Psychology

Revision cards for Individual Differences : Psychotherapy (abnormality)

?

Definitions of Abnormality

Deviation from social norms -

*Standards of acceptable behaviour are set by a social group ( ie, social norms)

*Anything that deviates or is different from acceptable behaviour is considered 'abnormal'

*What is acceptable may change over time.

1 of 3

Limitiations

Limitations

*Suseptable to abuse

* Deviance is hard to identify - is related to context and degree, there is not a clear line between what is an abnormal deviation and what is harmless eccentricity (e.g what a person might wear.)

*Cultural relativism - what is considered normal in some cultures isn't in others.

2 of 3

Failure to function adequately

3 of 3

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Abnormality resources »