Definition of abnormality

• deviation from ideal mental health

  occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health criteria created by Jahoda
• Jahoda criteria

  1. self attitudes -> self esteem
  2. autonomy -> independence
  3. perception of reality
  4. personal growth
  5. integration -> sociable
  6. environmental mastery -> dealing with stress
• evaluation points for deviation from ideal mental health
• EVALUATION

  + Unique in the 4 definitions as focuses on positive aspects of mental health -> what a person can aspire to be

  + real world application eg therapy, help group

  -Criteria used are vague and difficult to define and measure

  -Culture bound not all cultures may feel the criteria best describes their ideal mental health
• Failure to function adequately

  occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living

  Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) 7 features of abnormality
• 7 features of abnormality

  Violation of moral and ideal standards

  Observers disconfort

  Irrationality and incomprehensibility

  Vividness and unconventionality of behaviour

  Unpredictability and loss of control

  Maladaptiveness

  Suffering
• EVALUATION for failure to function adequately

  -culture bound ( western approach) individual vs collectivsitis

  + valuable for real life professional Real world application

  + dimensional assessment

  + easy to use identify criteria are real
• statistical infrequency


  occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic for example being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the population

  the average IQ is set at 100 most people range between 85-115

  only 2% people have a score below 70% those are deemed as abnormal and can receive a diagnosis of intellectual disability which was known as mental retardation
• EVALUATION of statistical infrequency

  + real world application used in clinical practice both as a formal diagnosis and away to asses symptoms for example idd requires an IQ of below 70 . Used a tool for Beck depression inventory a scored of 3-+ is widely interpreted as indicating severe depression

  -unusual characteristics can be positive as well as negative an IQ above 130 would not be thought to be abnormal therefore being at end of either spectrum does not necessarily make you abnormal therefore can not be sole definition of abnormality
• Deviation from social norms

  • concerns behaviour which is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society eg not washing
  • social norms can be different in each generation eg homosexuality was considered abnormal in past life but now common
• EVALUATION of deviation from social norms

  + real world application clinical practice for example defining key antisocial personality disorder as recklessness, aggression and violating the rights of others .deviates from norms-

  -cultural and situational relativism someone may label someone form another culture as abnormal eg some cultures hearing voices is the norm in some culture but seen as abnormal in uk

  therefore difficult to judge deviation across other culture