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Examine two concepts of abnormality and normality

Consider the following quote. I attribute the social and psychological problems of modern society to the fact that society requires people to live under conditions radically different from those under which the human race evolved"Do you agree or disagree? Is the person claiming this insane or san

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Examine two concepts of abnormality and normality

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    1. Examine two concepts of abnormality and normality By Mr Daniel Hansson

    2. Consider the following quote “I attribute the social and psychological problems of modern society to the fact that society requires people to live under conditions radically different from those under which the human race evolved” Do you agree or disagree? Is the person claiming this insane or sane?

    3. Questions for discussion List all the psychological disorders that you know. Try to figure out why they are considered to be disorders When can an individual be considered to be insane? Are H.M. and Clive Wearing abnormal? Voltaire has said?: “What is madness? To have erroneous perceptions and to reason correctly from them” What does he mean?

    4. Definitions Normality: Something that is the majority; Being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning; Being able to hold down a job, and is not a threat to others or themselves. Abnormality: Not being in the norm; Not being able to hold down a job, and/or is a threat to themselves and others.

    5. Characteristics of abnormality Suffering Maladaptiveness Irrationality Unpredictability and loss of control Rareness and unconventionality Observer discomfort Violation of standards

    6. Three aspects of abnormality Diagnosis The cause of the problem (etiology) Therapy to treat the problem (related to the abnormality criterion)

    7. Tests for psychological disorders www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mv www.gotoquiz.com/what_mental_disorder_do_you_have

    8. Two concepts of abnormality (and normality) The mental illness criterion The social and cultural norms criterion

    9. The mental illness criterion Normality depends upon a properly functioning physiology and nervous system and no genetic predispositions to inherit mental disorder

    10. Supporting evidence Studies on the relationship between physiology, genetic make-up and abnormal behaviour (e.g. Caspi 2003, Kendler 1991, Carraso 2000, The universality (etics) of some disorders (e.g. eating disorders, depression and behaviours associated with psychosis – e.g. delusions and hallucinations) Sex differences in the prevalence of mental illness (which may be due to physiological differences between men and women) Many people voluntarily seek help because of their problems

    11. Challenging evidence Different countries have different tools for diagnosis (e.g. DSM IV-TR in United states, CCMD-3 in China) The existence of culture-bound syndromes (emics) Cultural variations in the prevalence of certain disorders Ethical issues: labeling, stigmatization

    12. The social and cultural norms criterion Szaz (1960): Members of society that break social and cultural norms are defined as abnormal (History of madness) Scheff (1966): Labeling people as abnormal establish clear norms of reality and appropriate behaviour (conformity) Laing’s (1967) conspirational model: In order to keep their definition of reality, the family, general practitioners and psychiatrists conspire against the “insane” by imprisoning and degrading them as human beings Social identity theory: People who are not included in the in-group are defined as abnormal Abnormal behaviour violates moral or ideal standards or differs from commonly accepted beliefs or ways of thinking. It is a way to find a dispositional cause of disruptive behaviour instead of situational factors (fundamental attribution error). Instead of saying “evil”, “bad” or “crazy”, we say “anti-social personality disorder” or “schizophrenia”. What is abnormal in one culture (e.g. strange visions, speech and behaviour) might be regarded as special or sacred in another culture (e.g. shamanism)

    13. Supporting evidence Different countries have different tools for diagnosis (e.g. DSM IV-TR in United states, CCMD-3 in China) Homosexuality was considered to be abnormal until DSM-III (1980). It is still considered abnormal in many countries. Unmarried mothers in Britain and political dissidents in the Soviet unions were once confined to institutions for abnormality. The tendency for American black slaves in the 1800s to try flee captivity was considered to be a mental illness. It is claimed that psychiatry also have been used to silence political dissidents in China (e.g. the Falungong movement) The existence of culture-bound syndromes (emics) Gender differences in mental health (which may be due to differences in social expectations) Cultural variations in the prevalence of certain disorders

    14. Challenging evidence The universality (etics) of some disorders (e.g. eating disorders, depression and behaviours associated with psychosis – e.g. delusions and hallucinations) Inuit tribes have linguistic distinctions between “shaman” and “crazy people” in their society (Murphy 1976) Many people voluntarily seek help because of their problems Problems with supporting research (qualitative)

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