Definitions of abnormality

• Statistically infrequency defines abnormal behaviour as those that are extremely rare in the population
• Statistically, therefore, ‘normal’ behaviours are defined as those that are found in the majority of people
• If 1 in 6 people had experienced a mental disorder in the week before the survey, the majority had been mentally healthy in that period
• Deviation from social norms states that anyone who deviates from socially created norms is considered abnormal
• some social norms are implicit and may indicate an underlying abnormality if broken. other social norms are policed by laws which are explicit norms of behaviour
• some abnormal behaviour deviates from an implicit social rule and is also against the law
• failure to function adequately means a person isn't coping with their day to day life, in addition, their behaviour causes distress to the individual and/or others
• the world health organisation disability assessment (WHODAS) can be used to measure functioning in areas like self care, getting along with people and participation in society
• deviation from ideal mental health proposes that certain criteria are needed for positive mental health. the absence of any of these would indicate abnormality
• Jahoda (1958) identified six criterial for ideal mental health:

  1. positive self-attitudes
  2. self-actualisation
  3. integration (coping with stressful situations)
  4. autonomy
  5. having an accurate perception of reality
  6. mastery of the environment
• Jahoda's six characteristics enable someone to feel happy and behave completely. if one or more of these criteria is absent, the person may be experiencing a mental disorder