Definitions of abnormality

• What is statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

  • abnormality can be defined as statistically infrequent behaviour
  • any behaviour that is ‘usual’ can be seen as ‘normal’
  • any behaviour that is different or rare is ‘abnormal’
• give an example of statistical infrequency

  IQ and intellectual disability disorder

  • IQ is normally distributed.
  • the average IQ is 100.
  • most epeople have an IQ between 85-115
  • only 2% have a score below 70
  • individuals scoring below 70 are statistically abnormal and are diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder
• explain deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality

  • when a person behaves in a way that is different from how they are expected to behave they may be defied as abnormal
  • societies and social groups make collective judgements about ‘correct’ behaviours
  • there are few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal therefore definitions are related to cultural context - includes historical differences within the same society
  • e.g. homosexuality is viewed as abnormal in some cultures but not others and was considered abnormal in our society in the past
• give an 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 beahvour’
  • a psychopath is abnormal because they deviate from social norms or standard
  • they generally lack empathy
• one strength of statistical infrequency is its real world application


  statistical infrequency is useful in diagnoses e.g. intellectual disability disorder becasue this requires an IQ in the bottom 2%. its also helpful in assessing a range of conditions e.g the BDI assesses depression, only 5% of people score 30+ (= severe depression). this means that statistical infrequency is useful in diagnostic and assessment processes
• one limitation of statistical infrequency is that unusual characteristics can also be positive


  if very few people display a characteristic, then the behaviour is statistically infrequent but doesnt mean we would call them abnormal. 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
• one limitation of statistical infrequency is ‘labelling’ people as abnormal


  when someone is living a happy an fulfilled life, there is no benefit to them being labelled as abnormal. however, the label of abnormality e.g. intellectual disability disorder, might carry a social stigma. this means that labelling someone abnormal just because they are statistically unusual is likely to do more hard than good
• one strength of deviation from social norms is its 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. deviation from social norms is also helpful in diagnosing schizotypal personality disorder which involves ‘strange’ beliefs and behaviour. this means that deviation fro social norms is useful in psychiatric diagnosis.
• one limitation of deviation from social or is that social norms and situationally and culturally relative


  a person from one culture may label someone from another culture as abnormal using their standards rather than the persons 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 its difficult to judge deviation from social norms form one context to another
• one limitation of deviation from social norms is human rights abuses


  reliance on deviation from social norms to understand abnormality can lead to abuse of human rights e.g. nymphomania (as a disorder) to control female behaviour. however, we need to be able to use dilation fro social norms to diagnose conditions such as antisocial personality order. this suggests that, overall, the use of deviation from social norms may do more harm than good because of the potential for abuse