Definitions of abnormality

• What are the four definitions of abnormality?

  • Deviation from social norms
  • Failure to function adequately
  • Statistical infrequency
  • Deviation from ideal mental health
• Summarise deviation from social norms

  Abnormal behaviour is that which goes against the unwritten rules or expectations in a society/culture.
• Social norms can be explicit laws e.g. wearing clothes in public or implicit norms e.g. not talking to strangers on public transport.
• Who creates social norms and how?

  Society chooses to define behaviour on what they think is acceptable. A collective judgement is made by society about what is right.
• If people deviate from or break social norms they are deemed as what?


  Abnormal and may need a psychiatric diagnosis.
• Evaluating deviation from social norms (strength):

  1. The definition is clear and easy to use as many people have lived in the society/culture for a long time and so know what is acceptable.

  How is this helpful?

  It helps society function as sticking to social norms means society is ordered and predictable. This means it is easier to identify disrupters.
• Evaluating deviation from social norms (weaknesses):

  1. The definition of normal is defined by society/culture and is therefore subjective. The definition can vary from culture to culture. This means the definition lacks cultural validity as it cant be applied across different societies.
  2. Too much reliance on deviation to social norms to define abnormality can lead to discrimination and may be used to socially control minorities as the definitions are set by the majority.

  So this explanation is...

  Socially sensitive according to point 2.
• Summarise failure to function adequately.

  Abnormal behaviour is that which causes a person distress or an inability to cope with everyday life.
• What is maladaptiveness?


  Behaviours stopping individuals from achieving life goals, both socially and occupationally.
• What are the criteria for failure to function adequately?

  1. Suffering
  2. Maladaptiveness
  3. Observer discomfort
  4. Unpredictability
  5. Irrationality
• Who proposed the criteria for failure to function adequately?

  Rosenhan and Seligman
• Evaluating failure to function adequately (strength):

  1. The definition recognises the patient's personal experiences and perspective.

  What does this mean?

  It takes into account individual differences and only seeks to diagnose treat those who are having a negative experience. Therefore, it is less open to abuses for social control than deviation to social norms definition.
• Evaluating failure to function adequately (weaknesses):

  1. There are issues with validity due to diagnosis bias. For example, some patients say they are distressed but are judge as not suffering by psychiatrist.

  Additionally, most diagnoses are made by middle class, white men and it has been said that this may lead to a disproportionate number of people from certain groups being diagnosed as abnormal as men don't fully understand how females work or communicate.

  For example, depression is more commonly identified in women in the UK.
• How has diagnosis bias in failure to function adequately been minimised?

  There are scales and criteria that must be followed that try make such judgements as objective as possible.
• Evaluating failure to function adequately (weakness):

  2. The definition may not be an accurate way to diagnose abnormality and some people with psychological disorders can still function adequately e.g. psychopaths.

  What is the opposite of this?

  Additionally, people may be classified as not functioning adequately because their behaviour is maladaptive but they don't have a psychological disorder e.g. homeless people.

  So definition is not a valid way to identity those who need treatment.
• Summarise statistical infrequency as a definition to abnormal behaviour.


  Abnormal behaviour is that which is rare/uncommon.
• Statistical infrequency means behaviour that seen as rare in the population will be deemed abnormal. It uses the normal distribution curve with both extremes deemed equally abnormal.

  The cut-off point is generally put at more than or less than 2 Standard Deviations away from the mean score on a measure of the behaviour. On any normal distribution curve, 95% of the population fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean. Any individual whose score is more than 2 standard deviations away from the mean, in either direction is considered abnormal.
• The statistical approach works well when dealing with characteristics that are reliably measured. Give an example.


  IQ
• Evaluating statistical infrequency (strength):

  1. It is more objective than others as it uses quantative data which is clear and factual.

  This means...

  There is less experimenter bias as the results can't be affected by opinion which overall makes the definition reliable.
• Evaluating statistical infrequency (weaknesses):

  1. It overlooks the issue of desirability in terms of infrequent behaviours e.g. high IQ.
  2. The cut off point for abnormal behaviour is too strict.
  3. It claims that abnormalities are rare when they aren't e.g. anxiety can affect 18% of people.

  Why is 3 a bad thing?

  Some abnormal behaviours may be missed and could therefore go untreated.
• Summarise deviation from ideal mental health.

  Abnormal behaviour is that which fails to meet the criteria for psychological wellbeing.
• Deviation from ideal mental health aims to define what makes someone normal and identity who deviates from this. Who created the criteria for ideal mental health?

  Marie Jahoda
• What is the criteria for ideal mental health?

  1. Positive attitudes towards the self
  2. Self-actualisation of one's potential
  3. Resistance to stress
  4. Personal autonomy
  5. Accurate perception of reality
  6. Adapting to the environment
• What is self-actualisation of one's potential?

  Being in a state of contentment and feeling that you have become the best you can be.
• What does personal autonomy mean?

  Having independence and self-reliance.
• Evaluating deviation from ideal mental health (strength):

  1. It is very comprehensive and takes a positive view by focussing on what is desirable. It covers a broad range of criteria which relate to the whole person.

  How does the big range of factors make it a good tool?

  Makes it a good tool for thinking about mental health and it makes it clear to people the ways in which they could benefit from seeking treatment – say counselling – to improve their mental health.
• Evaluating deviation from ideal mental health (weaknesses):

  1. The characteristics in the criteria are unrealistic and most people deviate from them e.g. it is hard to always have a positive attitudes towards oneself as not everyone is perfect.
  2. People may not met criteria due to factors outside of their control e.g. stressful job.
  3. Criteria is culturally bias as it represents western ideals. What does this mean?


  The definition would not yield a valid diagnosis as it is culture bound and would not be representative of other cultures as we all have different perceptions of ideal mental health.