Definitions of Abnormality

AO1

STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY	-If behaviour is calculated to fall out of range of normal, labelled as statistically infrequent.
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS	-Concerns behaviour that is different from expected standards of society Groups of people choose to define behaviour as abnormal as it threatens their sens eof what is ‘acceptable’ → ostracism from society
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY	-Occurs when someone in unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living Rosenhan and Seligman(1989) have proposed some signs that can be used to determine when someone is not coping: Observer discomfort Unpredictability Irrationality among others Maladaptiveness Personal distress Violation of social norms
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH	-Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health Jahoda’s Criteria was created: Accurate Perception of reality Self-Actualisation Resistance to stress Positive attitudes towards self Autonomy/Independence Environmental Mastery

	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY	Objective method Statsistics easy to analyse Quantitative	Uncommon doesnt always mean “abnormal” or “undesirable”, e.g high IQ is desirable but uncommon
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS	Real life applications Diagnosis of disorders Brings attention to possible problems	Ethnocentric Cultural Relativism Norms can vary over time - behaviour defined as abnormal in one era, can no longer be defined as abnormal in another
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY	Useful criterion as it captures experience of many people who need help.	Cultural relativism FFA might not be linked to abnormality but to other factors e.g (AO2)failure to keep a job may be due to economic situation Context dependent (AO2) not eating can be seen as FFA, but hunger strike is someothing different
DEVIATION FROM IDELA MENTAL HEALTH	Provides a good checklist for patient self- assessment May help patients know when they should seek help	Unrealistic criteria Ethnocentric