lOMoARcPSD|59658805
Psychopathology essay plans
A-Level Psychology (University of Oxford)
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DESCRIBE AND EVALUATE TWO WAYS OF DEFINING ABNORMALITY
AO1
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
• individual gas a LESS COMMON CHARACTERISTIC (due to sta s cs)
• e.g. INTELLIGENCE: most have an IQ of 85-115 and there is 2% below 70 - ABNORMAL
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
• behaviour that is di erent from the ACCEPTED standards of behaviour in a society
• e.g. ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER: DSM-5 – absence of pro-social internal standards associated
with failure to CONFORM to LAWFUL OR CULTURALLY NORMATIVE ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR = psychopath
FAILURE TO FUNCTION
• when some CAN’T COPE with the ORDINARY DEMANDS of day to day living
• e.g. if the person can’t eat regularly, wash clothes, communicate with others etc. = ABNORMAL
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
• when someone doesn’t meet A SET OF CRITERIA for GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
• e.g. POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS SELF, SELF-ACTUALISATION, RESISTEANCE TO STRESS, etc. – not having
these, such as being DEPPRESSED, may be seen as ABNORMAL – not having PLEASURE in ANYTHING,
feeling LESS WORTHY etc.
AO3
• SI: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: prac cal diagnosis of INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY DISORDER – clear CUT OFF
POINT = OBJECTIVITY – useful part of clinical assessment
• SI: RARE BUT DESIRABLE: HIGH IQ is desirable = can’t be used alone to make a diagnosis
• SI: WHAT IS THE CUT OFF POINT: IQ 70 = NORMAL but IQ 69 = ABNORMAL – there is interference from
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INTERESTS
• DFSN: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER ! but causing distress/discomfort
for others = be er in FAILURE TO FUNCTION??
• DFSN: SOCIAL NORMS CHANGE OVERTIME: HOMOSEXUALITY was ILLEGAL/ABNORMAL but with
CHANGING ATTITUDES (2014 SAME-SEX MARRIAGE) = NORMAL
• DFSN: ECCENTRICITY NOT ABNORMALITY: express INDIVIDUALITY and go against NORMS = the line
dividing the two is SUBJECTIVE
• FF: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: prac cal diagnosis of MENTAL DISORDERS – OBJECTIVE way as to how well
individuals func ons
• FF: ABNORMALITY DOESN’T EQUAL FAILURE TO FUNCTION: could be very func onal WITH THE DISORDER –
the things that they do may be seen as MALADAPTIVE to others but NOT THE INDIVIDUAL e.g. ea ng
disorders/depression
• FF: MALADAPTIVE NOT ABNORMAL: CAUSES HARM e.g. SMOKING/EXTREME SPORTS but not seen as
abnormal
• DFIMH: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: people may seek HELP from MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES – bene t from
treatment to BUILD SELF-ESTEEM
• DFIMH: UNREALISTIC HIGH STANDARDS: CRITERIA: too DEMANDING – few ACHIEVE ALL AREAS – fail to due
to ENVRONMENT FACTORS etc. = MOST ARE ABNORMAL
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
Psychopathology essay plans
A-Level Psychology (University of Oxford)
Scan to open on Studocu
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
, lOMoARcPSD|59658805
DESCRIBE AND EVALUATE TWO WAYS OF DEFINING ABNORMALITY
AO1
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
• individual gas a LESS COMMON CHARACTERISTIC (due to sta s cs)
• e.g. INTELLIGENCE: most have an IQ of 85-115 and there is 2% below 70 - ABNORMAL
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
• behaviour that is di erent from the ACCEPTED standards of behaviour in a society
• e.g. ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER: DSM-5 – absence of pro-social internal standards associated
with failure to CONFORM to LAWFUL OR CULTURALLY NORMATIVE ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR = psychopath
FAILURE TO FUNCTION
• when some CAN’T COPE with the ORDINARY DEMANDS of day to day living
• e.g. if the person can’t eat regularly, wash clothes, communicate with others etc. = ABNORMAL
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
• when someone doesn’t meet A SET OF CRITERIA for GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
• e.g. POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS SELF, SELF-ACTUALISATION, RESISTEANCE TO STRESS, etc. – not having
these, such as being DEPPRESSED, may be seen as ABNORMAL – not having PLEASURE in ANYTHING,
feeling LESS WORTHY etc.
AO3
• SI: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: prac cal diagnosis of INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY DISORDER – clear CUT OFF
POINT = OBJECTIVITY – useful part of clinical assessment
• SI: RARE BUT DESIRABLE: HIGH IQ is desirable = can’t be used alone to make a diagnosis
• SI: WHAT IS THE CUT OFF POINT: IQ 70 = NORMAL but IQ 69 = ABNORMAL – there is interference from
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INTERESTS
• DFSN: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER ! but causing distress/discomfort
for others = be er in FAILURE TO FUNCTION??
• DFSN: SOCIAL NORMS CHANGE OVERTIME: HOMOSEXUALITY was ILLEGAL/ABNORMAL but with
CHANGING ATTITUDES (2014 SAME-SEX MARRIAGE) = NORMAL
• DFSN: ECCENTRICITY NOT ABNORMALITY: express INDIVIDUALITY and go against NORMS = the line
dividing the two is SUBJECTIVE
• FF: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: prac cal diagnosis of MENTAL DISORDERS – OBJECTIVE way as to how well
individuals func ons
• FF: ABNORMALITY DOESN’T EQUAL FAILURE TO FUNCTION: could be very func onal WITH THE DISORDER –
the things that they do may be seen as MALADAPTIVE to others but NOT THE INDIVIDUAL e.g. ea ng
disorders/depression
• FF: MALADAPTIVE NOT ABNORMAL: CAUSES HARM e.g. SMOKING/EXTREME SPORTS but not seen as
abnormal
• DFIMH: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: people may seek HELP from MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES – bene t from
treatment to BUILD SELF-ESTEEM
• DFIMH: UNREALISTIC HIGH STANDARDS: CRITERIA: too DEMANDING – few ACHIEVE ALL AREAS – fail to due
to ENVRONMENT FACTORS etc. = MOST ARE ABNORMAL
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
