PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Topic Name(s) Research
Definitions of Strengths - Behaviour is seen within a context so it can be
abnormality - judged holistically - being naked on a nudist
deviation from social beach is normal but not in wider society
norms - Can change with age - a child who bites is
naughty but an adult who bites is abnormal
- Example of individual di erences - looks and
individuals in their own right without making
generalisations
Deviation from Weakness -
Cultural relativism, norms vary to di erent
social norms cultures causing ethnocentric bias which change
perceptions of normality in society - creates
problems for people living in one culture to
another
- It is subjective and depends on whos making
judgement - could be medical professional or
someone using power to control those
threatening to society
Statistical Strengths - Real life application - diagnosis of intellectual
infrequency disability disorder so useful part of clinical
assessment
- It uses scores on well-established and
standardised tests so its objective and more
scientific
Statistical Weakness - Unusual characteristics can be positive - IQ over
infrequency is unusual as those below but super
intelligence doesn't need treatment - doesn't
necessarily make them statistically abnormal - SI
can’t be used alone to make diagnosis
- A person's scores (depression inventory) are
based o self reports which are subjective even if
the test is reliable
- Does not consider cultural factors a ecting
behaviour
Failure to function Rosenhan and features of personal dysfunction describe when a
adequately Seligman person is unable to cope with ordinary life
- Personal distress
- Maladaptive (odd) behaviour
- Unpredictability - erratic behaviour
- Irrationality
By Rhea M.
Topic Name(s) Research
Definitions of Strengths - Behaviour is seen within a context so it can be
abnormality - judged holistically - being naked on a nudist
deviation from social beach is normal but not in wider society
norms - Can change with age - a child who bites is
naughty but an adult who bites is abnormal
- Example of individual di erences - looks and
individuals in their own right without making
generalisations
Deviation from Weakness -
Cultural relativism, norms vary to di erent
social norms cultures causing ethnocentric bias which change
perceptions of normality in society - creates
problems for people living in one culture to
another
- It is subjective and depends on whos making
judgement - could be medical professional or
someone using power to control those
threatening to society
Statistical Strengths - Real life application - diagnosis of intellectual
infrequency disability disorder so useful part of clinical
assessment
- It uses scores on well-established and
standardised tests so its objective and more
scientific
Statistical Weakness - Unusual characteristics can be positive - IQ over
infrequency is unusual as those below but super
intelligence doesn't need treatment - doesn't
necessarily make them statistically abnormal - SI
can’t be used alone to make diagnosis
- A person's scores (depression inventory) are
based o self reports which are subjective even if
the test is reliable
- Does not consider cultural factors a ecting
behaviour
Failure to function Rosenhan and features of personal dysfunction describe when a
adequately Seligman person is unable to cope with ordinary life
- Personal distress
- Maladaptive (odd) behaviour
- Unpredictability - erratic behaviour
- Irrationality
By Rhea M.
