The Definition of Abnormality With the Reference to Schizophrenia - Coursework Example

Psychology: Is it possible to define ‘abnormality’? Discuss with reference to schizophrenia (07.08.11) Introduction Abnormality can be defined in terms of unusual behavior that is not in keeping with the prevailing norms or does not comply with societal demands and expectations. Abnormality also refers to statistical infrequency in terms of inability to function properly and in being characterized with enhanced psychological distress and sufferings. It is known that most people have suffered psychological issues sometime in life, which implies that to have psychological problems can be considered to be statistically normal. Deviation from social norms is suggestive of the practices that are created by society in labeling people that do not comply with societal norms For instance, till recently, homosexuals were said to be suffering from mental disorders. Social norms mostly relate to cultures, such as when people from a particular group may not share the same values and ways of doing things with other culturally different groups. The complexities arising from such patterns have often been used to explain the presence of schizophrenia amongst immigrant groups in the USA and UK. This paper will examine whether it is possible to define abnormality and the discussions in this regard will be made with reference to schizophrenia. Main Body The behavioral model of abnormality focuses upon the impact of environmental forces on explicit behavior of people. The term mental illness cannot be used in this context because mental structure has no relevance to this model. Abnormality is considered as being learned through the process of emotional and classical habituation. For example, phobias can be developed through processes of classical conditioning. Abnormal behaviors also occur because of emotional conditioning such as the pleasures received from using drugs, which can act as a positive support in leading to addiction. Depression is seen as resulting from inadequate reinforcement or excessive punishment that mostly occurs because of life changes such as losing a job and being rendered unemployed. It is believed from the psychological perspective that no single model can explain the causes of psychological abnormality. For over 200 years, the dominating model in this context has been the biological method that uses medical terminology such as treatment, illness, symptoms and patient, whereby psychiatric systems classify the disorder through the given symptoms. In recent times, research in genetics and biochemistry has enabled a better understanding of abnormality and treatments have been introduced that have achieved success. However, drug treatment is known to have side effects and creates dependence by treating symptoms instead of taking care of the cause. It is also possible that biochemical imbalance could be the result and not the source of psychological problems (Porter, 2002). There is strong evidence of genetic effects relative to schizophrenia along with bipolar depression, although preventive measures for these situations have not yet been found. Researchers have proved that genes are not the main cause of psychological problems but can enhance the chances of their development. Therefore, the biological perspectives in the medical models are not considered adequate to explain the complexities relating to mental and emotional processes. According to the diathesis stress model, association of environmental influence and biological conditions can lead to abnormalities. Such findings have enabled different models to explain abnormality. For instance, in the case of phobias people can be biologically inclined to have fear of certain entities and situations because of the working of selective evolutionary processes (Seligman et al, 1997). The fact remains that it is very difficult to define the concept of abnormality because it can take different forms with different characteristics whereby what initially appears to be simple could become quite complex subsequently. Deviating from statistical norms is a notion that has failed the test of time. Comparatively, some instances of abnormalities such as delusions and hallucinations are not frequently observed. Statistically, abnormalities can be present at both ends of normal distributions but this aspect is open to debate. One line of thinking is that abnormality is something undesirable although some of its traits are desirable. However it is established that irrespective of whether a trait is desirable or not, it eventually relates to the prevailing culture (Kutchins and Kirk,1997). Another aspect that is not accepted everywhere is the deviation from ideal mental health, whereby it is assumed that an individual who does not have the ability to behave normally in the community is considered as abnormal. For instance, an individual who is unable to go to work without suffering from some level of worry is considered to be abnormal in some societies. Similarly, an individual who cannot leave home is also considered to be abnormal, but this understanding obviously warrants an explanation as to what exactly is normal. Therefore, it is first required to define what is considered as the ideal mental health situation before deciding if somebody is suffering from abnormality. Marie Jahoda (1958) had proposed six conditions to ascertain normality in individuals: 1. Positive self esteem 2. Personal growth and development 3. Capability to cope with stress 4. Independence and autonomy 5. Accuracy in perceiving realities 6. Mastery over relationships and the environment Nevertheless it is very difficult to ascertain if an individual possesses all these traits and many people will not agree to these conditions. Some cultures may not value autonomy because they attach greater value to cooperation. According to Hayes (2000), the most well accepted definition of abnormality is from the psychological perspective, which implies deviating from social norms. Another example in this regard is the difficulty in establishing whether homosexuals are normal or abnormal, because many cultures view this as an illness. Cultural relativism holds that belief systems about abnormality have begun to recently consider the impact of culture on illness and health. It is known that a number of assumptions are made about psychological states. Western culture believes that physical and