Definitions of Abnormality

• Statistrical Infrequency


  Behaviour is considered abnormal if it is rare, or infrequent, statistically uncommon
• Deviation from social norms

  Behaviour is considered abnormal if it departs from what mainstream society considers to be socially acceptable
• Failure to function adequately


  Behaviour that demonstrates an individual's inability to cope with the demands of daily life, including personal distress, maladaptive behaviour, irrational behaviour and distress to observers
• Deviation from ideal mental health

  Behaviour departing from what is considered ideal markers of mental well-being (such as self-esteem, personal growth and autonomy)
• Under the statistical infrequency definition, a person's trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual
• This definition fails to recognize the desirability of the particular behaviour, it merely provides a quantitative indication as to how frequently occurring a behaviour is in the general population
• The presence of abnormal behaviour in people should be rare or statistically unusual, which is not always the case, e.g. the coronavirus pandemic has led to a steep rise in cases of anxiety
• Strengths of the statistical infrequency definition

  • Helps address what is meant by normal in a statistical context
  • Helps make cut-off points in terms of diagnosis
  • Helps quickly identify people who may need support and intervention
  • Provides a good starting point for measurement
• Limitations of the statistical infrequency definition

  • Fails to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour
  • Many rare behaviours or characteristics have no bearing on normality or abnormality
  • Some common behaviours are regarded as abnormal
  • Decision of where to start the "abnormal" classification is arbitrary
  • Research shows mental ill health is statistically common
• Deviation from social norms

  Abnormality is based on social context, when a person behaves in a way that is different from how they are expected to behave
• There are relatively few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal, therefore definitions are related to cultural context
• Homosexuality was viewed as abnormal in some cultures but not others, and was considered abnormal in our society in the past
• Antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy)


  A failure to conform to ethical behavioural norms that are lawful and culturally normative
• Deviation from social norms is not a sole explanation of abnormality, there are other factors to consider such as distress to other people
• Definitions of abnormality based on deviation from social norms can be culturally relative and lead to human rights abuses
• Failure to function adequately


  Inability to cope with the demands of everyday living, such as not being able to hold down a job or maintain relationships
• Diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder would not be made on the basis of low IQ alone, there would have to be clear signs that the person was unable to cope with the demands of everyday living
• Strengths of the failure to function adequately definition

  • Recognises the patient's perspective
  • Captures the experience of many people who need help
• Limitations of the failure to function adequately definition

  • Difficult to assess distress
  • Hard to say when someone is really failing to function or just deviating from social norms
  • May limit freedom if alternative lifestyles are judged as maladaptive
• Deviation from ideal mental health

  A different way to look at normality and abnormality, focusing on what makes someone psychologically healthy
• Jahoda's criteria for ideal mental health

  • No symptoms or distress
  • Rational and perceive ourselves accurately
  • Self-actualise
  • Cope with stress
  • Have a realistic view of the world
  • Have good self-esteem and lack guilt
  • Be independent of other people
  • Successfully work, love and enjoy leisure
• The definition of deviation from ideal mental health is comprehensive and covers a broad range of criteria for mental health
• The definition of deviation from ideal mental health may be culturally relative, as some of the ideas are specific to Western European and North American cultures
• The standard of ideal mental health set by Jahoda's criteria may be unrealistically high for most people to attain