Definitions of Abnormality

• There are four definitions for abnormality:

  1.     Statistical Infrequency

  2.     Deviation from social norms

  3.     Deviation from ideal mental health

  4.     Failure to function adequately
• Statistical infrequency:

  •behaviour is abnormal as it is numerically and statistically rare.

  •2 standard deviations away from the mean.

  •the characteristics of the behaviour are less common/typical.

  • a focuses on the quantity of behaviour measured in standard.
• Deviation from social norms:

  •behaviour is abnormal if it is very different to the acceptable behaviour being produced by other members of the same society/cultural group

  •behaviour is unexpected by other group members

  •behaviour offends or makes others uncomfortable in some way
• Failure to function adequately:

  •abnormality judged as inability to deal with the demands of everyday living

  •behaviour is maladaptive, irrational, dangerous, and violates moral standards

  •behaviour causes personal distress and distress to others.
• Deviation from ideal mental health:

  •absence of signs of mental health used to judge abnormality

  •failure to meet (Jahoda’s) criteria − good self-attitudes, autonomy, environmental mastery, accurate perception of reality, integration, personal growth

  •the more criteria someone fails to meet, the more abnormal they are.
• statistical infrequency:

  -  fails to account for behaviour that is statistically rare but desirable such as having a very high IQ

  - some disorders are not statistically rare

  - it is an objective and clear way of defining abnormality
• deviation from social norms:

  -eccentric behaviours are not necessarily abnormal – at one point being queer was viewed as odd

  -social norms vary with time and with culture
•  failure to function adequately:

  -many mental disorders do not cause personal distress

  -many behaviours, e.g. smoking, are maladaptive but not a sign of psychological abnormality

  -this definition has useful applications for psychiatrists who uses this criteria to identify the amount of care needed for patients
• deviation from ideal mental health:

  -the criteria are too demanding and unrealistic – most people would be judged abnormal based on this definition

  -many of the criteria reflect Western cultural norms of psychological ‘normality’

  -it helps to put mental illnesses on the same level as physical illness