Definitions of Abnormality

• What does statistical infrequency refer to in psychology?

  Behaviour or characteristics that are statistically rare
• Where does statistical infrequency occupy in a normal distribution curve?

  At the extreme ends
• How is statistical infrequency used in clinical practice?

  For diagnosis and assessing symptom severity
• What IQ score is required for a diagnosis of intellectual disability?

  Below 70
• What does a score of 30+ on the BDI indicate?

  Severe depression
• Why might unusual characteristics be considered positive?

  High IQ is an example of a positive trait
• What does being unusual or at one end of a psychological spectrum imply?

  It does not necessarily mean someone is abnormal
• What is the definition of abnormality in terms of social norms?

  Behaviour that deviates from expected standards
• What term describes individuals with undesirable behaviours?

  Socially deviant
• How was homosexuality viewed in the past?

  Considered abnormal and illegal in some countries
• What is a key characteristic of antisocial personality disorder?

  Impulsivity and aggression
• How is deviation from social norms applied in clinical practice?

  Used to define characteristics of disorders
• What does cultural and situational relativism imply?

  Judgements of abnormality vary across cultures
• What does failure to function adequately mean?

  Inability to cope with everyday living
• What are some characteristics of failing to function adequately?

  Maladaptive, irrational, and dangerous behaviour
• Why is the threshold for help significant?

  It targets treatment to those in need
• What is a potential issue with defining failure to function?

  Hard to distinguish from personal choice
• What is the definition of deviation from ideal mental health?

  Not meeting criteria for mental well-being
• What are some criteria for ideal mental health?

  Accurate perception of reality and high self-esteem
• How does Jahoda’s concept of ideal mental health function?

  Provides a checklist for assessing mental health
• What is a limitation of Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health?

  It may be culture bound
• Why is it difficult to apply ideal mental health across cultures?

  Different cultures define success variably
• What is a strength for ‘Statistical Infrequency’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  Real World Application

  • Statistical infrequency is used in clinical practice, as both part of formal diagnosis and as a way to assess the severity of an individual’s symptoms
  • For example, a diagnosis of intellectual diability requires an IQ of below 70, while a score of 30+ on the BDI is widely interpreted as indicating severe depression
  • This shows that the value of the statistical infrequency criterion is useful in both diagnostic and assessment processes
• What is a limitation for ‘Statistical Infrequency’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  Unusual Characteristics Can Be Positive

  • Infrequent characteristics, such as having a high IQ, can be positive, yet we would not think of someone for being abnormal for having such characteristics
  • Being unusual or at one end of a psychological spectrum does not necessarily make someone abnormal
  • This means that, although statistical infrequency can form part of assessment and diagnostic procedures, it is never sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality
• What is a limitation for ‘Deviation from Social Norms’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  Cultural & Situational Relativism

  • A person from one cultural group may label someone from another group as abnormal using their standards rather than the person’s standards
  • For example, the experience of hearing voices is the norm in some cultures but would be seen as abnormal in the UK
  • This means that it is difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations and cultures
• What is a strength for ‘Deviation from Social Norms’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  Real World Application

  • Deviation from social norms is used in clinical practice
  • For example, the key defining characteristics of antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally acceptable behaviour, where these signs of the disorders are all deviations from social norms
  • This shows that the deviation from social norms criterion has value in psychiatry
• What is a strength for ‘Failure to Function Adequately’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  Represents a Threshold For Help

  • Most of us have symptoms of mental disorder to some degree and according to Mind, around 25% of people in the UK will experience a mental health problem in any given year
  • However, many people press on in the face of fairly severe symptoms and it tends to be at the point that we cease to function adequately that people seek professional help
  • This criterion means that treatment and services can be targetted to those who need them most
• What is a limitation for ‘Failure to Function Adequately’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  Discrimination and Social Control

  • In practice, it can be very hard to say when someone is really failing to function and when they have simply chosen to deviate from social norms
  • For example, not having a job or permanent address might seem like failing to function and for some people it would be, however people with alternative lifestyles may choose to live off-grid
  • This means that people who make unusual choices are at risk of being labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice may be restricted
• What is a limitation for ‘Deviation from Ideal Mental Health’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  May Be Culture Bound

  • Some of Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health are located in the context of the US and so the different criteria are not equally applicable across a range of cultures
  • What defines success in our working, social and love lives is very different in different cultures and even within Europe, there is quite a bit of variation in the value placed on personal independence
  • This means that it is difficult to apply the concept of ideal mental health from one culture to another
• What is a strength for ‘Deviation from Ideal Mental Health’ as a Definition of Abnormality?

  A Comprehensive Definition

  • Jahoda’s concept of ‘ideal mental health’ includes criteria for distinguishing mental health from mental disorders and covers many reasons why we might seek help with mental health
  • This means that an individual’s mental health can be discussed with a range of professionals who might take different views
  • This means that ideal mental health provides a checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others and discuss psychological issues with a range of professionals