Question | Answer |
State the definitions of abnormality. | Deviation from social norms. Failure to function adequately. Deviation from ideal mental health. |
Describe 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. |
Describe 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. |
Describe 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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