Abnormality AO1 Flashcards
Statistical Infrequency
Abnormality is defined as those behaviour that are extremely rare, i.e any behaviour that is found in very few people is regarded abnormal.
Eg it would be seen as abnormal is a women have their baby later 20 and earlier than 40
Deviation from social norms
Abnormal behaviour is seen as deviation from unstated rules l about how ‘ought’ to behave. Anything that violates these rules are considered abnormal
Eg. Homosexuality was considered to be ‘abnormal’ and was regarded a mental disorder. it was also against the law in the UK (but not nowadays).
Strength of Deviation from social norms
does distinguish between desirable and undesirable
AO3
Deviation from social norms does distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours which is not achieved with the statistical infrequency definition.
Limitations of Deviation from social norms
Judgements on deviance are often related to the context of a behaviour. Eg. a person one a beach wearing a swim suit is regarded as normal, whereas the same outfit in a classroom or at a formal gathering would be regarded as abnormal and possibly an indication of a mental disorder
This means that social deviance on its own cannot offer a complete definition of abnormality as it is inevitably related to both context and degree
Strengths of statistical infrequency
Sometimes it is appropriate - eg intellectual disability is defined as an IQ which is more then two SDs bellow the mean.
This suggests that statistical infrequency is only one of a number of tools
A limitation of Statistical infrequency
There as many abnormal behaviours that are actually quite desirable. eg. someone with an IQ over 150 bus this is abnormality is desirable not undesirable.
Therefore, using statistical infrequency to define abnormality means that we are unable to distinguish between destínale and undesirable behaviours
A limitation of both statisical infrequency and deviation from social norms definition is that they are culure bonde
E: Classification systems like DSM are based on western culutres
e: However, cultures differ in terms of statistical infrequency and social norms
L: This means that there are no universal standards or rules for labelling behaviours as abnormal
Limitation of devaition to social norms is that deviance is related to behaviour’s context
E: For example, wearing few clothes on a beach is normal, but is abnormal at a formal gathering
E: However, sometimes there is not a clearlink between abnormal deviation and harmless eccentricity
L: This means that social deviance on its own cannot offer a complete definition of abnormality
What AO3 are you using for Statisical infrequency?’
Strength
Sometimes it is appropriate
Limitation
it is culture bond
some of these characteristics may be seen as desirable
ut-off point are subjectively determined
What AO3 are you using for devation to social norms?
Limitaton
related to behaviour’s context
strengths
does distinguish between desirable and undesirable
Norms change overtime
Another limitation of the statsical infrequncy definitions is that cut-off point are subjectively determined
E; For example, people disagree on what contitues an abnormal lack of sleep
E: However, since this is a symptom of depression, it is important to know where the cutoff point lies for a diagnosis to be made.
L: This means that disagreements about cut-off points make it difficult to define abnormality in terms of statsical infrequency
Failure to function adequatley
A peron. is faiing to function adequatley if they cannot cope with everyday life
If a behaviour is not personally distressing or distressing to others, a judgement of abnormality is inappropriate.
e.g SZ
DSM ‘s assessment = abnormality includes a quantative measure of functioning
Deviation from ideal mental helth
Abnormality is defned as devinating from ideal positive mental health, defined of Jahod’s (1958) criteria of ideal mental health. Absense of critera for positive mental health indicates abnormalit and a potential mental disorder.
Jahoda 6 characteristics of ideal mental health include:
- Personal growth and self-acutalisation = the extent to which an individual develops their full capability
- Self-attitudes = having high self-esteem and a strong sense of idenity
- Integreation = being able to cope in stressful situations
- Autonomy = being independant and self -regualting
- Having an accurate preception of reality
- Mastery of enviroment - including the ability to love, function at work and in interpersonal relationships.
AO3