Flashcards
Definitions of Abnormality
Cards in this deck (4)
- 1State the definitions of abnormality.Deviation from social norms.
Failure to function adequately.
Deviation from ideal mental health. - 2Describe and evaluate deviation from social norms as an explanation of abnormality.People who behave in a socially deviant way are considered anti social and undesirable, therefore abnormal, by the rest of the group.
Limitations:
Cultural relativism - no universal standards for labelling a behaviour as abnormal.
Context and degree - No clear line between deviance and harmless eccentricity.Judgement of deviance is dependent on the context of the behaviour. - 3Describe and evaluate failure to function adequately as an explanation of abnormality.When people cannot cope with their day to day living they can be labelled as abnormal.
Limitations:
Cultural relativism - different diagnoses of failure to function adequately between cultures, one culture's standards being used to measure anothers.
Adaptive or maladaptive - Some behaviours that appear dysfunctional or abnormal may be adaptive for the individual. - 4Describe and evaluate deviation from ideal mental health as an explanation of abnormality.Jahoda 6 characteristics:
Self attitude - high self esteem and strong sense of identity.
Mastery of environment - ability to love,function at work, have interpersonal relations, adjust to new situations and solve problems.
Accurate perception of reality.
Autonomy - independent and self-regulating.
Integration - able to cope with stressful situations.
Personal growth and self-actualisation - individual develops their full capabilities.
Limitations:
Cultural relativism - criteria can't be
applied to all cultures. Self actualisation is relevant to individualist cultures but not necessarily collectivist cultures.
Who can achieve all criteria - suggests that all of us are abnormal to some degree.
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- Psychology (Abnormality) Flashcards on Definitions of Abnormality, created by smita089 on 14/04/2013.
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