Psychopathology
, LT1
Definitions of Abnormality
- Psychopathology - study of psychological disorders Culturally biased: social norms are defined by the culture
you in e.g. nymphomania referred to middle class women
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS - abnormal behaviour which goes
who were attracted to working class men = against social
against unwritten rules in a society
norms at the time however relationships between classes
● Social norms - unwritten social rules about the behaviour we
are now more acceptable = definition of abnormality
expect to see in others and behaviour we don’t expect to see
evolves over time or it will cause labelling = hard to judge
● Behaviour which conforms to social norms = ‘normal’, behaviour
Hard to meet all
which is not = ‘abnormal’
Real world applications: clinical practise e.g. key defining
● When someone doesn’t follow the norms we notice behaviour
characteristics of antisocial personality disorder is the
● Culture, context, age, gender, historical context should be taken
failure to confirm to culturally normal ethical behaviour =
into account when making a judgement
deviation from social norms criterion has value in
psychiatry
People may appear to function quite well but be classed as FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY - abnormal behaviour which causes
psychologically abnormal: because people who live with a distress or an inability to cope with everyday life
disorder e.g. ADHD can still carry out day to day activities ● Whether a person is living a ‘normal life’
and function perfectly well in an everyday situation = ● Takes into account wellbeing
failure to function ignores other aspects of abnormal ● Abnormal if they can no longer cope with the tasks of day to day
behaviour such as the social acceptability of the abnormal living because they are unable to maintain basic standards of
behaviour nutrition or hygiene
● E.g. depression not being able to do everyday tasks such as
Provides a threshold for when people need professional showering
help: most of us have symptoms of mental disorders to ● Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) - scale that measures
some degree at some point in our lives - 25%, however how adequately somebody is functioning to indicate how much
many people press 0 in the fact of severe symptoms - when support they need
you fail to function you seek help
, LT1
Definitions of Abnormality
- Psychopathology - study of psychological disorders Culturally biased: social norms are defined by the culture
you in e.g. nymphomania referred to middle class women
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS - abnormal behaviour which goes
who were attracted to working class men = against social
against unwritten rules in a society
norms at the time however relationships between classes
● Social norms - unwritten social rules about the behaviour we
are now more acceptable = definition of abnormality
expect to see in others and behaviour we don’t expect to see
evolves over time or it will cause labelling = hard to judge
● Behaviour which conforms to social norms = ‘normal’, behaviour
Hard to meet all
which is not = ‘abnormal’
Real world applications: clinical practise e.g. key defining
● When someone doesn’t follow the norms we notice behaviour
characteristics of antisocial personality disorder is the
● Culture, context, age, gender, historical context should be taken
failure to confirm to culturally normal ethical behaviour =
into account when making a judgement
deviation from social norms criterion has value in
psychiatry
People may appear to function quite well but be classed as FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY - abnormal behaviour which causes
psychologically abnormal: because people who live with a distress or an inability to cope with everyday life
disorder e.g. ADHD can still carry out day to day activities ● Whether a person is living a ‘normal life’
and function perfectly well in an everyday situation = ● Takes into account wellbeing
failure to function ignores other aspects of abnormal ● Abnormal if they can no longer cope with the tasks of day to day
behaviour such as the social acceptability of the abnormal living because they are unable to maintain basic standards of
behaviour nutrition or hygiene
● E.g. depression not being able to do everyday tasks such as
Provides a threshold for when people need professional showering
help: most of us have symptoms of mental disorders to ● Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) - scale that measures
some degree at some point in our lives - 25%, however how adequately somebody is functioning to indicate how much
many people press 0 in the fact of severe symptoms - when support they need
you fail to function you seek help
