Abnormality Flashcards
Statistical infrequency
Individual has a less common characteristic
(E.g low IQ)
Deviation from Social Norms
Behaviour that is different from the standard behaviour in society
Failure to function adequately
someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living
Deviation from ideal mental health
Someones doesn’t meet a criteria of good mental health
Strength of statistical infrequency
P: its usefulness
E.g Beck depression inventory - score of 30% indicates severe depression
E: means that SF is used in clinical practises to asses the severity of an individuals symptoms
L: This shows SF is useful in diagnostic and assessment processes
Limitation of statistical infrequency
P: infrequent characteristics can be positive as well as negative
E.g: iq above 130 wouldn’t be seen as abnormal
E.g. Similarly someone with a low depression score on the BMI wouldnt be seen as abnormal
L: Shows being unusual doesn’t mean you are abnormal which means SF isn’t sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality
Limitation of deviation from Social Norms
P: variability of social norms in different cultures
E.g: hearing voices in some cultures is normal as its a message from their ancestors
ex: A person from one cultural group may label someone from another group as abnormal using their standards rather than the other person’s standards.
L: Means that its difficult to judge deviation from social Norms across different situations and cultures
Strength of failure to function adequately
P: represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help
E.g: 25% of people in UK experience a mental health problem in a year
Ex: At the point We fail to function adequately we seek professional help
L: Means that treatment can be targeted to those who need it the most
Limitation to function adequately
P: easy to label non-standard life style choices as abnormal
E.g: Not having a job, people with alternative lifestyles choose to live ‘off-grid’
Ex: These people are not failing to function, but instead chosen to deviate from social norms.
L: people who make unusual choices are called abnormal and their freedom of choice is restricted
