Abnormality

• what is statistical infrequency?

  • abnormality defined as behaviour or trait that are rare or unusual
  • occupies the extreme ends of a normal distribution curve
  • uses up-to-date statistics and needs to take into consideration cultural norms e.g. IQ, height
  • looks at distribution of a particular behaviour within society e.g. hearing voices, found to be statistically rare
• what is deviation from social norms?

  • abnormality defined as deviant behaviour (may upset offend) which lies beyond standards of social etiquette - acceptable behaviour set up by society/cultural group
  • e.g. homosexuality was classified as abnormal and a mental disorder due to social deviation
• what is failure to function adequately?

  • abnormality judged as inability to deal/cope with the demands of everyday living e.g. hygiene standards
  • behaviour is maladaptive, irrational and dangerous - caused by personal distress and/or distress to others
  • DSM - 5 includes an assessment of ability to function known as WHODAS - quantitative assessment of functioning including understanding and communicating, self-care and life activities
  • disfunction includes: personal distress, unpredictability, violation of moral standards
• what is deviation from ideal mental health?

  • abnormality is absence of criteria for good mental health (as in physical illness)
  • Jahoda proposed criteria of 'optimal living' - principles: positive view of self, capable of self-actualisation and independence/self-regulation
  • more definitions they fail to meet, the more abnormal they are
  • similar to approach taken by medical profession
• what are strengths/weaknesses of statistical infrequency?

  STRENGTHS:

  • RWA - can quantitively identify who needs help/support (high external validity due to use of up-to-date statistics)
  • also takes into account cultural norms - doesn't use biased sample so can be generalised

  WEAKNESSES:

  • subjectivity - who decides the cut off point of what is abnormal and what isn't?
  • social sensitivity of labelling - which can lead to discrimination which could be worse than the actual abnormality (Szasz 1974)
  • therefore may be useful, but only in conjunction with another definition
• what are strengths/weaknesses of failure to function adequately?

  STRENGTHS:

  • is a sensible threshold to have - useful in diagnosis (RWA)
  • generally dictated by patient - necessary subjectivity
  • also use objective measurements (e.g. the GAF)

  WEAKNESSES:

  • context - sometimes FFA is normal e.g. disabled people - doesn't account for individual differences/situations
  • androcentric - may be clear gender differences
  • e.g. failure to keep a job may be due to economic problems not MH issues
  • so FFA criteria can't be universally used to define abnormality without conjunction with other definitions
• what are strengths/weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health?

  STRENGTHS:

  • gives positive, healthy goals for a sufferer to aim for
  • clear, accessible checklist for all
  • differs from others - positive/desirability-orientated, not negative

  WEAKNESSES:

  • definition is ethnocentric to Western, won't apply to individualistic and collectivist societies
  • Jahoda - ideal MD is subjective - who decides what are the consequences, some people are happy without generally agreed aspects of ideal MH
  • only valid in conjunction with other definitions
• FFA

  • Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) suggest that personal dysfunction has seven features and the more features an individual has, the more they are classed as abnormal
  • maladaptive, unpredictable, personal distress