Key words
▪ (Deviation from social norms) Abnormality: when an individual doesn’t generally accept
rules in society about how one is ‘ought' to behave
▪ (Failure to function adequately FFA) Abnormality: not able to go about their normal life daily
and cope with everyday hassles.
▪ (Deviation from ideal of mental health, looks at positive aspects): Jahoda proposes to have
ideal mental health they would have 6 characteristics
▪ Statistical deviation/ statistical infrequency: behaviour is rare or statistically unusual
,Lesson 1: Abnormality
1. (Deviation from social norms) Abnormality: when an individual doesn’t generally accept
rules in society about how one is ‘ought' to behave
• Norms aren’t written down but are generally accepted
2. (Failure to function adequately FFA) Abnormality: not able to go about their normal life daily
and cope with everyday hassles.
• Can’t hold down a job, maintain relationships or hygiene
Rosenham & Seligman proposed that someone is not coping when:
- They do not conform to standard interpersonal rules
- Severe personal distress
- Maladaptive behaviour
• Personal distress: can be sign of many disorders.
• Maladaptive behaviour: when behaviour is maladaptive it interferes with an individual's
ability to lead a normal everyday life or has negative effect on other individuals
- Assessment of functioning scale (GAF) method of measuring how well individuals
function in everyday life.
3. (Deviation from ideal of mental health, looks at positive aspects): Jahoda proposes to have
ideal mental health they would have 6 characteristics:
- Positive view of self
- Focused on self-actualisation and growth
- Independent
- Accurate view of reality
- Empathy to others
- Meet demands of everyday life
4. Statistical deviation/ statistical infrequency: behaviour is rare or statistically unusual. (goes
against normal statistical curve)
The American Psychiatric Association has published a manual of all mental disorders so that
psychologists can diagnose the exact problem, the publication is called the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM 5)
, Lesson 2: De nitions of abnormality evaluation
Deviation from social norms
✗ Cultural relativism: applies to all 4, social norms are de ned by our culture
✗ Deviation is related to the degree and the context of behaviour.
✗ De nitions of socially ‘normal’ behaviour can change over time e.g. homosexuality
Failure to Function adequately (FFA)
✓ it takes into consideration how the individual feels and can get help
✓ Measurable: GAF is a scale and allows extent of failure to function to be measured
✓ Behaviour is observable: can be seen by others around the individual means others can
intervene to help
✗ Abnormality doesn’t always stop the person from functioning
✗ Everyday life varies some get out of bed completely different times doesn’t mean they are
abnormal
✗ FFA might not be linked to abnormality but other factors e.g. no job due to economy
✗ Can be dif cult to make judgement about whether someone is functioning adequately,
some individuals may not be going about normal activities but be content with their situation
Deviation from ideal mental health (DIMH)
✓ Comprehensive de nition: covers broad range of criteria
✓ Achievement of goals: set criteria allows clear set goals to achieve
✗ Nobody can achieve all tqhese criteria at all times, means majority of population is mentally
ill
✗ Cultural relativism
Statistical deviation
✓ Provides clear guidelines for identifying abnormality
✗ Unusual characteristics can be positive e.g. high IQ’s
▪ (Deviation from social norms) Abnormality: when an individual doesn’t generally accept
rules in society about how one is ‘ought' to behave
▪ (Failure to function adequately FFA) Abnormality: not able to go about their normal life daily
and cope with everyday hassles.
▪ (Deviation from ideal of mental health, looks at positive aspects): Jahoda proposes to have
ideal mental health they would have 6 characteristics
▪ Statistical deviation/ statistical infrequency: behaviour is rare or statistically unusual
,Lesson 1: Abnormality
1. (Deviation from social norms) Abnormality: when an individual doesn’t generally accept
rules in society about how one is ‘ought' to behave
• Norms aren’t written down but are generally accepted
2. (Failure to function adequately FFA) Abnormality: not able to go about their normal life daily
and cope with everyday hassles.
• Can’t hold down a job, maintain relationships or hygiene
Rosenham & Seligman proposed that someone is not coping when:
- They do not conform to standard interpersonal rules
- Severe personal distress
- Maladaptive behaviour
• Personal distress: can be sign of many disorders.
• Maladaptive behaviour: when behaviour is maladaptive it interferes with an individual's
ability to lead a normal everyday life or has negative effect on other individuals
- Assessment of functioning scale (GAF) method of measuring how well individuals
function in everyday life.
3. (Deviation from ideal of mental health, looks at positive aspects): Jahoda proposes to have
ideal mental health they would have 6 characteristics:
- Positive view of self
- Focused on self-actualisation and growth
- Independent
- Accurate view of reality
- Empathy to others
- Meet demands of everyday life
4. Statistical deviation/ statistical infrequency: behaviour is rare or statistically unusual. (goes
against normal statistical curve)
The American Psychiatric Association has published a manual of all mental disorders so that
psychologists can diagnose the exact problem, the publication is called the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM 5)
, Lesson 2: De nitions of abnormality evaluation
Deviation from social norms
✗ Cultural relativism: applies to all 4, social norms are de ned by our culture
✗ Deviation is related to the degree and the context of behaviour.
✗ De nitions of socially ‘normal’ behaviour can change over time e.g. homosexuality
Failure to Function adequately (FFA)
✓ it takes into consideration how the individual feels and can get help
✓ Measurable: GAF is a scale and allows extent of failure to function to be measured
✓ Behaviour is observable: can be seen by others around the individual means others can
intervene to help
✗ Abnormality doesn’t always stop the person from functioning
✗ Everyday life varies some get out of bed completely different times doesn’t mean they are
abnormal
✗ FFA might not be linked to abnormality but other factors e.g. no job due to economy
✗ Can be dif cult to make judgement about whether someone is functioning adequately,
some individuals may not be going about normal activities but be content with their situation
Deviation from ideal mental health (DIMH)
✓ Comprehensive de nition: covers broad range of criteria
✓ Achievement of goals: set criteria allows clear set goals to achieve
✗ Nobody can achieve all tqhese criteria at all times, means majority of population is mentally
ill
✗ Cultural relativism
Statistical deviation
✓ Provides clear guidelines for identifying abnormality
✗ Unusual characteristics can be positive e.g. high IQ’s
