Statistical infrequency

• Statistical Infrequency

  A behaviour that is statistically infrequent if it deviates from the statistical mean. This can be shown on a normal distribution curve
• A strength of statistical infrequency

  Real life application of diagnosing mental illness, when patients are measured for how severe their symptoms are, it is always compared to a statistical norm e.g: depression. Suggests it is useful in clinical assessments, when psychologists are diagnosing mental illness
• Weakness of Statistical Infrequency

  Definition does not distinguish between "Good" or "bad" abnormality. Some statistically infrequent behaviours are desirable, and do not require treatment. For example, an IQ over 130 is just as statically infrequent as an IQ below 70 but we would not think of high intelligence as an undesirable characteristic which needs treating. This means this definition cannot be used alone to describe abnormality.
• Weakness of Statistical Infrequency

  Not everyone benefits from being labelled "Below Average" as this would the case with this definition. For instance, someone with an abnormally low IQ, may lead a fulfilling life without needing a label. Furthermore, for some some it could act as a self-fulfilling prophecy, causing them to act according to that label. This means it could be damaging for certain individuals
• Statistical infrequency refers to the idea of someone being mentally abnormal if the behaviour is rare in the population. This can be found through the use of statistics. For example, using a normal distribution curve to find the probability of the behaviour being infrequent.
• Statistical infrequency refers to the idea of someone being mentally abnormal if the behaviour is rare in the population. This can be found through the use of statistics. For example, using a normal distribution curve to find the probability of the behaviour being infrequent.
• A strength of statistical infrequency is that its abnormality is assessed and evaluated objectively, rather than depending on the subjective assessment of a clinician. This increases the validity of it being a method to measure mental abnormality. For example, two other observers may disagree with another observer, due to personal bias and opinion.
• A weakness of statistical infreuency is that the psychological community decides what the cut off point for what is statistically rare enough for behaviour to be considered abnormal, which is based on subjective bias. For example, individuals with an IQ slightly higher than 70 may experience discrimination and may find it harder to find jobs, or may be denied support.
• Not all statistical infrequent behaviours are undesirable. Individuals with a high IQ are statistically rare as individuals with a low IQ For example, individuals with a high IQ would be labelled as 'Genuis',