Definitions of abnormality

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

-statistical infrequency
-deviation from social norms
-failure to function adequately
-deviation from ideal mental health

Statistical infrequency definition

behaviour that is rarely seen in the general population

Deviation from social norms definition

behaviour that is seen as socially unacceptable or undesirable in society

Failure to function adequately definition

person is unable to engage or cope with activities in normal day to day life

Deviation from ideal mental health definition

when someone doesn’t meet a set of criteria for mental well being

What counts as statistical infrequency?

the ends of an inverted U graph

Criticisms of stat infrequency definition

-abnormal characteristics aren’t always abnormal, like IQ
-doesn’t take into account severity of someone’s condition
-doctors wash hands a lot but it’s not abnormal

Advantages of stat infrequency

-objective, easier for doctors to agree on diagnosis

Criticism of deviation from social norms

-social control, some people are eccentric but don’t need treatment
-people with mental disorders do not always deviate
-ethnocentric bias

Advantages of deviation from social norms

-protect society from offensive behaviour
-odd behaviour can alert other people of possible mental illness

Criticisms of failure to function

-not all maladaptive behaviour is associated with distress
-some people don’t function but not have mental disorder
-subjective and requires judgement

Advantages of failure to function

-adjustments can be made to this persons life to help
-allows severity to be assessed by seeing how much someones life is affected

What did Jahoda do?

identified 6 factors to define ideal mental health and said if you didn’t meet these, then you need therapy

How can you remember the 6 factors?

Positive
Reality
Resilience
Autonomy
Mastery
Self actualisation

What does positive mean?

think positively about yourself

What does reality mean?

able to perceive situations accurately

What does resilience mean?

able to endure and recover from periods of stress

What does autonomy mean?

you have control of your own life and future

What does mastery mean?

competent and effective in all aspects of life
able to be flexible when needed

What does self actualisation mean?

ability to fulfil potential and not waste your own life

Criticism of deviation from ideal mental health

-it would categorise everyone as being mentally ill cause no one can meet all criteria
-not all cultures value this criteria
-impossible to measure mastery or resilience to stress

Advantages of deviation from ideal mental health

-most holistic view, acknowledges peoples strength and weaknesses
-criteria suggest what societies should aim for to maximise mental wellbeing