ABNORMALITY

• statistical deviation


  When an individual has a less common characteristic than the rest of the population
• What is intellectual disability disorder?

  a individual with an iq below 70 - less than 2.2% of the population
• two limitations of this definition

  - does not consider desirability of traits - e.g high IQ

  - if a person has a low IQ but not affected by it a diagnosis would have a negative effect on their life
• what is a strength of this definition?

  its objective, based on real unbiased data
• Deviation from social norms


  Behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
• Strength of this definition

  protects society from effects of an individual's abnormal behaviours
• two limitations of this definition

  - behaviour is interpreted in different ways - culturally

  -subjective definition, based on opinions
• What did Szasz (1987) argue about mental illness?

  sees mental illness as a form of social control, drugs given to extinguish unwanted behaviour
• deviation from ideal mental health


  Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health
• Marie Jahodas criteria for a good mental health

  - positive attitude towards oneself

  - self-actualization - best version

  - autonomy - independence

  - resisting stress

  - accurate perception of reality

  - environmental mastery
• a strength of this definition

  positive, places focus on desirable characteristics
• 2 limitations of this definition

  - most people don't achieve full criteria for a long time

  - collectivist cultures may see autonomy as undesirable - culturally biased
• failure to function adequately


  An inability to cope with day-to-day living
• what do Rosenhan and Seligman say? - PIN

  P - personal distress

  I - irrational to themselves or others

  N - no longer maintain eye contact
• strength of this definition

  recognises personal experience of sufferers and their perception, others dont
• 2 limitations of this definition

  - abnormality isn't always accompanied with failure to function

  - subjective - e.g grief wouldn't be seen as abnormal even though theres failure to function