Defining Abnormality hXWAhttps:// hXWA Amy drunk DAghttps:// DAg Amy on Motor way

Text book Read pages – get the idea of what this topic is about Then read again and make key notes Be ready to ask/answer questions

How would you define normal and abnormal? How do we decide if behaviour is dysfunctional or normal? Why is a diagnosis important?

Definitions – What is normal/abnormal? 1.Deviation from social Norm’s 2.Failure to Function Adequately 3.Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Deviation from social norms standards of behaviour – law accepted Every society has accepted standards of behaviour – can be based on law, or just generally accepted by society regulation Social norms allow for the regulation of normal behaviour. deviations from the social norm One approach to defining abnormality is to consider deviations from the social norm as an indicator of abnormal behaviour.

Written social norms legal system People who commit crimes are considered abnormal, because they are breaking the rules of the legal system All people who are in prison are considered abnormal by this definition e.g. murderers, fraudsters, paedophiles, robbers, burglars and drunk drivers.

Unwritten Social Norms E.g. holding doors open for people rather than letting it slam into their face Can you think of any others?

Unwritten social norms Being polite Opening doors for people Not hearing voices Not washing your hands 50 times a day Queuing in shops Not standing too close to people when talking Wearing clothes when walking around outside These are just a few examples which give an indication of normal/abnormal behaviour

What are social norms? Queuing for one hour in the Post Office Being covered head to toe in tattoos Stealing from the local shop Not standing too close to someone when you speak Hearing voices in our head Counting the number of times you chew your food Being part of a gay community Being a member of a church group that meets daily Having big holes in your earlobes Wearing appropriate clothes when its cold. Saying please and thank you Wearing a diving suit when walking down the road

The effect of culture different social norms Different cultures/societies will have different social norms – would define abnormality differently schizophrenia For example, hearing voices in one culture would be seen as being connected to spirits, whereas in another – schizophrenia In the Chippewa culture, a native American culture, visions of Thunderbirds - a great bird, are regarded as a great honour. However, western psychiatry would view these visions as a symptom of schizophrenia (hallucinations).

Genital Retraction Syndrome (Koro) retracting into the body shrinking removed fatal A condition in which an individual is overcome with the belief that his/her external genitals are retracting into the body, shrinking, or in some male cases, may be imminently removed or disappear. Beliefs in many instances assert such a physical change to the individual that the result is often fatal. Culturally specific (East Asia) – how would we diagnose this here?

‘Koro’ is a Culture Specific Disorder How might cultural and gender differences alter a diagnosis?

The effect of context situationcontext abnormalnormal The situation and context for the behaviour are both important, a behaviour might be abnormal in one context but normal in another normal/abnormal When would these instances be considered to be normal/abnormal?

The effect of historical context norm What was considered as the norm many years ago might have changed Eg - becoming pregnant outside wedlock was considered evidence as a mental health problem 100 years ago, women could have been put into an institution because of it On May 17th 1990 the World Health Organisation made the decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. It is for this reason that May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia ClassificationSymptoms Drapetomania Slaves experienced an irrational desire to run away Nymphomania Middle class women were sexually attracted to working class men Moral insanity Women who inherited money spent it on themselves rather than male relatives

Read the definitions of abnormality p Compare the definitions, which is better?

Prep Outline and evaluate 2 or more definitions of abnormality Outline and evaluate 2 or more definitions of abnormality (12 marks) See page 191 in Companion text book AO1 = 6 marks AO2 = 6 marks

How can we define abnormality? What are the three definitions we need to know ?

Dr Padawi wishes to explain to a group of hospital volunteers how psychiatrists try to make decisions about abnormality. Dr Padawi decides to start by explaining how abnormality is defined. Describe and evaluate the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality. In your answer you must refer to how Dr Padawi might explain this definition of abnormality to the volunteers. (6 marks)

Definitions – What is normal/abnormal? 1.Deviation from social Norm’s 2.Failure to Function Adequately 3.Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Not being able to cope

Definitions – What is normal/abnormal? 1.Deviation from social Norm’s 2.Failure to Function Adequately 3.Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Marie Jahoda Absence of physical health = illness Absence of mental health = mental illness 1.Good self esteem 2.Self-actualisation 3.Coping with stress 4.Autonomy/independence 5.Accurate perception of reality 6.Mastery of the environment

Prep Outline and evaluate 2 or more definitions of abnormality Outline and evaluate 2 or more definitions of abnormality (12 marks) See page 191 in Companion text book AO1 = 6 marks AO2 = 6 marks