Defintions of abnormality

Statistical Infrequency

• Abnormal behaviour statistically rare/infrequent - on normal distribution - extreme ends statistically rare + therefore abnormal

• Strength - objective + easy to measure, E: clear guidelines, cutoff, used ND, not affected by interpretation, L: inc reliability of diagnosis, standardised measurement ensures all MH workers view same beh in same way - more accurate, reduced subjectivity F: more reliable as subjective

• Weakness: some stat rare beh is desirable, fails to account for, E: high IQ is rare but desirable, L: limited, views healthy beh as abnormal, reductionist F: some abnormal beh not statistically rare: 20% people suffer from depression in lifetime - limits usefulness

Deviation from social norms

• How far persons beh deviates from socially acceptable - could be unwritten, what is desirable in society - deviation classed as abnormality

• Weakness: subjective - abnormality adapts to societies norms - no fixed numerical method of diagnosing, less accurate eg homosexuality

• Weakness: culturally limited, E: Western hearing voices abnormal, schizophrenia - some cultures desirable, age of consent, L: universal definition, not accurate, H: some beh that abnormal regardless culture eg anorexia

Failure to function adequately

• Abnormality based on being unable to cope with demands of everyday life-interfering with functioning

• Assessed using a criteria to determine if someone is coping: personal distress, irrationality, dysfunction

• Some psych disorders do not stop someone functioning adequately eg psychopathy appear normal most of time - Harold Shipman kill 200 patients while functioning adequately L: not all abnormalities can be identified

• Culturally limited: related to cultural idea of how should live, different diagnosis across cultures - standard of one used to measure another L: limits usefulness to diagnose across cultures H includes subjective, POV of person, acknowledges personal experiences

Deviation from ideal mental health

• Abnormal when lack of healthy characteristics: Jahoda criteria to be mentally healthy: accurate perception of reality, mastery environment (meet demands everyday life), self-attitudes (self-esteem), self actualisation, resisting stress, autonomy

• Positive approach: focuses positives, what is desirable, influence over humanistic approach, criteria to identify struggling, L: + outlook, influence on approach, H unrealistic list, difficult to meet all, hard to differentiate abnormality

• Culturally limited: self-actualisation only relevant to individualistic cultures, not coll (needs of group), applied to coll higher proportion abnormality, L: limits to certain groups, reduces val