4.1 Definitions of Abnormality

• What is the definition of abnormality according to this study material?

  Unusual, distressing, dysfunctional, dangerous
• There are four key definitions used to define abnormality.
• Match the definition of abnormality with its corresponding criteria:

  Statistical Infrequency ↔️ Behaviour $2$ SD from the norm

  Deviation from Social Norms ↔️ Violates accepted societal standards

  Failure to Function Adequately ↔️ Inability to maintain daily responsibilities

  Deviation from Ideal Mental Health ↔️ Lack of positive psychological well-being
• What is an example of failure to function adequately?

  Inability to hold a job
• Low self-esteem is a criterion for deviation from ideal mental health.
• How many definitions of abnormality are used in this study material?

  Four
• Statistical Infrequency defines abnormality based on how rare a behaviour is within a population.
• What is an example of statistical infrequency in IQ scores?

  Scores below 70 or above 130
• Statistical Infrequency provides subjective criteria for identifying abnormality.

  False
• Rarity does not necessarily equate to dysfunction or distress.
• What is the definition of deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality?

  Violation of societal standards
• Match the aspect of deviation from social norms with its corresponding example or trait:

  Criteria ↔️ Violation of Societal Norms

  Example ↔️ Open drug use

  Advantage ↔️ Culturally sensitive

  Disadvantage ↔️ Subjective interpretation
• Deviation from social norms is culturally sensitive because norms vary across cultures.
• What is the statistical infrequency approach to defining abnormality based on?

  Rarity within a population
• What does the deviation from social norms approach to defining abnormality focus on?

  Violating societal standards
• The deviation from social norms approach is culturally sensitive.
• Failure to Function Adequately defines abnormality as the inability to maintain daily responsibilities
• What is an example of failure to function adequately according to its definition of abnormality?

  Inability to hold a job
• Match the definition of abnormality with its criteria:

  Statistical Infrequency ↔️ Behaviour deviates by $2$ SD from the norm

  Deviation from Social Norms ↔️ Behaviour violates societal standards

  Failure to Function Adequately ↔️ Inability to maintain daily responsibilities

  Deviation from Ideal Mental Health ↔️ Lack of positive psychological well-being
• Deviation from Social Norms differs from Statistical Infrequency as it is based on violating accepted societal standards
• What is one disadvantage of the Failure to Function Adequately approach?

  Subjectivity in defining adequacy
• The Deviation from Ideal Mental Health approach is based on holistic criteria.
• The Deviation from Ideal Mental Health approach may be criticized for its idealistic and subjective criteria.