Statistical infrequency

• According to the Statistical Infrequency definition, a behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is statistically uncommon or not seen very often in society.

  Therefore, abnormality is determined by looking at the distribution of a particular behaviour within society.
• • Usually, this is defined two ways:

  1.Scoring outside of 95% of the population.2.Scoring more than 2 standard deviations away from the mean
• abnormality is determined by looking at the distribution of a particular behaviour or characteristic in society.
• P- One problem with the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality is the issue of misdiagnosis.
• E- Certain behaviours are statistically common; for example, approximately 10% of the population will 

  experience depression at some point making this behaviour ‘normal’, technically.
• E- On the other hand, certain behaviours – for example, high IQ – are statistically uncommon and therefore considered abnormal despite their desirable nature.
• L- This is therefore a serious drawback of adopting the statistical infrequency definition in explaining abnormality and perhaps should not be used in isolation when making a diagnosis