A03 (1) Definitions of abnormalities

• Social vs statistical norms

  Social norms approach includes issue of the desirability of the behaviour making it better than statistical norms
• Can lead to human rights abuses

  Too much reliance on deviation from social norms to understand abnormality can lead to systematic abuse of human rights. Racist/sexist. Social norms change but some radical psychologists still believe people are abused
• Cultural relativism

  Different cultures have different types of abnormality definitions. Social norms vary from one community to the other or generation to generation . Creates problems with one culture living with another
• Not a sole explanation

  Deviation from social norms is never the sole reason for defining abnormality as there are lots of other factors to consider- distress to others from psychopathy
• Note everyone unusual benefits from a label

  A person could live a fulfilled/happy and not need to have a label calling them 'abnormal'. Might have a negative effect on how others view the person or how they view themselves
• unusual characteristics can be positive


  IQ scores over 130 are just as unusual as IQ below 70 but super-intelligence is not undesirable and required to treat. Just because some people display certain behaviours making their behaviour statistically abnormal but not required of treatnent
• Real-life application

  There is real-life application on statistical definitions diagnosing intellectual disability disorder and thus, there is a place for statistical infrequency. All assessments of patients include some measurements on how severe their symptoms are compared to statistical norms