Psychopathology Mind Map

Psychopathology Mind Map

1. DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY

   • DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
     • Social norms are how we should behave so violation of these unwritten rules in society is classified as abnormal. Social norms are set b the social group e.g. school inc. morals and expectations.
     • - Subjective - based on opinions of elites of society
       • - Changes over time - Ecological validity/Historical bias
         • - Discriminated against in labelled - can be abused if seen as abnormal
           • - Breaking norms can be beneficial - Suffragettes / until 1980, homosexuality was considered a psychological disorder by the World Health Organisation (WHO)
   • Statistical Infrequency
     • A person's trait, thinking of behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual.
     • For example: an individual who has an IQ below/above the average level of IQ in society is abnormal
     • - Fails to recognise the desirability of the particular behaviour e.g. high IQ
       • Many rare behaviours/characteristics (left handedness) have no bearing on abnormality or normality.
         • Some characteristics are regarded as abnormal even though they are quite frequent. DEPRESSION may affect 27% of elderly people (Nimh, 2001). This would make it common but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem.