Definitions of abnormality

• Statistical infrequency

  Occurs when an individual with a less common characteristic

  e.g being more depressed than the majority of the population
• Deviation from social norms

  Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
• Deviation from social norms factors

  • Norms are specific to the culture
• EVALUTION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY - Strength - Real world application


  It can be useful in real world situations and used for diagnosis

  E.g Intellectual disability disorder requires an IQ of below 70 (Bottom 2 %)
• EVALUTION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY - Limitation - Characteristics can be positive 


  Infrequent characteristics can be positive as well as negative

  E.g For every person with an IQ of below 70 there is also someone with an IQ of 130
• EVALUTION OF DSN - Strength - Real world application


  Deviation from social norms is used for clinical practice

  E.g Antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to the social and cultural norms and can be used to diagnose schizotypal personality disorder
• EVALUTION OF DSN - Limitation - Cultural variation


  What some cultures would define as abnormal some cultures view as normal.

  E.g In some cultures hearing voices means you are blessed and is the norm in some cultures but in the UK it can be diagnosed as schizophrenia
• Failure to function adequately

  Occurs when someone is unable to cope with day to day life
• Ideal mental health Jahoda (1950s)


  • No symptoms of distress
  • Rational and perceive ourself accurately
  • Self actualise
  • Independent of others
  • Can enjoy leisure
• EVALUATION- Failure to function - Strength

  Represents a reasonable threshold for when to seek help
• EVALUATION - Failure to function - Limitation

  It becomes easy to label non standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
• EVALUATION - Ideal mental health - strength

  • Highly comprehensive and covers most reasons why we might need professional help
  • Can be used as a checklist
• EVALUATION - Ideal mental health - Limitation

  • Different elements may not be applicable in other cultures
  • Jahodas criteria is based on USA and western culture e.g self actualisation may be seen as self absorbed in mayn culures