psychopathology

definitions of abnormality

deviation from social norms

• a persons thinking or behviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the norms of society

• if it goes against the unwritten rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group

evaluation

1. The deviation from social norms definition gives up a clear definition of what is and isn’t seen as abnormal within a culture. For example within each society we have different normas that we abide by such as the above example of dressing appropriate for a job interview. Any deviation from this would be considered abnormal. This therefore is useful to us as a definition within a single culture with shared norms as it is clear cut who would be seen as normal or abnormal.

2. The socially accepted way to behave in one culture may differ in another for example. For example in some cultures homosexuality is still socially unacceptable, where as others have considerate and more equal like rights like Britain compared to strict religious countries such as the Arab states where homosexuals are often murdered of inprisoned. This means the definition does not provide a universtal account of abnormality as it oly focuses on normal behaviours in one country.

3. this definition is also limited as it is era-dependant. for exapke in 1968 homosexuals were classed as sexual devients; today gay marraige is legal in the uk and although prejudice still exists, homosexuality is no longer associates with mental disorders which is once was in the USA until 1973.

failure to funcction adequately

• behaviour is abnormal if it prevents a person from leading a normal, everyday and functional life.

clinicians measure FTFA by using the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). this assesses how well a person is functioning in various areas of their life eg, work, social relationships etc. This is rated on a scale of 1-100 and provides an indication of the need for treatment.

rosenhan and seligman (1989)