Definitions of Abnormality

• STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY

  Abnormality is when behaviour (thoughts/actions) is statistically uncommon/rare
• One example in statistical infrequency is IQ. Really low and high IQ is considered abnormal
• Normal distribution graph

  A symmetrical spread of data that forms a bell shape. Mean, mode, and median all at the highest peak
• ✅ statistical infrequency

  • Objective way of defining 'abnormal' based on statistical data

  • However we need to make subjective decisions on what the cut-off point is for 'abnormal' behaviour before we collect data.
• ✅ statistical infrequency

  • Real life application - used in clinical assessments to measure patients against a statistical norm.
• ❌ statistical infrequency

  • Cultural bias - different cultures have different norms, so different statistical averages
• ❌ statistical infrequency

  • Some desirable traits could be seen as abnormal, this requiring treatment
• ❌ statistical infrequency

  • Labelling someone as 'low IQ' can be unhelpful especially if they're able to live a 'normal' life without distress to themselves or others
• DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS


  Abnormaity is defined as any behaviour which breaks unwritten rules within a society/culture. (Every society has their own set of normal)
• Deviation from social norms example - laughing at a funeral, homosexually 2017
• ✅deviation from social norms


  • Real life application - used in clinical practice for things like antisocial behaviour disorder
• ❌ deviation from social norms

  • Cultural bias - social norms differ around the world and within subcultures (e.g homosexuality or hearing voices)
• ❌ deviation from social norms

  • 'Normal' changes over time (single mothers) and is influenced by politics
• ❌ deviation from social norms

  • It can't offer a full explanation of abnormality because it doesn't acknowledge context
• ❌ deviation from social norms

  • Subjective definition of abnormality which relies on the opinions of a singular society
• FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY 


  abnormality is defined as the inability to cope with the demands of daily life which results in distress
• Failure to function adequately example - people with schizophrenia lack self awareness of their own disorder, they may behave in ways that make others uncomfortable
• ROSENHAN & SELIGMAN'S criteria:


  1. Failing to conform to interpersonal rules and making others uncomfortable (observer discomfort)
  2. Experiencing severe personal distress
  3. Behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to yourself and others
• ✅failure to function adequately

  • Allows people to self-refer (real life application) - gives us a threshold of when we are unable to function and therefore able to seek treatment
• ❌ failure to function adequately

  • it's difficult to define 'functioning adequately' as these are based on subjective observations
• ❌ failure to function adequately

  • for example: psychopaths are dangerous but appear normal and show no signs of dysfunction (e.g HAROLD SHIPMAN, transvestitism)
• ❌ failure to function adequately 


  • Ignores context (e.g depression and bereavement both show the same symptoms, but one is 'normal/expected' for the situation)
• DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH 


  JOHODA(1958) says we are in good health if we meet this criteria:

  • Self Attitudes - positive self esteem and a strong sense of identity

  • Personal Growth and Self Actualisation - extent to which an individual reaches their full potential

  • Perception of Reality

  • Integration - ability to cope with stress

  • Autonomy - being independent

  • Mastery of the Environment (particularly relationships)
• Examples of deviation from mental health - anxiety, depression
• ✅ deviation from ideal mental health

  • It's a positive and holistic approach that can be used as mental health aspirations and can be used as criteria for self referral
• ❌ deviation from ideal mental health 


  • Very unrealistic and too demanding even for a healthy person. We can't measure personal growth or environmental mastery and it doesn't acknowledge that different contexts change our behaviour (breakups, failing exams)
• ❌ deviation from ideal mental health 


  • a culturally biased definition - collectivists would aspire towards shared goals, not individualistic goals. Also, the criteria cannot be applied to other cultures as abnormality is not universal (e.g culture-bound syndrome)
• ❌ deviation from ideal mental health 


  • our perception of reality changes over time (e.g hearing voices was religious, now is schizophrenic)