However, failure to function adequately is a general sign of a disorder and not itself specific to any condition. Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) have suggested some characteristics of abnormal behaviour that are related to the FFA definition include: observer discomfort, unpredictability, irrationality and maladaptiveness. One limitation of Failure to Function Adequately is Cultural issues. Patterns of behaviour vary from culture to culture, so failing to function adequately may look different depending upon which culture you are in. The FFA criterion is likely to result in different diagnosis when applied to people from different cultures, because the standard of one culture being used to measure another.
Imagine you're the interviewer and you interview someone who has arrived late and presented themselves in a very lazy manner; you'd immediately form the impression that this person is abnormal. Cultures do vary throughout different societies though, therefore there isn't one universal set of rules; this is known as 'cultural relativism'. What can be considered normal in one culture can be interpreted as highly abnormal in another. Consequently an individual could be labelled as mentally ill of 'abnormal'. This is a limitation of this definition of abnormality because It could mean people could misread another's behaviour as 'abnormal' when maybe that just follow another culture etc.
The definition of the word abnormal, means deviating from the average norm. If we were to take this literally anybody acting strangely or differently would be considered to be abnormal. This also depends on people’s perceptions as to what is normal. Normal for one culture may be abnormal for another. To look at the definition of abnormality in more detail it’s needed to look at the different definitions of abnormality.
Unfamiliar is not the same as abnormal, distinction between these two is vital to understanding psychopathology and those affected by mental illness. As abnormal psychology evolves and progresses in treatments, therapies, and research the central theme of the six core concepts continues to guide researcher. These six concepts define and provide understanding of abnormality. The concepts also illustrate the range between normal and abnormal behavior of individuals experiencing personality disorders. Another concept is studying cultural and historical relativism in defining and classifying abnormality in relation to environment.
Conclusion -> draw together main ideas/arguments An outsider does not fit into society and they will do what they see to be right. Although the legal system is meant to be fair, it is only fair to society. If some one is different society tries to outcast them. More often than not, justice does not reach as far as the outsider. Justice is what is seen to be right and just by society and this means that society is catered for.
It is understood to be a disorder of pain processing and sensitivity. As described before serotonin, catecholamines, and dopamine all have a role in the pathophysiology of this disease. Abnormal functions of the stress response system of the body and the central nervous system are both to blame for fibromyalgia. The serotonin levels within the body have a large role, as this neurotransmitter helps to control pain. Fibromyalgia is often present when an individual has low levels of this specific neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
“Deviance” is defined by the Oxford Dictionary (2013) as “The fact or state of diverging from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behaviour”. This is not always a “criminal act” but something that is not a social norm or socially accepted within a certain society. These social “norms” differ between different societies as all societies are different and have different ways of living. For example, deviant behaviour in a family home may be a child staying out later than the time that they have been set by their parents. This is not a criminal act against the state.
There are many forms of possible discriminatory practice in Health & Social Care, for example: • Labelling or stereotyping people e.g. making assumptions, being prejudice • Avoiding service users because they’re different • Using negative body language to service users because they’re different
Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology is defined as the study of psychological characteristics that often deviate outside of the norm (Cherry, 2005). This perspective generally encompasses an array of perspectives ranging from disorders to altered mental patterns that affect the normal functioning of an individual as part of society. Typically, this type of impairment is accompanied by behavior, either disruptive or of a distorted nature. There are several approaches used in abnormal psychology in addition, it is important to examine the origin of abnormal psychology in an effort to rationalize the evolution of this scientific discipline (Cherry, 2005). To understand the basis of abnormal psychology, it is essential to recognize that the individuals who make up these categories fall very far at the other end of the normal spectrum.
When discrimination occurs it can have a very adverse effect on the people who are subjected to it. There are many different types of discriminatory practice in a health and social care setting, they can be obvious (overt), subtle or sometimes unintentional. This task will explain three types of discriminatory practice and the effects that each practice has on those who are subjected to them. The first type of discriminatory practice that I have chosen is prejudice. Prejudice is usually found when staff members judge those who are in their care inappropriately because of case notes of the person or from information other members of staff have provided them with.