Definitions of Abnormality

• Deviation from Social Norms:

  :( limited by cultural relativism

  > different cultures have different social norms

  > in a Western culture, someone receiving messages from spirits would be seen as a symptom of schizophrenia, whereas, in a non-Western culture, this could be seen as a spiritual gift

  > therefore, it may not be appropriate to use this to define abnormality outside of a Western culture
• Deviation from Social Norms:

  :) real-life application

  > used in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder

  > mental health practitioners can look at what is deemed unacceptable within society e.g. truant behaviour, lacking remorse or engaging in illegal activities

  > can be used by practitioners to judge if an individual is displaying abnormal behaviour and diagnose APD

  > useful definition
• Failure to Function Adequately:

  :) acknowledges personal experience

  > although some criterion may be difficult to measure, the definition takes into account the person's subjective experience, and their perception of their ability to cope

  > captures the experiences of people that need help, therefore it is a useful definition
• Failure to Function Adequately:

  :( easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal

  > difficult to say when someone is failing to function adequately or if they have chosen to deviate from social norms e.g. those who favour high-risk leisure activities or unusual spiritual practices

  > this is a limitation because people who make unusual choices are at risk of being labelled abnormal - their freedom may be restricted
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health:

  :) broad range of criteria

  > covers most of the reasons that someone would seek help from mental health services or be referred for help

  > contrasts other definitions that only focus on one criterion

  > therefore, an appropriate definition
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health:

  :( criteria is too strict

  > people may not be able to realistically meet all six criteria at one time

  > e.g. someone who has lost their job may find it difficult to cope with stress and develop negative self-attitudes as a result - they would be labelled as abnormal even though this is a rational response

  > limits the use of this definition
• Statistical Infrequency:

  :) practical applications

  > used in real world in clinical practice, as a part of diagnosis and a way to assess the severity of symptoms

  > for example, a diagnosis of intellectual disability disorders requires an IQ below 70 (bottom 2%)

  > important part of applied psychology
• Statistical Infrequency:

  :( does not differentiate between desirable and undesirable behaviour

  > e.g. a high IQ is desirable and would not be considered abnormal, but is statistically rare so this definition would be considered to be abnormal

  > means that the definition could never be used solely to make a diagnosis and treatment plan