Chapter 5.1 - Definitions of abnormality(1)

Question 1

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 1

Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, for example being more depressed or less intelligent than most population
- Going away from the normal distribution

Question 2

What is an example of statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

IQ - average is 100, 65% attain a score of 85-115, only 2% have a score of under 70
-> individuals with a lower score are considered abnormal and liable to receive a diagnosis of the psychological disorder, intellectual disability disorder

Question 3

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 3

Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society

Question 4

How are social norms culture specific and give an example of a disorder it leads to?

Answer 4

• Universally abnormal behaviour breaches social norms, for example homosexuality was considered abnormal in out culture and continues to be viewed as abnormal/illegal in some cultures
• Antisocial personality disorder is give to a person who is impulsive, aggressive, and irresponsible
  -> The social judgement is based on the fact that psychopaths don’t conform to our moral standards

Question 5

What is an advantage of statistical infrequency? (real-world application)

Answer 5

It is used in clinical practice as both a part of formal diagnosis and as a way to assess the severity of an individual’s symptoms
- Diagnosis : IDD requires an IQ score of lower than 70
- Assessment : Beck depression inventory, a score of >30 is widely interpreted as indicating severe depression

Question 6

What is a limitation of statistical infrequency? (positive uncommon characteristics)

Answer 6

Infrequent characteristics can be positive as well as negative
- For every person with a low IQ score and high BDI score, there is a person with a high IQ score and a low BDI score, yet they would not be considered as ‘abnormal’
- They can also have desirable characteristics
- Never sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality

Question 7

What is another limitation for statistical infrequency? (benefit vs problem)

Answer 7

Some people can benefit from being classed as being abnormal, a person with low IQ and diagnosed with IDD can access support services and a person with a high BDI score can benefit from therapy
- Not all people benefit from labels due to social stigma associated with them, a person with a low IQ score but can cope with their current lifestyle would not benefit from a label

Question 8

What is a strength of deviation from social norms? (real-world application)

Answer 8

It is used in clinical practice
- The key defining characteristic of antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally acceptable ethical behaviour, the signs are all deviation from social norms
-> Has value in psychiatry

Question 9

What is a limitation of deviation from social norms? (cultural and situational relativism)

Answer 9

Social norms vary between different cultures and situations
- A person from one cultural group may label someone from another group as abnormal using their standards rather than the persons standards, not generalisable
- Hearing voices can be seen as a message from ancestors in some cultures but is widely viewed as abnormal in most parts of the UK
-> It is difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different cultures and situations

Question 10

What is another limitation of deviation from social norms? (human rights abuses)

Answer 10

This definition carries the risk of unfair labelling and leaving people open to human rights abuses
- Nymphomania : excessive sexual desire, have been used to control women
- Drapetomania : black slaves running away, used to control slaves and avoid debate