Definitions of Abnormality

• Deviation from Social Norms - A person's thinking or behaviours violate unwritten rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour
• Statistical infrequency - a person's trait, thinking or behaviour is rare or statistically unusual if 2 standard deviations away from the norm
• Failure to function adequately - a person who is unable to cope with the demands of everyday life
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health - Jahoda (1958) proposed that if the individual lacks one of 6 characteristics, they are deemed physically ill
• Jahoda (1958) Mental Health Criteria:

  • Self-Actualisation
  • Autonomy (independence)
  • Integration (coping)
  • Attitudes to self
  • Perception of reality
  • Environment mastery
• Rosenhan & Seligman (1989): Failure to Function Adequately Criteria

  • Maladaptive (Danger to self)
  • Violation of moral standards
  • Unpredictive
  • Observer discomfort
  • Irrationality