definitions of abnormality

• definition of failure to function adequeately

  • a person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life
  • ,(for example they may not be able to do daily tasks such as getting out of bed each day, holding down a job etc)
  • and live independently in society.
  • this inability to cope with daily tasks leads to the person experiencing distress (and/or causing distress and discomfort to other people- who have to witness their behaviour)
• explain an example of failure to function adequately

  The DSMs assessment of ability to function considers six areas, understanding and communicating, getting around, self care, getting along with people, life activities and participation in society.
• weakness of failure to function adequately / It is difficult to judge when a person is actually failing to function adequately. In some cases the person may feel distressed by inability to complete daily tasks, and may recognise that this behaviour is harmful. However, some individuals may be unaware they aren't coping and quite content with the situation. For example schizophrenics may not be personally distressed but are often judged as abnormal by others who are uncomfortable and afraid of their behaviour. Therefore this approach is too subjective- it depends on the person making the judgment
• strength of failure to function adequately /

  This subjectivity could be a positive. It recognises the subjective experience of a patient, allowing us to view the mental disorder from the perspective of the person experiencing it. There is also the opportunity to make it more objective by listing everyday behaviours Checking how well the person is able to cope with each one - such as the DSM’s criteria
• explain the definition for deviation from ideal mental health /

  • Abnormality is defined in terms of mental health,and absence  of behaviours and traits associated with competence and happiness. 
  • Jahoda proposed six principles of ideal mental health, including having a positive view of yourself and being resistant to stress and having an accurate perception of reality
• strength of deviation from ideal mental health / it offers an alternative perspective on mental disorder by focusing on positives rather than the negatives- on what is desirable rather than non desirable may give patients a more positive outlook on situation- given something to aim for?
• explain a weakness of deviation from ideal mental health / UNREALISTIC CRITERIA According to the criteria most of us are abnormal, it is presnted as ideal but then also something that you have to meet to be normal?!! it poses more questions than it answers, such as how many of the criteria does a person need to be lacking to be judges as abnormal and also to what extent do people have to be lacking in the criteria to be judged as abnormal. this may  be why these ideas were never really taken up by mental health professionals
• STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY DEFINITION /

  based on the number of times a behaviour is observed. abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare Defining what is normal by using statistics and typical values , eg.mean, mode, median
• example of stat. infrequency /

  If you ask people to rate their fear about dogs on a scale of 1 to ten. If most values were around the middle- the people at either end of the scale would be abnormal.
• explain a strength of statistical infequency as a definition of abnormality /

  In some scenarios it can be an appropriate criteria for abnormality For example, intellecual disability is defined in terms of standard deviation (deviation from mean, common valves), to esthablish a cutt off point for abnormality Any individual whose iq is more than 2 standard deviations below the mean is classed as abnormal. Meaning it is an objective measure for abnormality When used in conjunction with another definition of a- in this case failure to function adequately it can be applicable.
• explain one weakness of SI as a definition of abnormality /

  - not all abnormal characteristics are negative, some may be desirable - For example not many people have a really high IQ, but it is something you would certainly want to have - equally some characteristics that may be statistically normal, may be undesirable- like depression being common - cannot distinguish between what is desirable and undesirable - so can't neccesarily distinguish whether something needs treatment - should not be used on its own to make diagnosis
• definition of deviation from social norms

  /

  Abnormal behaviour is seen as a deviation from unstated rules about how one ought to behave and what is acceptable in the social context- . 
• example of deviation from social norms /

  In previous centuries, homosexuality was classed as abnormal and a mental disorder because it deviated from social norms of what was acceptable.
• explain a weakness of deviation from social norms /

  - it varies as time changes and is therefore susceptible to abuse - 50 years ago, homosexuality was classed as abnormal and a disorder by the DSM, but today its acceptable. - it Opens the door to definitions based on prevailing social morals and attitudes, - then we give medical proffesionals the right to classify people who deviate from these social attitudes as mentally ill - thomas szasz claimed that the concept of mental illness was just a way to exlude non conformists from society (society can be based around maintaining the status quo)
• strength of deviation from social norms /

  • Distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour, a feature missing from statistical infrequency. - It takes into account the effect that the behaviour has on others, as social norms/rules are usually esthablished in order to help people live together (succesfully/in an ordered society) - identifies that Abnormal behaviour are ones that damages others. (may help with distinguishing what needs treating and what doesnt)