Psychopathology - definitions of abnormality

• Definitions of Abnormality


  • Deviation from Social norms
  • Person is seen as abnormal due to their thinking or behaviour
  • Violates unwritten rules about what is acceptable
• Deviation from social norms

  • Cultural relativism - norms differ between cultures, no global standard for defining behaviour, abnormality is not binary
  • Hindsight bias - norms change over time, what was considered abnormal may now be normal
  • Degree of severity and context - fails to provide a complete explanation
• Failure to function adequately


  Person seen as abnormal as they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life
• Failure to function adequately


  • Individual differences - disorders affect people differently, e.g. OCD may stop one person attending work but not another
  • Considers the subjective personal experiences, doesn't judge without taking the sufferer's viewpoint
• Confusion


  Failing to function adequately leads to deviation from social norms
• Statistical infrequency


  A behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is statistically uncommon or rarely seen
• Statistical infrequency


  • Misdiagnosis - 1 in 7 are depressed when this is seen as normal
  • Labelling can lead to poor self-image and invite discrimination
  • Some abnormal behaviours could be desirable traits
• Deviation from ideal mental health

  Jahoda's suggested characteristics of ideal mental health: 1) Positive view of yourself with strong sense of identity, 2) Being capable of personal growth and self-actualisation, 3) Being independent and self-regulating, 4) Having an accurate view of reality, 5) Being able to integrate and restore, 6) Being able to master your environment
• Deviation from ideal mental health

  • Unrealistic criteria - everyone will experience stress during life but this will be glossed over as normal
  • Positive and holistic stance, covers a broad range, comprehensive
  • Cultural relativism - considered to be of Western origin