definitions of abnormality

• DSM stands for diagnostic and statistical manual - for mental health disorders
• DSM was first published in 1952 - constantly being updated due to change in abnormalities + adaptations in information gathered
• DSM classifies and diagnoses mental health disorders
• current DSM - DSM - 5 (PUBLISHED 2013)
• DSM classifies mental health disorders into major groups

  • depressive disorders
  • anxiety disorders
  • OCD + related disorders
  • feeding + eating disorders
• 4 definitions of abnormality

  • deviation from social norms
  • statistical infrequency
  • deviation from ideal mental health
  • failure to function adequately
• abnormality can be defined as deviating from social/cultural norms
• statistical infrequency is where behaviour is seen as 'abnormal' if its statistically uncommon - any usually behaviour is thought to be 'normal' and so behaviours differing from this is seen as 'abnormal'
• example of statistical infrequency - IQ + intellectual disability disorder

  • in IQ test - majority of human scores cluster around average meaning further above or below the fewer people there will be (seen as abnormal to average)
  • average IQ is 100 - most have range between 85 - 110
  • 2% people score BELOW 70 - are seen as 'abnormal' and likely to get diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder
• deviation from social norms is when person behaves in way not expected from them to behave

  • groups tend to define behaviour as abnormal on basis that it goes against sense of what their norm is
• norms are based on culture and generations making judgements
• few behaviours are seen as universally abnormal
• example of deviation from social norms - antisocial personality disorder

  • person with antisocial personality disorder goes against norms in society by being impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible
  • psychopathy seen as abnormal as they dont conform to moral standards
• failure to function adequately

  • seen as abnormal if cannot cope with demands of everyday life + fail to function adequately
  • Rosenhan + seligman - signs which can be used to determine when someone is not coping:
  • severe personal distress
  • persons behaviour is dangerous to self or others
  • no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules (eye contact)
• deviation from ideal mental health

  • classified as abnormal if deviate from whats considered as ideal mental health
  • jahoda
• jahoda - ideal mental health - suggested good mental health is achieved by meeting following

  1. positive attitude towards self
  2. self actualisation of own potential
  3. resistance to stress
  4. personal autonomy (independence)
  5. realistic view of world
  6. adapting to + mastering environment
• there are 6 key suggestions that jahoda said is ideal mental health
• evaluation points for statistical infrequency

  • negatively labelled
  • real life application
• negatively labelled (-) - statistical infrequency

  • limitation of definition is some wont benefit from such labels
  • someone whos classed as 'abnormal' wont mean they will benefit from having label
  • example - having low IQ an individual still may be able to lead relatively normal life - however they wont benefit from having known as 'abnormal' - affects how others see them
  • therefore labelling individuals abnormal can affect them negatively whilst potentially impacting how they are treated
• real life application (+) - statistical infrequency

  • definition can be applied within real world where it is easily appliable
  • definition can be used for diagnosing intellectual disability disorder
  • helpful in measuring severity of mental disorders individuals may have - done through comparing them to statistical norms
  • strength as it has helped mental disorders be appropriately diagnosed where help can then be given
• evaluation points for deviation from social norms

  • cultural relativism (-)
  • not sole explanation (-)
• cultural relativism (-) - deviation from social norms

  • social norms vary across cultures meaning definition is weakened
  • view that behaviour cannot be judged unless its viewed within context of culture which it originates from
  • this means some cultures are seen as abnormal but not abnormal to others
  • limitation includes definition not transferring well to other cultures - weakening reliability of definition
• not sole explanation (-) - deviation from social norms

  • limitation for definition includes although its useful diagnosing disorders (antisocial personality disorder) - there are additional factors apart from deviation from social norms which should be further considered
  • example - distress of others which results from having antisocial personality disorder
  • definition shouldnt be used as sole reason to define the term abnormality
• evaluation points for failure to function adequately

  • subjective judgements from psychiatrist (-)/ personal perspective (+)
  • may just be deviation from social norms
• subjective judgements (-) - failure to function adequately

  • when assessing whether someone fails to function adequately - someone has to observed + judge if patient is distressed enough to diagnose
  • problem as patients may say they are distress but are judged as not suffering
  • limitation as it is down to psychiatrists to make judgements which could be inaccurate
  • HOWEVER - (+) takes on personal perspective as it attempts to include subjective experience of individual - acknowledges what a patient experiences
• may not be deviation from social norms (-) - failure to function adequately

  • definition is unclear in how we are to tell if someone is genuinelly failing to function or if they are just deviating from social norms
  • example - alternative lifestyles (extreme sport) - be seen as failure to function as individuals may not have permanent address/job - however it doesnt mean they're putting selves at risk of harm
  • therefore treating behaviours as 'failures' of adequate functioning heightens discrimination and limits personal freedom
• evaluation points for deviation from ideal mental health

  • unrealistic standards of mh (-)
  • cultural relativism (-)
• unrealistic standards of mh (-) - deviation from ideal mental health

  • limitation of deviation from ideal mh as definition of abnormality includes jahoda criteria being too unrealistic
  • according to jahoda - you have ideal mh if you are able to meet ALL the criteria - most individuals wont meet that criteria (inferring that everyone is deviating from ideal mental health + classed as abnormal)
  • limits definition as it provides unrealistic expectations for what standard mental health should look like
• cultural relativism (-) - deviation from ideal mental health

  • criteria created was based on western ideals
  • therefore other cultures will be seen as deviating due to not meeting likely criteria
  • definition cannot be applied to other cultures due to differing views of what is seen as ideal mental health - what is not
  • ultimately - definition cannot be applied to certain cultures as it could lead to incorrect results
• define abnormality


  deviating from social/cultural norms