Statistical Abnormality Questions – Flashcards

A behavior may be judged abnormal if it is statistically unusual in a particular population.

An abnormal behavior might be defined as one that goes against common or majority or presumed standards of behavior. For example, one might be judged abnormal in one's failure to behave as recommended by one's family, church, employer, community, culture, or subculture.

Theories approach abnormality by starting with a theory of personality development. If normal development can be defined, then abnormality is defined by the failure to develop in this way. For example, if adults normally arrive at a moral stage that prohibits killing other people, and someone does not arrive at this stage, that person might be called abnormal.

Abnormal behavior can be defined by a person's feeling of abnormality, including feelings of anxiety, strangeness, depression, losing touch with reality, or any other sensation recognized and labeled by an individual as out of the ordinary.

Abnormal behavior can be defined or equated with abnormal biological processes such as disease or injury. Examples of such abnormalities are brain tumors, strokes, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, and genetic disorders.

A statistical definition of abnormality is precise (one can collect data and show how common or uncommon a particular behavior is in a particular group) but it does not correspond well to what people call abnormal. Many rare behaviors, such as collecting old books, are not considered abnormal.

Violation of socially accepted standards is another common and widely used definition of abnormality. o By this definition, a person is abnormal if violating the expectations and values of a community. For example, watching TV may be considered abnormal in the Amish culture, where modern conveniences are avoided. Violation of standards does not necessarily correlate with statistical rarity. Physical abuse of a spouse is considered abnormal in the United States, although it occurs in up to a fifth of marriages. o The main problem with the "violation of standards" definition of abnormality is that it is based upon cultural standards that change from place to place and time to time. What is abnormal in one culture may be regarded as acceptable in a different culture. What is regarded as abnormal at one time may be regarded as normal several decades later.

Judging abnormality by subjective discomfort raises a different set of problems. Psychotic people, the most seriously disordered of all mental patients, often, but not always, feel perfectly normal and suffer little distress, despite having markedly "crazy" and unrealistic thought processes that could lead to behavior harmful to themselves or others.

Biological approaches to defining abnormal behavior are based on detecting a disease or disorder of the nervous system. Many of the classic psychiatric syndromes are now recognized as brain diseases involving abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that neurons use to communicate, structural abnormalities in the brain etc. o Biological approaches to defining abnormal behavior of many types seem to be gaining ground, because there are so many advancing technologies for defining biological problems. Brain scans, analysis of neurotransmitters, and genetic analysis all provide objective ways of identifying biological disturbances. In fact, a good number of abnormal behaviors are now thought to have a biological basis; many respond to medication, used alone or with psychotherapy.

Distress (in self and/ or other) 2. Dysfunction (can't function in daily life) 3. Deviance (from established norms) 4. Danger

. Intensity 2. Frequency 3. Duration 4. Context

Genetic o Medical Conditions o Brain Function (Head Trauma, Tumor, Drugs) o Exposure to Environmental Stimuli

Troubling life experiences; early childhood trauma; loss of loved one etc. o Learned associations o Distorted perceptions: Emotional problems can arise from distorted perceptions and faulty thinking o Irrational thinking

These refer to the various circles of influence in the lives of people; events in different social contexts o Disturbances in intimate relationships: Friends, parents, children, spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend o Problems in extended relationships: extended family, old friends etc. o Other relationships: community, neighbors, school, church etc. o Political Turmoil or Social Unrest o Cultural or Societal: Discrimination which involves any of the "isms": Racism Sexism Haveism Ablelism Heterosexualism Ageism

Depression Eating Disorders Anxiety Disorders ADD Some Personality Disorders (Borderline, Dependent and Histrionic)

-Substance Abuse Paranoia Some Personality Disorder (Narcissistic, OCPD, Paranoid and Antisocial)

Clinically significant behavior or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and is associated with present distress (painful symptoms) or disability

The interaction of biological, psychological and social factors in the development of an individual's symptomology. Some people add a fourth domain "Spiritual"

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association

a cluster of symptoms o A collection of symptoms that form a definable pattern o A Behavioral or Psychological Syndrome is a collection of observable actions and the client's reported thoughts or feelings or psychological

The person is classified within a set of standard classifications

The person's condition prior to the onset of the disorder

The extent to which disorders are co-existing

Does not meet the criteria for a syndrome but have a significant number of symptoms

means to be in a state which is consistent with one's self concept.

means to be suffering from a mental health issue which is inconsistent with one's self concept or ego state.

No longer part of the nomenclature ((Nomenclature= naming system). It implies a psychoanalytic understanding of the causes and treatments of disorders.

Various forms of behavior/thinking involving a loss of contact with reality

Personality traits that are inflexible and maladaptive and that cause either subjective distress or considerable impairment in a person's ability to carry out the tasks of daily living

Diathesis: a predisposition (biological and possibly early trauma) that puts you at risk for developing a disorder Stress: the stressor that causes the disorder to appear

These syndromes are generally limited to specific societies or culture areas and are localized, folk, diagnostic categories that frame coherent meanings for certain repetitive, patterned, and troubling sets of experiences and observations."