2137980
Description
Mind Map by ellie.johns, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by ellie.johns
about 9 years ago
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Definitions of Abnormality
- Failure to function adequately
- Failure to function adequately: If any aspect of behaviour interferes
with everyday life, then it is considered abnormal. This definition
refers to the inability to cope with day-to-day living so that the
person is causing distress or discomfort to themselves or to others.
For example if someone does not want to eat and stops going to work
then they would be failing to function adequately as they are causing
distress to themselves by not eating and cannot cope with the
day-to-day life of going to work.
- Limitations: 1) There are times when maladaptive behaviour is not
abnormal due to a specific circumstances. For example, some political
prisoners go on hunger strikes as part of their protest e.g. Gandhi
during his campaign for Indian independence, although this behvaiour
could be seen as failing to function adequately this example is
understandable considering the circumstance. 2) What is considered
adequate in one culture is not necessarily adequate in another. This
is ;ikely to lead to different diagnoses in different cultures, for
example Arabs tend to stand closer to people when talking to them
compared to Europeans, plus eye contact varies with culture. This
could cause observer discomfort and may mean that the behaviour
of people from these cultures is misinterpreted.
- Limitations: 1) There are times when maladaptive behaviour is not
abnormal due to a specific circumstances. For example, some political
prisoners go on hunger strikes as part of their protest e.g. Gandhi
during his campaign for Indian independence, although this behvaiour
could be seen as failing to function adequately this example is
understandable considering the circumstance. 2) What is considered
adequate in one culture is not necessarily adequate in another. This
is ;ikely to lead to different diagnoses in different cultures, for
example Arabs tend to stand closer to people when talking to them
compared to Europeans, plus eye contact varies with culture. This
could cause observer discomfort and may mean that the behaviour
of people from these cultures is misinterpreted.
- Failure to function adequately: If any aspect of behaviour interferes
with everyday life, then it is considered abnormal. This definition
refers to the inability to cope with day-to-day living so that the
person is causing distress or discomfort to themselves or to others.
For example if someone does not want to eat and stops going to work
then they would be failing to function adequately as they are causing
distress to themselves by not eating and cannot cope with the
day-to-day life of going to work.
- Deviation from Social Norms
- Deviation from social norms: When people behave in
a way that is different from what most of society do
and they do not follow that standards set by society
they are considered abnormal. For example a
schizophrenic may experience hallucinations and claim
to see things that are not there,, this behaviour goes
against social norms in society.
- Limitations: 1) Social norms change over time as moral attitudes
change. This means that behaviour classified as deviant 0 years ago
could be perfectly acceptable nowadays, for example: homosexuality
was listed as a mental disorder in the DSM until the 1970s. This
means that defining abnormal behaviour using current social
norms may result in unfair treatment. 2) Culture - Norms are
dependent on culture e.g. some ethnic groups will have auditory
hallucinations during religious rituals e.g. hearing voices and this
would be regarded as mental illness in the West. This could explain
why a disproportionate number of black males are diagnosed with
schizophrenia in the UK.
- Limitations: 1) Social norms change over time as moral attitudes
change. This means that behaviour classified as deviant 0 years ago
could be perfectly acceptable nowadays, for example: homosexuality
was listed as a mental disorder in the DSM until the 1970s. This
means that defining abnormal behaviour using current social
norms may result in unfair treatment. 2) Culture - Norms are
dependent on culture e.g. some ethnic groups will have auditory
hallucinations during religious rituals e.g. hearing voices and this
would be regarded as mental illness in the West. This could explain
why a disproportionate number of black males are diagnosed with
schizophrenia in the UK.
- Deviation from social norms: When people behave in
a way that is different from what most of society do
and they do not follow that standards set by society
they are considered abnormal. For example a
schizophrenic may experience hallucinations and claim
to see things that are not there,, this behaviour goes
against social norms in society.
- Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
- Jahoda (1958) identified six positive characteristics which
she believed promoted good psychological health. Anyone
who deviates or lacks any of these qualities is said to be
deviating from ideal mental health. These criteria are:
PARPAS - 1) Positive attitude towards the self (having
high self-esteem and a sense of identity); accurate
perception of reality (being able to see oneself and the
world in realistic terms - not overly optimistic or
pessimistic approach); resistance to stress (having the
necessary coping strategies for dealing with stressful
situations); personal autonomy (being self-contained and
independent, depending on own inner resources); adapting
to and mastering the environment; self-actualisation of
one's potential (focusing on the future and realising own
potential). For example a schizophrenic having hallucinations
does not have an accurate perception of reality.
- Limitations: 1) It is difficult to meet all of the criteria and
many people would struggle, therefore according to this
definition most people are abnormal. For example few
people achieve total self-actualisation and will not always
have positive attitudes towards themselves. 2) The criteria
is based on a Western ideal of psychological health
including views of individuality e.g. personal autonomy is
not appropriate for collectivist cultures who do not value
autonomy.
- Limitations: 1) It is difficult to meet all of the criteria and
many people would struggle, therefore according to this
definition most people are abnormal. For example few
people achieve total self-actualisation and will not always
have positive attitudes towards themselves. 2) The criteria
is based on a Western ideal of psychological health
including views of individuality e.g. personal autonomy is
not appropriate for collectivist cultures who do not value
autonomy.
- Jahoda (1958) identified six positive characteristics which
she believed promoted good psychological health. Anyone
who deviates or lacks any of these qualities is said to be
deviating from ideal mental health. These criteria are:
PARPAS - 1) Positive attitude towards the self (having
high self-esteem and a sense of identity); accurate
perception of reality (being able to see oneself and the
world in realistic terms - not overly optimistic or
pessimistic approach); resistance to stress (having the
necessary coping strategies for dealing with stressful
situations); personal autonomy (being self-contained and
independent, depending on own inner resources); adapting
to and mastering the environment; self-actualisation of
one's potential (focusing on the future and realising own
potential). For example a schizophrenic having hallucinations
does not have an accurate perception of reality.
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