Defining Abnormality: Statistical Infrequency

Question 1

What are the FOUR definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

1. Statistical infrequency
2. Deviation from social norms
3. Failure to function adequately
4. Deviation from mental state

Question 2

What is the definition of statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

Behaviours that are extremely abnormal referring in terms of number of times it is observed - rare

Question 3

Example of an everyday behaviour that is statistically rare

Answer 3

• Taking clothes of in public
• Stalking

Question 4

Give an example of psychological abnormalities and explain why that behaviour is statistically rare

Answer 4

• IQ is normally distributed
• The average IQ is 100 and the majority of people have an IQ between 85 and 115
• Only 2% have a score below 70
• Those individuals scoring below 70 are statistically unusual or’abnormal’ are diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder

Question 5

A strength of statistical infrequency

Real life application in the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder

Answer 5

• There is a place for statistical deviation in thinking what is normal and abnormal behaviour and characteristics
• All assessment of patients with mental disorders includes some comparison to statistical norms
• Intellectual disability disorder demonstrate how statistical infrequency can be used
• Statistical infrequency is thus a useful part of the clinical assessment

Question 6

A limitation of statistical infrequency

unusual/abnormal’ characteristics can be positive/desirable

Answer 6

• If very few people display a behaviour that makes the behaviour statistically abnormal doesn’t mean the person requires treatment
• IQ scores over 130 are just as unusual as those below 70 but regarded as undesirable and requiring treatment
• This is a serious limitation of the concept of statistical infrequency and means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis

Question 7

Limitation of statistical infrequency

is that not everyone unusual benefits from a label

Answer 7

• When someone is living a happy and fulfilled life, there is no benefit to them being labelled abnormal
• Someone with a very low IQ who was not distressed or out of work, etc.. would not need to the diagnosis of intellectual disability
• Being labelled as abnormal might have a negative effect on the ways other view them and the way they view themselves