STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY

• WHAT IS STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY?

  deviating from statistical average or if their trait/ characteristic/ behaviour statistically rare
• EXAMPLES OF STATISTICALLY FREQUENT BEHAVIOURS?

  • 7-9 hours of sleep every 24 hours
  • eating 1500-300 calories a day
• EXAMPLES OF STATISTICALLY INFREQUENT BEHAVIOURS?

  • 1-2/ 16-17 hours of sleep every 24 hours
  • eating less than 1500/ 5000-600 calories per day
• STRENGTH OF THIS DEFINITION?

  • can measure objectively
  • easy to work out
• WEAKNESSES OF THIS DEFINITION?

  • unable to distinguish between desirable/ undesirable behaviours
  • cannot identify behaviours that need treatment
  • deciding cut-off point for abnormality
  • not all individuals benefit from being labelled
• ALL DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY?

  • deviation from social norms
  • failure to function adequately
  • statistical infrequency
  • deviation from ideal mental health
• WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARE WITHIN 1 SD OF THE MEAN?

  68%
• WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARE WITHIN 2 SD OF THE MEAN?

  95%
• WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE 2 SD FROM THE MEAN?

  5%