Definitions of Abnormality - Psychopathology [A-Level Psychology]

Summary

This video explores the concept of psychopathology, diving into mental health conditions like OCD, depression, and phobias. It examines four competing definitions of abnormality—statistical frequency, failure to function adequately, deviation from social norms, and deviation from ideal mental health. The video covers how these definitions are applied in real-world contexts and the challenges in defining mental health. It also highlights various perspectives, such as the biological, cognitive, and behavioral approaches, offering insights into how we understand and treat these conditions. The video aims to provide a comprehensive overview for students and enthusiasts alike.

Takeaways

• 😀 Psychopathology refers to the study of mental health conditions, including OCD, depression, and phobias.
• 😀 Defining mental abnormality is complex, with several competing definitions and no universally accepted one.
• 😀 Statistical infrequency is one definition of abnormality, where rare mental conditions (e.g., low IQ) are considered abnormal.
• 😀 A limitation of statistical infrequency is that it doesn't account for the context of high intelligence or common mental conditions like depression and anxiety.
• 😀 Failure to function adequately focuses on an individual's ability to cope with daily life, with features like maladaptive behavior, personal anguish, and observer discomfort.
• 😀 A criticism of the failure to function definition is its subjectivity, as decisions about coping are based on observers' opinions.
• 😀 Deviation from social norms considers behavior against societal expectations, but it can vary across cultures and may lead to category failure when applied to different cultural contexts.
• 😀 A strength of deviation from social norms is that it respects cultural differences and avoids ethnocentric views.
• 😀 Jevoda's deviation from ideal mental health suggests six features for normal mental health: environmental mastery, autonomy, resistance to stress, self-actualization, positive attitude toward oneself, and accurate perception of reality.
• 😀 One criticism of Jevoda's definition is that it's based on a Western, individualistic perspective, which may not apply universally to collectivist cultures.
• 😀 Despite its criticisms, Jevoda’s approach is seen as a holistic, positive perspective that focuses on personal growth and respects individual experiences.

Q & A

What is the meaning of the term 'Psychopathology'?

Psychopathology refers to the study of mental health conditions and diseases. The term is derived from 'psycho', meaning 'mind', and 'pathology', meaning 'disease'.

What are the main psychopathologies discussed in the video?

The video discusses OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), depression, and phobias.

Which psychological approaches are applied to each psychopathology in the video?

The behaviorist approach is applied to phobias, the cognitive approach is applied to depression, and the biological approach is applied to OCD.

What is the main challenge in defining mental abnormality?

The main challenge is the difficulty in creating a clear definition for mental abnormality that includes everyone who should be defined as mentally abnormal while excluding those who should not.

What does the statistical and frequency definition of abnormality focus on?

This definition focuses on whether a mental condition is rare or common in a population, using statistical data such as IQ scores to categorize individuals as abnormal if their traits are statistically infrequent.

What are some criticisms of the statistical and frequency definition?

Criticisms include the subjectivity involved in determining cutoffs for abnormality (such as IQ scores), the inclusion of people with high intelligence as abnormal, and the fact that some common conditions like depression and anxiety are not considered statistically abnormal.

How does the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality differ from statistical definitions?

The failure to function adequately definition focuses on an individual's ability to cope with daily life, such as interacting with others and performing daily tasks, rather than comparing the individual to the wider population.

What are some of the features of failure to function as outlined by Rosenhan and Seligman?

Features include maladaptive behavior (behaving in ways that harm long-term interests), personal anguish (suffering anxiety and distress), observer discomfort (disturbing others with one's behavior), irrationality (unpredictable or illogical behavior), and unconventionality (behavior that goes against societal expectations).

What is the issue with the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality?

The main issue is that social norms vary between cultures, so what is considered abnormal in one culture may be normal in another. This can lead to misdiagnoses when people from different cultural backgrounds are evaluated based on the norms of another culture.

What are the six features of ideal mental health according to Jahoda's definition?

The six features are environmental mastery (adapting to new situations), autonomy (acting independently and trusting one's abilities), resistance to stress (ability to cope with anxiety), self-actualization (reaching one's potential), positive attitude towards oneself (high self-esteem), and accurate perception of reality (seeing the world as it truly is).