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Psychopathology:Abnormality

• Individual differences: study of how individuals differ in psychological characteristics– intelligence, aggressiveness, obedience,

etc.• Important difference: degree of

mental health– Psychopathology– Abnormality equated with abnormal

psychopathology• How to define someone as being

abnormal?

• Write a list of things you would look for as an indication of abnormal behaviour

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What makes someone abnormal?

Statistically rare, Going against social norms,

Mentally illOr

Inability to function safely (danger to self or others)

Do your ideas fit into one of the four following categories?

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Can you define the following behaviour as abnormal using all four

definitions?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDDJMdWAC8

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A very unusual behaviour or trait

will be more than 2 standard deviations from the mean. i.e. over 130 or under

70 IQ score.

This statistically ‘rare’ behaviour or trait is likely to be

seen as being abnormal.

L2

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Statistical Infrequency ~Is all rare behaviour abnormal?

If not, how do we decide what is?

Is this?

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Why is context so important when

defining behaviour as abnormal?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byPJ22JDFjI

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Statistical Infrequency: Limitations/Criticisms

Mental Health Depression and anxiety are not rare, but clinical depression isGender Issues Females wear makeup and skirts without seeming abnormal What about males?Cultural IssuesJewish people mourn by tearing clothes and wailing in public.In China mental illness carries a stigma so is rarely diagnosed.Some cultures walk around naked.In the USA 48% of people were treated for psychological disorders – by this definition that would make them normal!Age Thumb sucking and bed wetting may be considered statistically normal at 2 years old but not at 20!Desirability of behaviour Many behaviours are rare but considered highly desirable (High IQ, Great athletic ability). How far must you deviate from average to be considered abnormal?

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Advantages of statistical approach

• Obvious, quick, easy way to define abnormality.

• Has face validity• Relatively easy to determine abnormality

using statistical, psychometric testse.g. for O.C.D.

• Try the test; could you be a potential sufferer?– http://psychcentral.com/ocdquiz.htm

• Now watch an O.C.D. sufferer in action!– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOami82xKec

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• Society’s rules based on moral standards that become norms– Deviations seen as abnormal (Szasz 1972)– Suggests madness is a label for non-conformists

• Social norms are culturally relative – i.e. must judge behaviour only in cultural context (which

evolves)– Otherwise risk of ethnocentrism

• Example– Homosexuality illegal and considered a mental disorder – Now campaigns for gay marriage

• So definition of abnormality as deviation is subject to change

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Historical Issues: Until early 1900s, pregnant unmarried women

were interred in mental institutions.Until 1960s homosexual acts were

criminaloffences in UKUntil 1973 homosexuality was a mental

disorderin USA.

Cultural Issues: Diagnosis of insanity was used to detain political dissidents in Russia.

In Japan you are deemed insane if you do not want to work!

In Western societies you can plead insanity as a

defence - Lorena Bobbit cut off her husband's

penis and pleaded temporary insanity!

Expected Behaviour: African/Indian cultures consider it normal to talk to the dead.

Nakedness is normal in some cultures.

Context: Singing in the park is understood if you see thefilm crew!

AO2: Deviation from Social Norms Limitations / Issues

Hello!

Conformance to Social Norms: Summary

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• A subjective measurement of abnormality – norms change over time and differ

between cultures• Has been used as a form of social

control• Social norms are necessary

– enable members of each society to know the ‘rules’ in order to get along together!

• Anti-social behaviour can be viewed as abnormal under this definition e.g.– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2fntzGquZE

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Short Answer Exam Questions(SAQs)

Deviation from social norms is one definition of abnormality: You may use your textbook to help you with this. a) What is a ‘social norm’?b) Give one example of how breaking a social

norm might lead to the behaviour being defined as abnormal.

c) Outline one other way of defining abnormality

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health: PRAISE

• Marie Jahoda (1958) • Six categories that clinicians typically

relate to mental health – Personal growth– Reality perception– Autonomy– Integration– Self-attitudes – Environmental mastery

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Limitations/Criticisms of PRAISE

• Are the following evidence of abnormality?– Negative self-image from bullying, persecution, etc.– Failure to reach full potential due to family commitments,

money, social/ peer pressure, gender, culture, etc.– Difficulty in coping with high levels of stress– Inability to make own decisions due to disability, illness,

age, culture, etc.– Distorted perception of reality due to alcohol, drugs,

illness, etc.– Difficulty adapting to the environment because of

circumstances e.g. if poor, black, female, disabled, etc. • Jahoda’s criteria are so demanding that almost

everyone is bound to fall into the category of mental ill-health! 14

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Failure to function adequately

• A definition of abnormality based on – an inability to cope with day-to-day life – caused by psychological distress or discomfort – which may lead to harm of self or others.

Failure to Function Adequately• Seen as a humane way of addressing psychological

problems – allows individual to decide if they need/wish to seek

help.• However, some limitations

– Labelling– Gender issues (Bennett 1995 masculine stereotypes)– Enforced detaining in mental institutions– Even if behaviour is abnormal, no institutionalisation

provided individual can function adequately and is not harming self/others

• Summary– Leaves power with the individual– Not seen as serious in mental disorder terms– Individual may be aware or unaware of own dysfunction

• So how can psychiatrist be sure of diagnosis or when patient is ‘cured’?

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We are now going to watch two videos about people with abnormal behaviour.

Cases 1 and 2 at http://www.aquinassocsci.co.uk/psychopathology.html

As you are watching the videos decide if they fit all 4 definitions of Abnormality.

Then write down any issues that the program raises regarding difficulties in

defining abnormality and any ethical issues you notice, for discussion afterwards.

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Rosenhan Experiment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6bmZ8cVB4o

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Summary Activity• Use notes and handouts to complete a

summary mind map / poster entitled DEFINING ABNORMALITY. Include a concise definition, explanation, and example of each method and then list as many as possible but at least two limitations associated with each method of definition – e.g. – can be era dependent – can be ethnocentric (cultural relativism) – labelling & stereotyping – desirable behaviour…. etc.

• Try also to include one Strength • Then: Say how each of these definitions

would define Anorexia as being abnormal, and what the problems defining Anorexia using each definition would be.