mental aspects of any disorder need to be separated whereby the emotional aspect is given more importance. Mental illnesses are the outcome of psychological problems and can be treated using psychological interventions. Abnormality is considered in the context of the fact that the individual self is a strong entity that is experienced as a single whole over time and is unique in having its own identity. Researchers have been studying schizophrenia for decades but its neuropathology continues to remain obscure despite the fact that they have found that it is a functional disorder with no structural explanation. The cause of the chronic ailment continues to remain a mystery although scientific and technological advancements have enabled the finding that a common characteristic amongst patients is the physical abnormality of the brain. This revelation has led scientists to consider whether abnormalities cause schizophrenia and if so, the ways in which this abnormality takes place. People suffering from schizophrenia are known to have a lesser extent of grey matter in the brain. Neuroscientists have found recently that in some cases patients could suffer as much as 25 percent loss in grey matter. Patients that have the maximum loss in brain tissue are known to suffer the worst symptoms in terms of depression, psychotic sounds and hallucinations. Schizophrenia is a disabling and chronic brain disease that is characteristic of psychotic disorder that mainly impacts the behavior and thought patterns of patients. Symptoms can differ amongst patients but the most common are disturbance in thought, multiple delusions and acoustic hallucinations. Although it is now quite simple to diagnose the disease, neuron-pathologists continue to be uncertain about its cause. Just as it is true with abnormalities whereby diseases are caused by behavioral and genetic factors, scientists have started believing that the same is the cause for schizophrenia also. But they are not clear about the physical conditions that are necessary for schizophrenia to exist (Harrison, 1998). Technological advancements have allowed researchers to ascertain that brain abnormality is a major characteristic of schizophrenia, but they have still not understood how abnormalities develop in patients. Developmental neurobiologists consider that schizophrenia can be labeled as a developmental ailment that results during fetal development but the symptoms mostly appear during childhood or adolescence, when there is hormonal and physical change in the body. Researchers of schizophrenia hold that there is need to do more research amongst schizophrenia patients in order to determine the cause of the disease. Just as it is difficult to precisely define abnormality of the brain it is difficult to determine the cause of brain abnormality in schizophrenia (Gross, 2001). There are certain schools of thought that consider schizophrenia occurs because of cultural differences in terms of the manner in which symptoms are expressed. Studies of cultural differences have concluded that expressions of symptoms differ considerably amongst cultures because of the extent to which different ethnic groups use mental health facilities. Genetic factors are important etiologic factors in the disease but the genes that create vulnerability still continue researchers. Recent studies have implicated a number of genes such as neuregulin-1 and dysbindin-1. But scientists have not come close to levels of understanding neuro-psychiatric disorders although they serve as indicators towards future discoveries about the causes of schizophrenia (Baofu, 2010). A diagnosis of mental abnormality means that the individual cannot be held responsible for abnormal functioning but some researchers have pointed out that as compared to physical illness, people fear mental illness mainly because patients do not understand and people do not know how to deal with such abnormalities. Fears could develop that the patient’s behavior could be unpredictable or dangerous, which could mean that fear will result in making the patient to feel ignored. Lot of research has been undertaken that has considerably enhanced understandings about the possible biological causes of mental and psychological disorders. But most of the evidence is not conclusive and the current findings can prove to be hard to understand. It is difficult to substantiate the influence of genetics from the impact of the environment. Establishing cause and effect is also a complex issue because symptoms appear soon after medical treatment is stopped. Conclusion The cognitive model resembles the behavioral model in that feelings and emotions of the patient are impacted by change by inducing behavioral change externally. The psychodynamic model of abnormality pertains to the work done by Sigmund Freud and is based on the concept that psychological illness is a result of subdued experiences of the past and because of this another kind of behavior is exhibited. A major reason why abnormality definitions differ between cultures is because of the ways in which people undergo mental disorders. Some cultures are known to value the display of emotions while others believe in containing it. Some cultures focus on the spiritual and religious aspects of mental disorders, which is evident from the fact that people in some parts of the world believe in seeking religious solutions to mental disorders. In attempts to define abnormality one certainly has to confront cultural biases, which often raises the question whether mental disorders are impacted by the fact that some abnormalities are highly specific in a few cultures. Bibliography Baofu, Peter. 2010. The Future of Post-Human Personality: A Preface to a New Theory of Normality and Abnormality, Cambridge International Science Publishing. Gross, R. 2001. Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour. (Chapter 43). Hodder & Stoughton. Harrison, Paul J. 1998. The neuropathology of schizophrenia, Oxford Journals, Volume 122, Issue, 4, pp.590-620 Hayes, N. 2000. Foundations of Psychology. (Chapter Eight), Thomson Learning. Jahoda, M. 1958. Current concepts of positive mental health. New York: Basic Books. Kutchins, H. and Kirk, S. 1997. Making us crazy. DSM-The psychiatric bible and the creation of mental disorders, Free Press. Porter, R. 2002. Madness : A Brief History. Oxford: Oxford University Press Seligman et al. 1997. 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