Psychopathology

• definitions of abnormality 


  Failure to function adequately

  deviation from ideal mental health

  statistical infrequency

  deviation from social norms
• deviation from social norms eval

  - cultural relativism

  - deviance is related to context and degree

  + takes into account impact on others/ distinguishes desirable from undesirable behaviours
• statistical infrequency eval 


  - some abnormal behaviour is desirable ( doesn't distinguish )

  - cut off point is subjectively determined

  + sometimes appropriate eg using standard deviations from the mean to judge if someone has a mental disorder