Psychopathology

• Psychology refers to the scientific study of mental illness
• Psychological abnormality is surprisingly difficult to define
• Four attempts at defining abnormality

  • Statistical Frequency (SI)
  • Deviation from Social Norms (DSN)
  • Failure to Function Adequately (FTFA)
  • Deviation from Ideal Mental Health (DIMH)
• Statistical Infrequency (SI) definition of abnormality

  Abnormal behaviours are statistically rare or uncommon as opposed to normal behaviours which are statistically common
• Statistically rare characteristics


  • Being more depressed (low mood score)
  • Intellectual Disability Disorder (IDD)
• SI definition


  • It is clear and easy to use
  • It offers a clear-cut way of distinguishing between normal and abnormal behaviour
• SI definition requires a subjective judgement on where the 'cut-off' between normal and abnormal should be
• SI definition cannot distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours
• SI definition may be culturally biased (ethnocentric)
• Deviation from Social Norms (DSN) definition of abnormality


  Someone who behaves in a way that is seen as 'unacceptable' by the majority in society
• Social norms are the accepted standards of behaviour in a society or community, according to the majority
• DSN definition fails to distinguish between deviance and psychological abnormality
• DSN definition


  • It might be seen as a more appropriate definition of abnormality than the 'Statistical Infrequency' definition
• Failure to Function Adequately (FTFA) definition of abnormality

  Someone is unable to cope with everyday life, their behaviour prevents them from being able to work and conduct satisfying relationships and causes personal distress as well as distress to others
• Key characteristics of failing to function adequately

  • Observer Discomfort
  • Unpredictable Behaviour
  • Maladaptive Behaviour
  • Irrational Behaviour
• Disorder linked to FTFA definition

  • Anorexia Nervosa
• Failing to function doesn't always indicate psychological abnormality
• Mental disorders do not always prevent a person from functioning
• FTFA definition


  • It acknowledges the experience of the patient (and/or others) is important
• FTFA definition may be culturally biased (ethnocentric)
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health (DIMH) definition of abnormality

  It attempts to define the criteria required for normality (ideal mental health) and it is people who lack these criteria who are classed as abnormal
• Characteristics for optimal living (ideal mental health)

  • Autonomy
  • Perception of Reality
  • Resistance to stress
  • Mastery of the environment
  • Self-attitudes
  • Self-actualisation and personal growth
• Disorder linked to DIMH definition

  • Depression
• The characteristics for ideal mental health are too high a standard
• DIMH definition may be culturally biased (ethnocentric)
• DIMH definition requires a subjective judgement on how many criteria need to be lacking before someone is seen as abnormal
• DIMH definition


  • It offers a positive perspective on mental health by focusing on the positives (the desirable behaviours) rather than the negatives (the undesirable behaviours)