Discuss the different ways of defining abnormality and the shortcomings of each; describe the core feature of all abnormal behavior; and explain in what setting the term insanity is used, how it is established, and the different ways it is applied

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer will include each of the following: (1) Statistical abnormality: Some psychologists use statistics to define normality more objectively. Average, or normal scores would fall in the middle with low or high scores indicating abnormality. However, being statistically unusual does not mean abnormal and statistical definitions cannot tell us where to draw the line between normality and abnormality. (2) Social nonconformity: Atypical behavior or non-conformity may underlie some disorders. However, one must be careful to separate unhealthy nonconformity from creative lifestyles. In some cases, psychopathology involves rigid conformity. (3) Situational context: Almost any imaginable behavior can be considered normal in some contexts. (4) Cultural relativity: Judgments must also be made relative to the values of one's culture. (5) Subjective Discomfort: Psychopathology can be characterized by subjective discomfort, that is, private feelings of pain, unhappiness, or emotional distress. However, psychopathology does not always cause personal anguish. For example a person suffering from mania might feel elated and "on top of the world.". Also, a lack of discomfort may reveal a problem. In practice, subjective discomfort explains most instances in which people voluntarily seek professional help. Psychopathological behavior does have a core feature, which is that it is maladaptive. Rather than helping people cope successfully, maladaptive behavior arises from an underlying psychological or biological dysfunction, which makes it more difficult for them to meet the demands of day-to-day life. Maladaptive behavior often results in serious psychological discomfort, disability and/or loss of control of thoughts, behaviors, or feelings. Insanity is a legal term and refers to an inability to manage one's affairs or foresee the consequences of one's actions. People who are declared insane by the court system are not legally responsible for their actions. If necessary, they can be involuntarily committed to a mental hospital. Legally, insanity is established by testimony from expert witnesses (psychologists and psychiatrists) who are recognized by a court of law as being qualified to give opinions on a specific topic. Involuntary commitments happen most often when people are brought to emergency rooms or are arrested for committing a crime. People who are involuntarily committed are usually judged to be a danger to themselves or to others, or they are severely mentally disabled. People can also be found not guilty of a crime due to insanity or diminished responsibility. Not guilty by reason of insanity means that the accused, due to a diagnosable psychological disorder, was unable to appreciate that what he or she did was wrong. This may be distinguished from not guilty by reason of diminished responsibility, which is more likely to apply in other situations, such as cases of intellectual disability involving Down syndrome or brain damage. Very few criminal trials end with these verdicts.