Definitions of abnormality

What is abnormality ?

a psychological or behavioural state leading to impairment of interpersonal functioning and/or distress to others

Statistical infrequency

• when a person has a less common characteristics than most of the population

• 2% of the population have an IQ under 70 = intellectual disability disorder

Evaluation of Statistical infrequency

• Real - world applications

used in clinical practices part of formal diagnosis and a way to asses severity of an individuals symptoms.

• Unusual characteristics can be positive

For everyone with an IQ below 70 is another with an IQ above 130. it means that statistical infrequency is never sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality

Deviation from social norms

• when a person behaves in a way that is different from how we expect people to behave

• anything that violates these rules is abnormal

Evaluation of deviation from social norms

• Real-world application

used in clinal practice . for example the key defining characteristics of anti social personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally acceptable ethical behaviour . It has value in psychology

• Cultural and situational relativism

people can be labelled as abnormal for not reaching other societies standards. in some societies experience of hearing voices is the norm but would be seen as an abnormality in some parts of the UK. This means its difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations and cultures

Failure to function adequately

• person may cross the line between normal to abnormal at any point when they can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life

• Rosenhan’s critera

maladaptive behaviour

irrationality

observer discomfort

violates moral/social stadards

Evaluation for failure to function adequately

• represents a threshold for help

this criteria means that treatment and services can be targeted to those who need it the most. Considered the patients perspective

• Discrimination and social control

easy to label non-standard life style choices as abnormal. this means people who make unusual choices are at risk of being labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice may be restricted

Deviation from ideal mental health

• looks at what makes someone normal rather than abnormal

• Jahoda’s criteria

no symptoms or distress

rational

self actualise

cope with stress

realistic view of the world

good self esteem and lack guilt

independent of other people

successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure

Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health

• a comprehensive definition

highly comprehensive, includes a range of criteria for distinguishing mental health from mental disorder. means the individuals health can be discussed with a range of professionals. provides a checklist for professionals and ourselves

• may be culture bound

different elements of the criteria may not be equally applicable across a range of cultures

self actualisation and independence are only for individualist cultures

what’d defines success in our working, social and love-lives is very different in different cultures. So it is difficult to apply the concept of ideal mental health from one culture to another