What does abnormality mean?

Statistical deviation

• states that human behaviour is abnormal if it falls outside the range that is the average (normal) from most people

• their behaviour is statistically rare

• typically behaviour is more than 2 standard deviations away from the mean

WEAKNESS of standard deviation

• Doesn’t differentiate between desirable and undesirable characteristics - e.g. IQ charts those who have IQ of 130 - not seen as undesirable or abnormal

  • lacks validity if used on its own to define abnormality

• Graph can be seen as subjective - the cut off point can be set too high or too low

  • how from the norm do you have to be classified as abnormal

  • e.g. depression - 80% of symptoms are normal but the 20% - suicidal though are abnormal

  • may fail to diagnose who needs help and support

STRENGTHS of standard deviation

• real life application

  • can diagnose intellectual disabilities

  • for example anorexia - BMI scale to see if anorexia is mild/severe - different treatments for both

  • helps clinicians decide which level of intervention/help is required

Definition of social norms

implicit rules about how we ought to behave in society. Anything that violates these norms is considered abnormal

• can be changed over time and from culture to culture e.g. homosexuality - later accepted and part of social norm

Definition of Deviation from social norms

a person behaves different from accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society

Name some ways behaviour can deviate from society

• unpredictable

• causes observer discomfort

• violates moral standards

• even irrational thoughts

Evaluation of Deviation from social norms

• Weakness

  • we must always have to take context into account

  • quite subjective as a definition when diagnosing

  • e.g. naked cycling - normally get arrested but for charity it is normal

• Weakness

  • has cultural relativism

  • can be seen as not normal behaviour in a different culture

  • social norms vary from culture to culture

  • e.g. hearing voices - seen normal in some cultures other cultures would find abnormal

• Weakness

  • allows professionals to classify anyone who went against social attitudes - abuses their human rights

  • subjective

  • e.g. nymphomania - controls females promiscuity (seen to have borderline personality disorder) - men would get away with their promiscuity

  • some e.g. Magdalene laundries - unmarried mothers detained and babies adopted

• Strength

  • distinguishes between desirable and undesirable characteristics

  • helps clinicians to diagnose psychiatric disorders

  • e.g. antisocial personality disorder - can cause then to act reckless and violate the right of others

What is FFA

Failure to function adequately

Failure to function Adequately

• have expectations on how people should act and live their lives - cannot meet these obligations (abnormal)

• if individuals behaviour or thinking affect there well-being, becomes a danger to own safety and danger to others - considered abnormal

What are the 3 signs that determine when someone is not coping (Rosenham & Seligman)

• no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules e.g. respecting others personal space or eye contact

• experiences sever personal distress

• persons behaviour becomes irrational/dangerous to themselves or others

• e.g. anorexia or anxiety

Evaluation of FFA (Failure to Function Adequately)

• Weakness

  • based on subjective judgements

  • individual may believe they are functioning adequately whilst others will think they are not

  • e.g. odd or eccentric behaviour such as suffragettes hunger strike

  • context of the situation is important to know

  • may be hard to hold down job, support family or prejudice and money issues

  • do not fully know so cannot easily diagnose them

  • e.g. suffragettes and hunger strike - unpredictable but understanding

• Weakness

  • culturally relative - cultures have different beliefs and practices - what’s normal to them may not be normal to other cultures

  • could explain why lower class and non - white patients - often diagnosed with mental disorders due to non traditional lifestyle and judgement from others

• Strength

  • provides a threshold for when people need help

  • if symptoms become worse - more likely to seek help as it effects daily living

  • can focus on those who need it more

• Weakness:

  • many do not recognise they are ill

  • illnesses that have psychotic breakdown - assumes rest of the world is mad

  • they go undiagnosed e.g. schizophrenia and bipolar

What is DIMH

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

• 6 characteristics that are used to identify ideal mental health - not all possessed seen as abnormal

What are the 6 characteristics of DIMH that Jahoda proposed

1. Self attitudes - have high self esteem

2. Self actualization - willing to achieve their full potential

3. Coping with stress - can cope in stressful situations

4. Autonomy - can make own decisions and are independent

5. Accurate Perception of reality - have a realistic view of the world

6. Adaptation to environment - can work well in new environments and enjoy leisure

Evaluation of DIMH (Deviation from Ideal Mental Health)

• Weakness

  • according to this - nobody is normal - very few would achieved full criteria

  • set up to high standards

  • e.g. teenagers never have full autonomy over their lives

• Weakness

  • cultural dependant and biased especially the west

  • personal autonomy - western notion

  • some cultures e.g. Japan - collectivist culture and community more important than individual development

  • also some stress levels - good to achieve (motivation in sports)

• Strengths

  • positive attitude towards human behaviour - focuses on what makes us health

  • e.g. - self actualization - good to self improve and set goals

  • based on humanistic approach -holistic approach taken

  • useful to identify when someone needs help - can get therapists - a thorough approach

What are the 4 types of abnormality

1. Statistical Deviation

2. Deviation from social norms

3. Failure to Function Adequately

4. Deviation from Ideal Mental Health