Abnormality

• When defining abnormality, it must be based on objectiveness and not subjectiveness: must not depend on opinions, be under or over inclusive, produce the same results and must not discriminate by labelling behaviours.
• Statistical Infrequency implies that a disorder is abnormal if its frequency is more than two standard deviations away from the mean incidence rates represented on a normally-distributed bell curve.
• What is statistical infrequency?

  An objective overview that offers the idea that the less frequently a behaviour occurs in people, the more likely it is to be abnormal. Therefore, it defines abnormality as behaviour that deviates from the normal or average.
• The difference between abnormal and normal behaviour is one of quantity rather than quality - thus meaning that the majority are normal and the minority is abnormal.
• The judgement of whether a behaviour is statistically frequent or infrequent is based on the mathematical principle of normal distribution.
• When measured and plotted on a graph, most human characteristics would fall within a normal distribution, with the majority being on or near the mean and a minority of people being away from the mean.
• Any individual who fall outside the normal distribution, which is typically around 5% of the population, are perceived as being abnormal.
• Where would someone with abnormal behaviour lie on this bell curve?

  At least two standard deviation points away from the mean

  
• What are the advantages of the statistical infrequency definition?

  It is objective, has use in statistical assessments and is structured
• Advantage of objectivity (statistical infrequency)?

  No subjective judgements are used as the definition relies on real unbiased data. A way of collecting data has been agreed and a cut off point has been decided, thus making it an objective way of deciding who is abnormal, therefore different mental health workers can all view the same kind of behaviour in the same way.
• What are statistical assessments?

  Methods usually involved in the diagnosis of mental disorders, therefore being a useful part of clinical assessments.
• Advantage of statistical assessments (statistical infrequency)?

  It provides statistical evidence that a person has a mental disorder and can be used to justify requests for psychiatric assistance. This data is almost always used in the clinical diagnoses of disorders as a comparison with a bell curve, which can also be used to assess the severity of the disorder.
• Advantage of being structured (statistical infrequency)?

  Allows health care workers to easily distinguish the percentage chance of abnormality in an individual. They would do this by using distribution graphs or tables to determine where within the percentages the patient may lie.
• What are the disadvantages of the statistical infrequency definition?

  Not all infrequent behaviours are abnormal, not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent, cultural relativism, subjectivity and negative assumptions.
• Disadvantage of not all infrequent behaviours being abnormal (statistical infrequency)?

  According to this definition, anyone who differs significantly from the average is technically seen as abnormal, without taking into account the desirability of the behaviour. For example, highly intelligent people are statistically rare and therefore abnormal, meaning that it does not assess abnormality accurately.
• Disadvantage of not all abnormal behaviours being infrequent (statistical infrequency)?

  Some statistically frequent behaviours can actually be abnormal, about 10% of people will be chronically depressed at some point in their lives, which suggests that depression is so common as to not be seen as abnormal under this definition. Meaning that it doesn't assess abnormality accurately.
• Disadvantage of subjectivity (statistical infrequency)?

  The statistical approach requires a decision about the exact point at which a behaviour becomes statistically abnormal. Many disorders vary greatly between individuals in terms of their severity, for example, it is not clear at which point an excitable child would be seen as one with ADHD.
• Disadvantage of cultural relativism (statistical infrequency)?

  Behaviours that are statistically infrequent in one culture may be more frequent in another. For example, one of the symptoms of schizophrenia is hearing voices, and in certain cultures this is a sign of power and thus desired. Therefore we may misdiagnose someone due to their cultural characteristics
• Disadvantage of negative assumptions (statistical infrequency)?

  It makes the assumption that any abnormal characteristics are automatically negative ones, when this is not always the case. For example, displaying abnormal levels of empathy or having an IQ score of over 130 would rarely be looked down upon as negative characteristics.
• Failure to function adequately presents the idea that individuals who’s behaviour suggests that they cannot cope with everyday life are abnormal, specifically when the behaviour causes distress - leading to an inability to function properly, like disrupting the ability to work or to conduct satisfying interpersonal relationships.
• Rosenhan and Seligman suggest that personal dysfunction has a number of features; with the more an individual has, the more likely they are to be defined as abnormal. (Failure to Function Adequately).
• What are the features Rosenhan and Seligman used?

  Observer discomfort, unpredictability, irrationality, maladaptiveness and personal suffering/distress.
• What is observer discomfort?

  When another’s behaviour causes discomfort and distress to the observer
• What is unpredictability?

  When a disruption in a persons behaviour leads us to think something is wrong
• What is irrationality?

  Displaying behaviour that cannot be explained in a rational way or is hard to understand
• What is maladaptiveness?

  When behaviour hinders an individual from adjusting to a particular situation, this can be social or occupational.
• What is personal suffering/distress?

  The failure to cope with everyday life, which causes the person to have distress
• What are the advantages of the failure to function adequately definition?

  Assesses the degree of abnormality, focuses on observable behaviour and uses a checklist format.
• Advantage of being able to assess the degree of abnormality (FTFA)?

  The GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale) is used to assess the level of adequate functioning of individuals, measuring on a continuous scale that allows doctors to see the degree of abnormality in individuals. Therefore, it is a reliable measurement that is used universally.
• Advantage of focusing on observable behaviour (FTFA)?

  Allows judgement to be made by others of whether individuals are functioning properly, focusing on easily recognisable behaviour.
• Advantage of using a checklist format (FTFA)?

  Presents a practical checklist that can be used to assess and diagnose levels of abnormality. This means that it is straightforward to diagnose someone purely based on their features of personal dysfunction.
• What are the disadvantages of the failure to function adequately definition?

  Abnormality is not always dysfunctional, context is sometimes required and is prone to subjectiveness.
• Disadvantage of abnormality not always being dysfunctional (FTFA)?

  Some people with dangerous disorders can cause harm to others while still appearing normal. For example, Harold Shipman, who did not display features of dysfunction despite being a serial killer. This means that this definition may not always be appropriate in assessing abnormality.
• Disadvantage of ignoring context (FTFA)?

  Experiencing emotions such as grief in response to loss or trauma is a psychologically healthy way of coping and overcoming the stress that comes with these issues. By ignoring this, people may present as abnormal even if they present healthy behaviours
• Disadvantage of being prone to subjectiveness (FTFA)?

  Behaviours are often open to interpretation, and despite measuring levels of functionality, this definition doesnt consider the behaviour from the individuals perspective.
• What is a social norm?

  An expected form of behaviour, this is present in all societies as they are an important part of what holds them together
• If everyone follows societal norms, then interactions between people are easier and living together feels safer and more predictable.
• What are some examples of explicit norms?

  Fundamental normalities to society, that, if broken can be punishable by law or another form of authority.
• The deviation from social norms definition claims that if someone’s behaviour breaks or deviates from implicit or explicit social norms, it is abnormal. It draws a line between desirable and undesirable behaviour and labels people who behave undesirably as social deviants.
• What are some advantages of the deviation from social norms definition?

  Considers societal norms and protects society