Definitions of Abnormality

• What is statistical infrequency?

  • Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, for example being more depressed or being less intelligent than most of the population
  • To define anything as 'normal' or 'abnormal' is according to the number of times we observe it - statistics are about numbers
  • Any relatively usual behaviour or characteristic can be thought of as 'normal,' and any behaviour that is different to this is 'abnormal'
• What are examples of statistical infrequency?

  • Only a small number of people will have an irrational fear of buttons
  • Believe for no good reason that their neighbours are zombies
• What is deviation from social norms?

  • Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
  • Most of us notice people whose behaviour is a deviation from social norms, i.e. when a person behaves in a way that is different from how we expect people to behave. Groups of people (hence 'social') choose to define behaviour as abnormal on the basis that it offends their sense of what is 'acceptable' or the norm
  • We are making a collective judgement as a society about what is right
• What is failure to function adequately?

  • Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living
  • A person may cross the line between 'normal' and 'abnormal' at the point when they can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life and they fail to function adequately
• What are examples of failing to function adequately?

  • When they are unable to maintain basic standards of nutrition and hygiene
  • If they cannot hold down a job or maintain relationships with people around them
• Failure to function adequately: David Rosenhan & Martin Seligman (1989)

  They proposed signs that someone is not coping:

  • When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules e.g. maintaining eye contact and respecting personal space
  • When a person experiences severe personal distress
  • When a person's behaviour becomes irrational to themselves or to others
  • Example: intellectual disability disorder - an individual must also be failing to function adequately before a diagnosis would be given
• What is deviation from ideal mental health?

  • Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health
  • A very different way to look at normality and abnormality is to ignore the issues of what makes someone abnormal but instead think about what makes anyone 'normal' - to consider deviation from ideal mental health
• Deviation from ideal mental health: Marie Jahoda (1958)

  She suggested that we are in good mental health if we meet the following criteria:

  • We have no symptoms or distress
  • We are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
  • We self-actualise (reach our potential)
  • We can cope with stress
  • We have a realistic view of the world
  • We have good self-esteem and lack guilt
  • We are independent of other people
  • We can successfully work. love and enjoy our leisure