Definitions of abnormality
1.Statistical Infrequency
Definition: Defining 'normal' and 'abnormal' based on how often a behavior or characteristic occurs.
Example: Only a small number of people exhibit irrational fears or beliefs, like fear of buttons or believing neighbors are zombies.
IQ and Intellectual Disability Disorder (IDD)
Normal Distribution: Majority of people's IQ scores cluster around the average (100), forming a bell curve.
Abnormality: Individuals scoring below 70 are considered abnormal and may receive a diagnosis of IDD.
2. Deviation from Social Norms
Definition: Behavior deviating from societal expectations is deemed abnormal.
Cultural Influence: Social norms vary across cultures and generations.
Example: Homosexuality was once considered abnormal in some cultures.
Example: Antisocial Personality Disorder
Characteristics: Impulsive, aggressive, and irresponsible behavior.
DSM-5 Criteria: Lack of prosocial internal standards and failure to conform to ethical behavior.
Abnormality: Psychopaths are considered abnormal due to not adhering to societal moral standards.
Evaluation of Statistical Infrequency and Deviation from Social Norms
Statistical Infrequency
Real-world application: Used in clinical practice for diagnosis and symptom severity assessment.
Strength: Useful in diagnostic and assessment processes, e.g., IQ below 70 for intellectual disability disorder.
Limitation: Not sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality; infrequent characteristics can be positive as well.
Deviation from Social Norms
Real-world application: Used in clinical practice for diagnosing disorders like antisocial personality disorder.
Strength: Useful in psychiatry, as seen in defining characteristics of disorders.
Limitation: Variability between social norms in different cultures and situations; difficult to judge across different contexts.
Evaluation
Extra Benefits versus problems: Some benefit from being labeled abnormal for accessing support services, while others may face social stigma without benefiting.
Cultural and situational relativism: Variability in social norms across cultures and situations makes it challenging to apply the criterion universally.
Statistical Infrequency: Further Evaluation
Objective Evaluation:
Statistical deviation considers infrequent or rare behavior as abnormal.
It is objective as it is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
Example: IQ scores - deviations from the average IQ are considered abnormal.
Clear Guidelines:
Utilizes clear cut-off points decided numerically for defining abnormality.
Mental health workers can interpret behavior uniformly using standardized measurements.
Limitations:
Not all infrequent behaviors are indicative of psychological illness.
Some abnormal behaviors, like high IQ, can be desirable.
Therefore, this definition may misclassify healthy but rare behaviors as abnormal.
Deviation from Social Norms
Explanation: Deviation from social norms refers to behavior that is not considered socially acceptable. It can be explicit (written laws) or implicit (unwritten but accepted norms).
Example: An example of deviation from social norms could be public nudity, which is generally considered socially unacceptable.
Evaluation:
Flexibility: Social norms can adapt, making this definition more flexible compared to statistical infrequency.
Subjectivity: The definition is subjective, as it relies on judgment to determine when behavior deviates enough to be abnormal.
Accuracy: This subjectivity can make the definition less accurate compared to statistical infrequency, as it is open to interpretation.
Deviation from Social Norms - Evaluation
Cultural Bias:
Definition: Social acceptability varies across cultures, leading to labeling individuals from different cultural groups as abnormal based on majority group standards.
Example: Afro-Caribbean individuals in the UK are disproportionately diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to the general population.
Evaluation: Highlights the impact of cultural norms on defining abnormality, raising concerns about fairness and accuracy in diagnosis and treatment.
Ethnocentrism:
Definition: Judging other cultures based on one's own cultural standards.
Example: White European culture deems 'hearing voices' as abnormal, while it may be considered a religious experience like 'hearing the voices of angels' in another culture.
Evaluation: Reveals the limitations of applying a single cultural perspective to assess behaviors, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity in mental health practices.
A Category Failure:
Scenario: 'Hearing voices' categorized as abnormal in one culture but viewed as a normal religious experience in another culture.
Implication: Challenges the universal definition of abnormality and underscores the importance of considering cultural contexts in defining and addressing mental health issues.
Failure to Function Adequately
Definition: Crossing the line between 'normal' and 'abnormal' due to inability to cope with everyday life demands.
Indicators: Inability to maintain nutrition, hygiene, hold a job, or maintain relationships.
Additional Signs (Rosenhan & Seligman, 1989):
Non-conformance to standard interpersonal rules
Severe personal distress
Irrational or dangerous behavior
Example: Intellectual Disability Disorder
Criteria for diagnosis: Low IQ and failure to function adequately.
Diagnosis not solely based on IQ.
Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
Approach: Focus on deviation from ideal mental health to determine abnormality.
Criteria (Marie Jahoda, 1958):
Absence of symptoms or distress
Rationality and accurate self-perception
Self-actualization
Coping with stress
Realistic worldview
Good self-esteem and lack of guilt
Independence
Success in work, love, and leisure
Overlap: Some overlap between deviation from ideal mental health and failure to function adequately. E.g., inability to keep a job can be seen as both a coping failure and a deviation from the ideal of successful work.
Evaluation
Failure to Function Criterion
Strength: Represents a sensible threshold for seeking professional help.
Limitation: Easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal, leading to discrimination and social control.
Extra Evaluation: Failing to function may not always indicate abnormality, especially in response to distressing circumstances.
Pros:
Takes into account a person's subjective experience
Represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
Treatment and services can be directed towards those who need them most
Cons:
Discrimination and social control
Easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as 'abnormal'
Not having a job or a permanent address may be seen as a failure to function, despite being a lifestyle choice
Some people with abnormalities, like those with Antisocial Personality Disorder, can function fine
Ideal Mental Health Criterion
Strength: Highly comprehensive, includes various criteria for distinguishing mental health from disorder.
Limitation: Culture-bound, not equally applicable across different cultures due to varying values and definitions of success.
Pros of Deviation from Ideal Mental Health:
Aspiration for personal growth: Encourages individuals to strive for self-improvement and autonomy.
Focus on individual well-being: Prioritizes the mental health and happiness of individuals.
Encourages seeking help: Individuals are more likely to seek professional help to improve their mental health.
Cons of Deviation from Ideal Mental Health:
Unrealistic standards: Sets an unattainable high standard for mental health, leading to feelings of inadequacy.
Ethnocentric bias: Criteria are based on Western individualistic values, disregarding cultural differences.
Neglects community well-being: Ignores the importance of collective identity and community achievement in some cultures. Limited applicability: Not universally applicable as it may not align with the values and beliefs of all cultures.