Definitions of abnormality

• Statistical Infrequency -

  • someone is classed as abnormal if their behaviour is uncommon/rare in the general population.
  • for example, 1 in 1000...
• AO3 Statistical Infrequency -

  • some 'abnormal' behaviours may be desirable as people may display behaviours that are rare e.g. high IQ. Also some 'normal' behaviours are undesirable e.g. depression as it effects 27% of elderly people, common but not a problem necessarily. Explanation does not allow distinguishment between desirable & undesirable behaviours.
  • RLA, most assessments for mental health disorders look at the patients symptoms against the population (statistical norm), useful part of clinical assessments.
• AO3 Statistical Infrequency -

  • The cut-off point is subjective on each end, when does behaviour become abnormal.
  • Can be objective if an agreed cut-off point is found.
• Deviation from Social Norms -

  • not doing what the majority of society do, going against social norms & expectations. This behaviour may be incomprehensible to others, make others feel threated & uncomfortable. Social norms differ from culture to culture.
• AO3 Deviation from Social Norms -

  • social norms change depending on the situation & context e.g. wearing a bikini in town during winter would be seen as abnormal but wearing one on the beach during the summer isn't. No clear line between what is & isn't abnormal.
  • social norms can change over time e.g. homosexuality used to be illegal. This definition can lead to prejudice against certain groups who go against social attitudes e.g. 50 years ago, anyone who disagreed with the state ran the risk of being institutionalised in Russia.
• AO3 Deviation from Social Norms -

  • Culturally relative, DSM developed in an individualist culture yet is applied to collectivist cultures as well. What is socially normal in 1 culture may not be in another e.g. hearing voices is a positive experience for Afro-Caribbeans but would be seen as a potential symptom of schizophrenia in other places
  • Distinguishes between desirable + undesirable behaviours, takes into account the effect of abnormal behaviours on others.
• Failure to Function Adequately -

  • person can no longer cope with demands of everyday life & fail to function adequately. Unable to maintain basic standards of nutrition + hygiene. May be unable to hold down a job or maintain relationships.
• Rosenhan + Seligman (1989) signs of failure to function adequately

  1. unpredictability: mood swings
  2. maladaptive behaviour
  3. personal distress
  4. irrationality
  5. observer discomfort
  6. violation of moral standards
  7. unconventionality
• AO3 Failure to Function Adequately -

  • Abnormality doesn't always stop the person from functioning, masking exists & people may appear 'fine' to others on the outside but they may be struggling internally.
  • Everyday life varies also depends on what is seen as normal, definition is subjective & unclear.
  • Consideration of how the individual feels & the explanation takes them into account.
  • Clear signs to use to identify someone who may need help.
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health Jahoda (1958) -

  • not having ideal mental health makes someone abnormal.
  • Resistance to stress
  • Adapting to the environment
  • Personal autonomy - function independently
  • Self-actualisation of potential
  • Accurate perception of reality not overly optimistic/pessimistic
  • Positive self-attitude
• AO3 Deviation from ideal mental health -

  • Difficult to meet all the criteria for ideal mental health, very few people would be defined as psychologically healthy. Unclear how many criteria need to be missing to be considered abnormal.
  • Ethnocentric, the criteria was created in an individualist culture & is imposed onto other cultures e.g. collectivist. Western ideals for mental health are not representative for all e.g. self-actualisation is given more importance in individualist cultures rather than collectivist.
• AO3 Deviation from ideal mental health -

  • Criteria is vague, subjective & doesn't follow the scientific method as it is not measurable.
  • The definition allows for targeted intervention for individuals if their behaviour isn't normal they can identify goals to improve and achieve ideal mental health.
• Abnormal behaviour


  Statistical infrequency/deviation from statistical norms - affects less than 1% adults
• Deviation from social norms

  Behaviour which goes against/contravenes unwritten rules/expectations (in a given society/culture) - unable to leave their home, may prevent sufferers from living a normal life
• Failure to function adequately


  Behaviour which causes personal distress/anguish/ inability to cope with everyday = maladaptive - very stressful for the individual and for their family
• Deviation from ideal mental health

  Behaviour which fails to meet particular criteria for psychological wellbeing - cannot achieve potential (self-actualisation), perceiving threats everywhere (inaccurate perception of reality), lack of resistance to stress
• AO3 Deviation from Ideal Mental Health (Jahoda) -

  • comprehensive criteria for mental health
  • based on similar models of physical health – but mental health may not be the same
  • criteria are too demanding – most of us would be defined as unhealthy
  • Western individualist bias.
  • Subjective concepts that are not measurable
• Statistical Infrequency -

  • abnormality is defined as behaviour or characteristics that are rare/uncommon/unusual
  • occupies the extreme ends of a normal distribution curve, e.g. low IQ defined as intellectual disability disorder
  • relies on the use of up-to-date statistics.
• Deviation from social norms -

  • all societies make collective judgments about what counts as ‘normal’/usual/typical behaviour
  • any behaviour that does not conform to accepted/expected standards is abnormal
  • norms vary from culture to culture.
• AO3 Statistical Infrequency + Deviation from Social Norms -

  • many diagnoses of illness involve some reference to statistics
  • difficult to know where the line is between statistically normal and abnormal/subjective interpretation
  • some statistically infrequent behaviour is desirable/highly regarded, e.g. high IQ
  • not all behaviour that deviates from social norms is a sign of illness, e.g. speeding
  • norms are culturally relative so difficult to determine universal signs of illness
• AO3 Deviation from Social Norms -

  • social norms definition could be used/abused as an instrument of social control
  • social norms change over time (lack of temporal validity)
  • neither definition is satisfactory on its own – comparison with alternatives, e.g. failure to function, deviation from ideal mental health.
• Failure to function adequately -

  • abnormality is defined as the inability to cope with everyday living
  • Rosenhan and Seligman criteria (e.g. irrationality, observer discomfort, maladaptive behaviour)
  • behaviours such as not being able to hold down a job, maintain a relationship, personal hygiene, etc
  • failure to follow interpersonal rules.