[[Book - Psychopathology Foundations for a Contemporary Understanding]] # Chapter 1: Conceptions of Psychopathology. A Social Constructionist Perspective **James E. Maddux, Jennifer T. Gosselin, and Barbara A. Winstead** [[202209081157 Concepts carry consequences]] [[202201310915 Diagnosing behaviour as due to disease excuses the person]] [[202209081159 There is power in defining a concept subjectively]] [[202209081201 Concepts such as intelligence are defined by society as valuable such values changes over time]] [[202209081202 If we use statistics to define abnormality then much deviance from the norm is considered abnormal]] [[202209081204 if behaviour works for the person is that abnormal]] [[202209081206 it is subjective and arbitrary to judge if behaviour is adaptive or not]] [[202209081207 Certain behaviour are adaptive but statistically abnormal like IQ, anxiety, shyness]] [[202209081208 Use of report of distress level is subjective as well because people define distress level differently]] [[202209081210 If a patient does not report distress such as anti-social personality disorder is that acceptable as normal]] [[202209081211 Using social norms as the yardstick to define pathology is similar to the statistical deviation argument]] [[202209081212 Social norms and cultural values change over time so what is acceptable will change as well]] [[202209081214 Majority does not mean it is right, such as the ending of slavery]] [[202209081218 The argument that certain behaviour does not increase the change of survival is not valid because what does]] [[202209081222 What is considered Natural or Dysfunctional are value judgements]] [[202209081224 DSM uses a combination of all the arguments]] [[20220908 We should see things as a continuum instead of dichotomies. Both and position]] [[202209081234 Accept that there is currently no scientific definition of psychopathology]] [[202209081242 Social Constructionism is related to social justice, the one who defines gain power]] [[202011011452 Truth is objective and independent of the psychological make-up or anyone thinking it.]] [[202209081247 Is Truth is out there or defined by people]] [[202209081248 Psychological terms are constructs, it changes over time as people understand their world]] [[202209081250 Mental disorders are constructs. It is not discovered like an archaeologist found buried artefacts or a virus]] [[202209081251 Conceptualising mental illness is about power and control]] [[303309081252 Psychiatry is not a medical problem but a social, political and legal problem]] Related to [[202102222010 Describe, do not explain. Be curious]] [[20220908 We should accept mental illness as the result of human experience instead of labelling it and hiding away the cause]]