Definitions of abnormality

• State all the definitions of abnormality

  • Statistical infrequency
  • Deviation from social norms
  • Failure to function adequately
  • Deviation from ideal mental health
• State how statistical infrequency helps to define abnormality

  • Abnormality is defined by behaviours which are extremely rare
  • Mean, median, mode= descriptive statistics and present in any normal distribution at the middle
  • Define what is common and normal by looking at typical values of data, therefore defining what’s abnormal
  • On a normal distribution curve, abnormal people are at the extremes- not in the middle
• How does deviation from social norms help to define abnormality?

  • social norms help to identify definitions of abnormality
  • Abnormal behaviour is seen as a deviation from unstated rules by a social group about how one ought to behave eg politeness as a norm
  • Some rules are implicit, eg not laughing at a funeral, others are policed by laws eg stealing
• What is the DSM?

  List of mental disorders that is used to diagnose mental disorders
• state how failure to function adequately helps to define abnormality

  • defined as a failure of being able to cope with everyday living- having control over your life and doing daily activities
  • abnormal behaviour is seen as an inability to cope with every day living that is distressing to the self and others
• state how deviation from ideal mental health helps to define abnormality

  • Jahoda- physical illness = absence of signs of physical health, so mental illness = absence of signs of mental health

  reviewed what others wrote about good mental health, identified 6 categories constantly referred to (SPIHAM)

  • self attitudes- high self-esteem, sense of identity
  • personal growth, self actualisation
  • integration- coping with stress
  • having accurate perception of reality
  • autonomy- independence
  • mastery of enviro- adjust to new situations, solve problems

  absence of these criteria indicates abnormality
• evaluation of statistical infrequency?

  • 😊appropriate in some situations- intellectual disability is defined in terms of IQ being more than 2 standard deviations away from the mean, however such diagnoses are often made in conjunction with a failure to function adequately, stronger with other tools
  • ☹cultural relativism- behaviours statistically infrequent in one culture may be statistically more frequent in another- no universal standards for labelling behaviour as abnormal- eg, symptom of schiz is hearing voices but this may be normal in some cultures
• evaluation of deviation from social norms?

  • 😊distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour, concept which isn't explained by statistical infrequency- also takes into account the effect that behaviour has on others as a transgression of social rules - way of identifying behaviour that's abnormal and damaging to others
  • ☹cultural relativism- social norms are defined by culture- DSM based on social norms of the West and not non-Westerners, but cultural relativism acknowledged in the most recent revision of the DSM- issues can be addressed by acknowledging cultural differences
• evaluation of failure to function adequately?

  • 😊subjective experience recognised- can view mental disorder from patient's perspective, while also however viewing it objectively by listing behaviours that are signs of normal functioning- therefore the definition has sensitivity as well as practicality
  • ☹cultural relativism- cultural ideas about how life should be lived. standard of one culture used to measure another, more lower class people likely to be diagnosed with mental disorder, therefore limited model
• evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health?

  • 😊positive approach- focuses on what is desirable rather than undesirable- positive outlook and influence on humanistic approaches- makes patient believe in changing the way they think
  • ☹cultural relativism- self actualisation- relevant to individualistic cultures but not collectivist because some cultures promote the needs of the group and not themselves. Higher incidence of abnormality in collectivist cultures using this criteria, limits definition to certain cultural groups