Abnormality

• Statistical Infrequency is the behaviour that deviates from the norm.

  Eg.

  IQ and intellectual disability disorder. In any human characteristic the scores will cluster around the average - few people will be very high or very low.
• Strength of statistical infrequency :

  Real life application - It helps to diagnose intellectual disability disorder. Assessments of mental health disorders include measurements of how severe their symptoms are compared to the statistical norm.
• Weakness of statistical infrequency :

  Unusual characteristics can be positive - IQ scores over 130 are considered just as abnormal as those below 70 but we wouldn't think of an intelligent person as abnormal and it doesn't mean they require treatment to return to normal.
• Weakness of statistical infrequency :

  Labelling - When someone is living a happy life there are no benefits to them being labelled as abnormal. Therefore, someone with a low IQ but not distressed would not need a diagnosis.
• Deviation from social norms

  Groups of people make judgements as a society about what is right. Social norms differ between cultures and over time. There are few universally abnormal behaviours.

  Eg. Antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) = failure to conform to lawful or culturally normative ethical behaviour.
• Weakness of deviation from social norms :

  Not a sole explanation - It has real life application but there are other factors to consider. In the example of APD we might look at the distress they cause to others.
• Weakness of deviation from social norms :

  Cultural Relativism - Social norms vary from one generation to another and one community to another. It may lead to one culture labelling another as abnormal.
• Weakness of deviation from social norms :

  Human rights abuse - It can be used as a way of controlling others. Some psychologists suggest that our categories of mental disorder abuse people's rights to be different.
• Failure to function

  Rosenhan & Seligman (1989) proposed standards for failure to function.

  • A person no longer conforms to a standard of interpersonal rules. Eg. maintaining eye contact.
  • when a person experiences severe personal distress.
  • When their behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themself or others.
• Weakness of failure to function :

  Patient's perspective - It fails to include the subjective experience of the individual.
• Weakness of failure to function

  Is it simply a deviation from social norms ? - It is hard to distinguish failure to function from deviation from social norms. Eg. a person not having a job is a sign of failure to function. If we treat behaviours as failures we risk limiting personal freedom and discriminating against minority groups.
• Weakness of failure to function

  Subjective judgements - Deciding if someone is failing to function means someone has to judge whether a patient is distressed or distressing. Some may say they're distressed but not judged as suffering.
• Deviation from ideal mental health

  Marie Jahoda (1958) suggested we should be able to meet a certain criteria in order to have good mental health. A few of them being

  • Have no symptoms or distress
  • We can self actualise (reach our potential)
  • We can cope with stress
  • We have a realistic view of the world
  • Good self esteem & lack of guilt.
• Strength of deviation from ideal mental health

  A comprehensive definition - It covers a broad range of criteria for mental health. It probably covers most reasons someone would seek help or be referred for help.
• Weakness of deviation from social norms

  Cultural relativism - Jahoda's classification is specific to western european and north american cultures (culture bound). Much of the world would see independence from people as a bad thing. Such traits are typical of individualist cultures.
• Weakness of deviation from ideal mental health

  It sets an unrealistically high standard for mental health - Very few attain Jahoda's criteria. Therefore, the approach would see pretty much everyone as abnormal. However, it does make it clear to people the ways in which they could seek treatment to improve their mental health.