definitions of abnormality

• Abnormality has always been incredibly hard to define in psychology
• Psychologists disagree about the causes of mental disorders
• Possible causes of mental disorders

  • Flawed biology
  • Learning difficulties
  • Personality
• Psychologists cannot agree on the causes, which makes it hard to define abnormality
• Deviation from social norms


  Abnormal behaviour that goes against the societal norms, which are a set of unwritten rules to follow
• Social norms vary in each society and are often different for different generations and cultures
• Homosexuality was deemed abnormal in the UK in the past but is now accepted, while it is still seen as abnormal and illegal in some other cultures globally
• Strengths of using 'Deviation from social norms' to define abnormality

  • Allows for developmental norms
  • Gives a social dimension to abnormality
  • Protects society
  • Distinguishes between normal and abnormal
  • Helps people
• Limitations of using 'Deviation from social norms' to define abnormality

  • Does not explain abnormality changing over time
  • Ethnocentric (based on western norms)
  • Does not account for cultural differences
  • Does not account for individualism
• Failure to function adequately


  Individuals are abnormal when they are unable to cope with everyday life and this is evident in their behaviour
• Rosenhan and Seligman's Features of Personal Dysfunction


  • Personal Distress
  • Maladaptive Behaviour
  • Unpredictability
  • Irrationality
  • Observer Discomfort
  • Violations of Moral Standards
  • Unconventionality
• Strengths of using 'Failure to function adequately' to define abnormality

  • Focuses on observable behaviour
  • Provides a checklist
  • Allows for personal perspective
  • Represents a threshold for help
• Limitations of using 'Failure to function adequately' to define abnormality

  • Can discriminate against unusual life choices
  • Does not consider when abnormal behaviour is normal
  • Abnormality and dysfunction do not always go together
• Deviation from ideal mental health

  Assessing mental health in the same way physical health is assessed, based on 6 characteristics of ideal mental health
• Marie Jahoda's 6 characteristics of ideal mental health

  • Positive attitudes towards one's self
  • Self actualisation
  • Autonomy
  • Integration
  • Accurate perception of reality
  • Environmental mastery
• Strengths of using 'Deviation from ideal mental health' to define abnormality

  • Holistic approach
  • Comprehensive
  • Positive approach
  • Consistent
• Limitations of using 'Deviation from ideal mental health' to define abnormality

  • Cultural specificity
  • Over demanding criteria
  • Does not account for changes over time
  • Subjective criteria
• Statistical infrequency


  A behaviour is regarded as abnormal if it is statistically uncommon/unusual compared to the general population
• Strengths of using 'Statistical infrequency' to define abnormality

  • Objective, standardised measure
  • Based on real data
• Limitations of using 'Statistical infrequency' to define abnormality

  • Does not account for prevalent conditions like depression
  • High IQ may not be considered abnormal