definitions of abnormality

• statistical infrequency


  abnormal behaviours are statistically rare or uncommon as opposed to normal behaviours are statistically common - useful when characteristic can be reliably measured - makes it possible to analyse what is regarded as statistically uncommon using normal distribution - curve shows proportions of people who share behaviours - human characteristic, majority of scores cluster around average, further above or below average, fewer people achieve score - anyone who falls outside normal distribution (5%) perceived as abnormal e.g. having lower IQ
• statistical infrequency - link to disorder


  INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY DISORDER (IDD) - used to be known as mental retardation - would be classed as abnormal by this definition - although IQ scores in general population form a normal distribution where average is 100 only 2% have an IQ score below 70 - makes it very rare and abnormal
• SI EVALUATION - clear and easy to use


  offers clear cut way of distinguishing between normal and abnormal behaviour, makes it easy for clinicians to use as part of diagnosis - e.g. all assessment of patients with mental disorders include some kind of measurement of how severe symptoms are compared to majority of society - useful part of clinical assessment
• SI EVALUATION - subjective judgement of cut off between normal and abnormal


  individuals may disagree on where cut off point should be in defining abnormality - e.g. difficulty sleeping symptom of depression but decision as to whether 80% less than population or 90% less than population is subjective - can't be used truly objectively when diagnosing disorders
• SI EVALUATION - defined positive characteristics as abnormal


  unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours - e.g. very few people have IQ over 150 yet definition would view such people as abnormal even though society would argue this is a desirable trait - good definition should only identify those in need of diagnosis
• SI EVALUATION - culturally biased (ethnocentric)


  behaviours that are statistically infrequent in one culture may be statistically quite frequent in another - e.g. 1 symptom of sz is hearing voices may be rare in some cultures but common in others - reliable definition should be consistent between cultures
• Deviation from social dorms (DSN)


  abnormal if behave in a way that is seen as unacceptable by majority in society - social norms accepted standards of behaviour (ways we are expected to behave by society) - norms form rules of society, written (explicit) form laws, unwritten (implicit) generally accepted (not standing too close to someone) - social norms allow for regulation of normal behaviour - all societies have norms - abnormality can be seen as someone who breaks rules of society and demonstrates social deviance
• Deviation from social norms - link to disorder


  TOURETTES SYNDROME - classed as abnormal by definition - can cause sudden outbursts (tics) which might break an implicit rule of society like being quiet
• DSN EVALUATION - social norms change over time


  behaviours seen as acceptable today might change in future - e.g. homosexuality classed as mental illness in America until 1973 - reliable definition should be relatively stable and consistent over time
• DSN EVALUATION - culturally biased (ethnocentric)


  norms accepted in one culture may not be acceptable in another - e.g. Siri tribe in Ethiopia are required to wear lip plates and would be seen as unacceptable in Western society - reliable definition should be consistent between cultures
• DSN EVALUATION - fails to distinguish between deviance and psychological abnormality 


  many behaviours clearly socially deviant but not considered psychological abnormalities - e.g. drink driver broken explicit rule but psychiatrists wouldn't class them as psychologically abnormal - DSN definition would class them as abnormal even though psychiatrists wouldn't
• DSN EVALUATION - more appropriate than SI


  DSN includes issue of desirability of a behaviour whereas SI doesn't - e.g. genius is statistically abnormal but most people wouldn't regard socially desirable traits as abnormal - more useful in defining abnormality
• failure to function adequately (FTFA)


  abnormal if unable to cope with everyday life - behaviour seen to prevent them from being able to work and conduct satisfying relationships and causes personal distress and distress to others - Rosenhan and Seligman suggested 4 characteristics to failure to function adequately - distress (behaviour causes distress to themselves and/or discomfort to others) - unpredictable behaviour (behaviour is unexpected - laughing at bad news) - maladaptive behaviour (behaviour is dysfunctional) - irrational behaviour (behaviour doesn't make sense)
• failure to function adequately - link to disorder

  ANOREXIA NERVOSA - classed as abnormal by this definition - causes a person to self starve and become dangerously underweight which can be seen as irrational and maladaptive behaviour
• FTFA EVALUATION - doesn't always indicate psychological abnormality 


  sometimes people fail to function due to external factors rather than anything to do with the person themselves - e.g. holding down a job and supporting family may be impossible in economic climate or discrimination at work - environmental factors may cause failure to function adequately
• FTFA EVALUATION - mental disorders don't always prevent someone functioning 


  some people with clear mental illness still manage to live relatively normal lives - e.g. anorexics can more or less manage in daily lives without showing clear signs of maladaptive or irrational behaviour - FTFA wouldn't define such people as abnormal but psychiatrists would
• FTFA EVALUATION - includes patients perspective 


  acknowledges experience of patient is important - e.g. level of distress experienced by patient considered when defining behaviour as abnormal - useful way of assessing abnormality
• FTFA EVALUATION - culturally biased (ethnocentric)


  behaviour that doesn't make sense to people from one culture might make sense to people from another - Harrison et al - African Caribbean groups 8 times more likely to be diagnose with sz than white groups in UK maybe because psychiatrists judge cultural differences as being irrational - reliable definition should be consistent between cultural groups
• Deviation from ideal metal health (DIMH)

  doesn't define abnormality directly, defines criteria required for normality (ideal mental health) - people lack criteria for mental health classed as abnormal - Jahoda 6 characteristics for optimal living - autonomy (function as independent individuals) - perception of reality (see the world as it is) - resistance to stress (cope with stressful situations) - mastery of environment (ability to adjust to new situation) - self attitudes (high self esteem and strong sense of self identity) - self actualisation and personal growth (fulfilling potential)
• Deviation from ideal mental health - link to disorder


  DEPRESSION - classed as abnormal - causes a person to have low self esteem and hold a negative view of the world so the person may struggle with self attitudes, self actualisation and autonomy
• DIMH EVALUATION - too idealistic 


  criteria for optimal living set too high - Maslow - argued only a few people ever progress through hierarchy of needs to achieve self actualisation - would consider most of us to be abnormal based on high requirements
• DIMH EVALUATION - culturally biased (ethnocentric)


  criteria based on and may be limited to one culture - can be seen reflecting Western individualist culture (Britain) places emphasis on independence and individual needs not collectivist cultures (China) place more importance on needs of group - whole cultures may be seen as abnormal
• DIMH EVALUATION - requires subjective judgement on how many criteria need to be lacking before seen as abnormal


  left down to individual psychiatrists to judge whether someone is deviating enough to be diagnosed and could lead to inconsistency - e.g. one psychiatrist might diagnose a person lacking one criteria whereas another may not see it as enough - lower reliability of definition and reduce its objectivity too
• DIMH EVALUATION - offers positive perspective on mental health 


  focuses on positives (desirable behaviours) rather than negatives (undesirable behaviours) - e.g. sets out criteria we should aspire to achieve in order to be psychologically healthy - might provide useful focus for those with mental disorders trying to improve mental health