Abnormality - Statistical infrequency Flashcards
What idea does ‘statistical infrequency’ focus on?
That abnormal behaviours are statistically rare or uncommon.
This definition is particularly useful when a characteristic can be reliably ___.
Measured.
What can be used to analyse what is regarded as statistcally uncommon?
A normal distribution.
What percentage of the population usually fall outside the ‘normal distribution’?
5%
What are the people who fall outside the ‘normal distribution’ perceived as?
Abnormal.
What is an example of a disorder that can be explained using ‘statistical infrequency’?
Intellectual Disability Disorder (IDD)
How does ‘SI’ explain IDD?
IQ scores in the general population, on average, are 100 however 2% of the population have an IQ score below 70 which makes it very rare and therefore ‘abnormal’.
What are the 4 evaluation points for SI?
+ Clear and easy to use.
- requires subjective judgement.
- Defines positive characteristics as abnormal.
- ethnocentric
A strength of the SI definition is that it is clear and easy to use.
E: It offers a clear cut way of distinguishing between normal and abnormal behaviour which makes it easy for clinicians to use as part of making a diagnosis.
E: All assessment of patients with mental disorders included some kind of measurement of how severe their symptoms are compared to the majority in society.
L: +ve as the SI definition is a useful part of clinical assessment.
It requires a subjective judgement on where the cut-off between normal and abnormal should be.
E: Individuals may disagree on where this cut-off point should be in defining abnormality.
E: ‘difficulty sleeping’ is a symptom of depression, but the decision as to whether they have to sleep 80% less than the population or 90% is a subjective one.
L: -ve because the definition cannot be used truly objectively when diagnosing disorders.
Another problem with SI is that it defines +ve characteristics as abnormal.
E: the SI definition is unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours.
E: Very few people have an IQ over 150 (and could be regarded as a genius) yet this definition would view such people as abnormal even though most in society would argue this would be a desirable trait.
L: Problem as a good definition should only identify those in need of diagnosis and treatment.
SI definition may be culturally biased (ethnocentric)
E: This means that behaviours that are statistically infrequent in one culture may be statistically quite frequent in another.
E: One of the symptoms of schizophrenia is claiming to hear voices which might be rare in some cultures but quite common in others.
L: Problem as it is argued a reliable definition should be consistent between cultures.
