Definitions of abnormality

• What is statistical infrequency?

  Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, for example being less intelligent than most of the population.
• Any behaviour that is different, or rare, is 'abnormal, i.e. a statistical infrequency.
• Example of statistical infrequency: IQ.

  The average IQ is 100. Most people have an IQ between 85 and 115, only 2% have a score below 70. Those individuals scoring below 70 are statistically 'abnormal' and are diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder.
• AO3 - Statistical infrequency - real-world application:

  Statistical infrequency is useful in diagnosis, eg. intellectual disability disorder because this requires an IQ in the bottom 2%.
• AO3 - Statistical infrequency - unusual characteristics can also be positive:

  IQ scores above 130 are just as unusual as those below 70, but not regarded as undesirable or needing treatment. This means that, although statistical infrequency can be part of defining abnormality, it can never be its sole basis.
• What is deviation from social norms?

  Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society.
• There are relatively few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal therefore definitions are related to cultural context.
• Example of deviation from social norms: Antisocial personality disorder.


  One important symptom of antisocial personality disorder is a failure to conform to 'lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour'.
• AO3 - Deviation from social norms - real-world application:

  Deviation from social norms is useful in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder because this requires failure to conform to ethical standards.
• AO3 - Deviation from social norms - social norms are situationally and culturally relative:


  A person from one culture may label someone from another culture as abnormal using their standards rather than the person's standards. For example, hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultures but would be seen as a sign of abnormality in the UK. This means it is difficult to judge deviation from social norms from one context to another.
• AO3 - Deviation from social norms - Human rights abuses:

  Reliance on deviation from social norms to understand abnormality can lead to abuse of human rights eg. nymphomania (as a disorder) to control female behaviour.
• What is failure to function adequately?

  Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
• Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) proposed further signs of failure to cope.
• When someone is not coping:

  1. They no longer conform to interpersonal rules, eg. maintaining personal space.
  2. They experience severe personal distress.
  3. They behave in a way that is irrational or dangerous.
• What is deviation from ideal mental health?

  Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health.
• Jahoda (1958) suggested the following criteria for ideal mental health:

  1. We have no symptoms or distress.
  2. We are rational and perceive ourselves accurately.
  3. We self-actualise.
  4. We can cope with stress.
  5. We have a realistic view of the world.
  6. We have good self-esteem and lack guilt.
  7. We are independent of other people.
  8. We can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure.
• AO3 - Failure to function adequately - a threshold for professional help:

  In any given year 25% of us experience symptoms of mental disorder to some degree. Most of the time we press on, but when we cease to function adequately people seek professional help. This means that the failure to function criterion provides a way to target treatment and services to those who need them most.
• AO3 - Failure to function adequately - can lead to discrimination/ social control:

  It is hard to distinguish between failure to function and a conscious decision to deviate from social norms. For example people may choose to live off-grid as part of an alternative lifestyle choice. This means that people who make unusual choices can be labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice restricted.
• AO3 - Deviation from ideal mental health - comprehensive:

  Ideal mental health includes a range of criteria for mental health. It covers most of the reasons why we might need help with mental health. This means that mental health can be discussed meaningfully with a range of professionals. Therefore ideal mental health provides a checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others.
• AO3 - Deviation from ideal mental health - culture bound:

  Some criteria for ideal mental health are limited to the US and Europe, eg. self-actualisation is not recognised in most of the world. Even in Europe there are variations in the value placed on independence. This means that it is very difficult to apply the concept of ideal mental health from one culture to another.
• AO3 - Deviation from ideal mental health - extremely high standards:

  Few of us attain Jahoda's criteria for mental health, and none of us maintain them for long. This means that a set f comprehensive criteria for ideal mental health may be helpful for some but not others.