AO3 - Statistical infrequency

• Practical applications + P

  Statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality has useful practical applications.
• Practical application + E

  For example , statistical infrequency is used as part of formal diagnosis and as a way to assess the severity of an individual's symptoms.
• Practical applications + E

  This shows that the value of statistical infrequency criteria is useful in diagnostic and assessment processes.
• Practical applications + L 


  This suggests that there are potential benefits to society of using this definition to classify abnormality.
• Incomplete explanation - P

  Not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent and rare , creating problems for this definition.
• Incomplete explanation - E

  For example , depression can be considered to be a common behaviour. 20% suffer a depressive episode at some point in their life. Yet a medicated approach is often an effective approach in treating these episodes.
• Incomplete explanation - E


  Failure to categorise depression as abnormal may prevent effective treatment strategies from being used, prolonging the sufferers experience.
• Incomplete explanation - L


  This implies that the definition of statistical infrequency does not fully account for all cases of psychopathology which may cause problems or delays in diagnosis and treatment.
• Reliability + P


  The objectivity that this definition allows for an impartial and fair assessment of abnormality.
• Reliability + E

  Having a cut off point for abnormality allows practitioners to see if behaviour is statistically rare.
• Reliability + E 


  For example, one may say that an individual who has an IQ below or above the average level of IQ in society is abnormal.
• Reliability + L


  Overall, this improves the reliability of diagnosis, as conditions will not be subject to medical opinion or doctors subjective perceptions.