcism expectations/ acceptances of a society
-> violates unwritten rules
- (failure to function adequately) -> behaviour is too extreme and
-> abnormal if shows either self- shouldn't do
suffering or 2 of the following criteria... -> eg. Homosexuality viewed abnormal
-> loss of control in some cultures (Brunei- stoned to
-> violation of moral standards (eg. death), antisocial personality disorder/
rape) psychopathy behaviour doesn’t conform
-> observer discomfort to moral standards so viewed as AB
AO3- STRENGTHS AO3- WEAKNESSES
Deviation from statistical norm Deviation from statistical norm
-> doesn’t consider desirability eg. High IQ is
-> objective, doesn’t matter where it is desirable but considered AB
measured (not culturally relative) so -> won’t treat common disorders
reliable
-> used in clinical practice eg. Deviation from social norm
Intellectual disability disorder IQ below -> subjective= depends on who measures it
70 (bottom 2%) -> unreliable= everyone has different views on
expectations/ acceptant behaviour
-> culturally dependent= era dependent (eg.
Deviation from social norm homosexuality was a diagnosable disorder in
-> treats common disorders 1968, 2024 it is normal so label has changed not
-> usefulness in clinics eg. Antisocial behaviour)
-> human rights abuses eg. Nymphomania
personality disorder (failure to conform (women’s uncontrollable/ excessive sexual
to culturally acceptable behaviour) desire) used to control women
-> considers desirability (social/
development context) Deviation from ideal mental health
-> culturally relative- not everyone wants
Deviation from ideal mental health autonomy/ value self-actualisation eg, (Bedouin
tribe- Africa) killed for showing autonomy
-> based off experts’ answers= face -> simplistic/ strict= only 6 criteria, everyone at
validity least once AB
-> comprehensive= covers range of
criteria, reasons we may need help, can Failure to function adequately
assess mental health with -> culturally relative= where to draw line of
professionals, hints on how to fix issues adequately functioning/ who draws it (value
judgement)
-> behaviour can be understandable eg.
Failure to function adequately Bereavement (not AB)
, -> self-suffering= listens to the person -> discrimination= those who choose to deviate
-> respects individual and their own from social norms eg. Not having a job/
permanent address (living ‘off-grid’)
experience
Phobias- the behaviourist approach
AO1 AO1- the two-process model
= anxiety disorders marked by a (Mowrer)
strong persistent, irrational fear that
must interfere with normal living -> abnormal behaviour is learned
-> eg. (specific) simple= through CC as we learn to associate
arachnophobia, (complex) social= the object with anxiety/ fear
large crowds/ agoraphobia (public/ (generalisation, discrimination,
open spaces) extinction, spontaneous recovery)
-> phobia is maintained through OC:
keeping phobic behaviour of running
away/ avoidance because it makes
us feel better as anxiety is avoided,
a decrease in fear reinforces
avoidance behaviour
AO3- STRENGTHS AO3- WEAKNESSES
Research support Research against
-> (DiNardo) 50% dog phobics had -> (DiNardo) 50% don’t recall an
an event event, evidence people can have a
-> (Hackmann) 96% social phobics phobia without exposure
recall an event -> not everyone with negative event
-> (case study- Little Albert) phobia develops a phobia (50%)
association, generalisation to other
white/ fluffy objects eg. Masks
Limited explanatory power...
-> often only once experiences the
Real-life application event (eg. Bit by a dog) yet
-> systematic desensitisation and develops phobia
flooding -> theory states exposure must be
-> effective in treating phobias repeated for phobia to occur
-> cannot explain why some phobias
are quicker to learn/ harder to
remove
...Reductionistic
-> cognitive aspects of phobias eg.
Irrational beliefs, cognitive
distortions about phobic stimulus
