Definitions of abnormality

• Statistical infrequency is when behaviour / characteristics are labelled as abnormal if they are statistically uncommon (2 standard deviations away from the average)
• Normal distribution curve shows the populations average spread of specific characteristics.

  The mean, median and modal scores are all the highest scores (common traits).

  Either end show the lower scores (abnormal traits).
• Strength of statistical infrequency:

  • Commonly used in clinical diagnosis of mental health disorders (compared with a 'baseline' / normal value). This assesses the severity of the disorder (eg the idea that Schizophrenia affects only 1% of the general population, but the subtypes are less frequent (paranoid schizophrenia)).
• Limitations of statistical infrequency:

  • Makes the assumption that any abnormal traits are automatically negative. For example, defining intellectual disability as an IQ of 70 means those who have above that level may not receive adequate treatment / are denied support.
• Failure to function adequately is when an individual is unable to cope with the demands of everyday life and lacks the 'normal' motivation and obedience to social norms.

  This was proposed by Rosenhan and Seligman (1989).
• Features of failing to function adequately:

  1. Maladaptive behaviour - Behaving in ways that go against their long term interests.
  2. Personal anguish - Suffering from anxiety and distress.
  3. Observer discomfort - Behaviour causes distress to those around them.
  4. Irrationality - Difficult to understand the motivation for unpredicted behaviour.
  5. Unconventionality - Behaviour does not fit the societal norms.
• Strength of failure to function adequately:

  • Leads to more accurate diagnosis of disorders - takes the patient's perspective into account so the final diagnosis would be subjective to their self-reported symptoms and the psychiatrists objective opinion. These diagnoses are not statistically limited.
• Limitations of failure to function adequately:

  • Limited population validity - It only considers those who are unable to cope. Psychopaths often function adequately in society in ways that benefit them; lower empathy = more successful in business or politics. However, while they do not feel distressed themselves, it may have negative implications to those around them.
• Deviation from social norms is an unwritten expectation that people are expected to obey. Those who do not are often labelled as 'abnormal' or social deviants.
• Strength of deviation from social norms:

  • Flexible depending on context - For example, it is a social norm to wear full clothing when going grocery shopping, whereas a bathing suit would be acceptable to wear on the beach. Adhering to these norms means society is ordered and predictable.
• Limitations of deviation from social norms:

  • Category failures - People from an Afro-Caribbean background living in the UK are 7 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. This is due to category failure - a Western definition of mental illness is applied to individuals not acting according to Western cultures. Doctors in the West Indies would be less likely to diagnose this compared to a doctor in the UK as hallucinations and speaking to spirts may be a part of a religious experience there.
• Deviation from ideal mental health is when an individual does not meet the criteria for ideal mental health, which was made to improve and become a better functioning person of society.

  Proposed by Jahoda (1958)
• Features of ideal mental health:

  1. Environmental mastery - Ability to adapt and thrive in new situations.
  2. Autonomy - Ability to act independently and trust oneself.
  3. Resistance to stress - Internal strength to cope with anxiety caused by everyday life.
  4. Self actualisation - Ability to reach one's potential through personal growth.
  5. Positive attitude towards oneself - High self esteem and respect.
  6. Accurate perception of reality - Seeing the world as it is without any personal biases.
• Strengths of deviation from ideal mental health:

  • Focused definition - Allows a struggling individual to identify what in their behaviour is classed as 'abnormal'. For example, their distorted thinking could be addressed to help their behaviour become 'normal' (biased thinking = biased behaviour). It sets clear goals to be focused on to achieve the ideal mental health.
• Limitations of deviations from ideal mental health:

  • Culture bias - The criteria is set for more Western and individualist cultures. In collectivist cultures (China), the concept of self-actualisation (putting oneself first to achieve their full potential) is not the norm and may be viewed as selfish (needs of the group are valued more).