PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
[PAPER 1]
Psychopathology
The study of
psychological
disorder
, Abnormality = a psychological
condition/behaviour that
departs from the norm or is
harmful/distressing to the Cultural relativism = the
individual or those around view that behaviour can’t be
them judged properly unless it’s
viewed in the context of the
culture in which it originates
DEFINITIONS OF
ABNORMALITY
Cultural variation = different
cultures have different
definitions of abnormality
,Failure to function adequately
★ Failure to function adequately is when a person is unable to cope with the
demands of day-to-day living such as getting out of bed each day, holding
down a job etc.
★ Rosenhan & Seligman suggested a range of criteria that are typical of failure
to function adequately. These include maladaptive behaviour, personal
anguish, observer discomfort, unpredictability and irrationality
★ Behaviour causes personal distress and distress to others.
, Failure to function adequately - EVALUATION
Advantages Disadvantages
★ It does recognise the ➢ might not be linked to abnormality but to other
subjective experience of the factors. Failure to keep a job may be due to the
patient allowing to view the economic situation, not to psychopathology.
mental disorder from the ➢ Not all maladaptive behaviours are an indication
patient’s point of view of mental illness for example smoking is
★ Relatively easy to judge behaviour that goes against the long term interest
objectively as we can list of a person as it can have a long term effect on
behaviours & thus judge the health.
abnormality objectively ➢ Some people with mental disorders do cope well
with everyday life
➢ the definition is limited by being culturally relative -
doesn’t take account that ‘adequate’ behaviour
varies from one culture to another.
[PAPER 1]
Psychopathology
The study of
psychological
disorder
, Abnormality = a psychological
condition/behaviour that
departs from the norm or is
harmful/distressing to the Cultural relativism = the
individual or those around view that behaviour can’t be
them judged properly unless it’s
viewed in the context of the
culture in which it originates
DEFINITIONS OF
ABNORMALITY
Cultural variation = different
cultures have different
definitions of abnormality
,Failure to function adequately
★ Failure to function adequately is when a person is unable to cope with the
demands of day-to-day living such as getting out of bed each day, holding
down a job etc.
★ Rosenhan & Seligman suggested a range of criteria that are typical of failure
to function adequately. These include maladaptive behaviour, personal
anguish, observer discomfort, unpredictability and irrationality
★ Behaviour causes personal distress and distress to others.
, Failure to function adequately - EVALUATION
Advantages Disadvantages
★ It does recognise the ➢ might not be linked to abnormality but to other
subjective experience of the factors. Failure to keep a job may be due to the
patient allowing to view the economic situation, not to psychopathology.
mental disorder from the ➢ Not all maladaptive behaviours are an indication
patient’s point of view of mental illness for example smoking is
★ Relatively easy to judge behaviour that goes against the long term interest
objectively as we can list of a person as it can have a long term effect on
behaviours & thus judge the health.
abnormality objectively ➢ Some people with mental disorders do cope well
with everyday life
➢ the definition is limited by being culturally relative -
doesn’t take account that ‘adequate’ behaviour
varies from one culture to another.
