definition of abnormalities Flashcards
(14 cards)
what are the 4 definitions of abnormalities
Deviation from social norms
Failure to function adequately
Statistical infrequency
Deviation from ideal mental health
Deviation from social norms
Social norms are the expected rules of behaviour in society. They differ between cultures and between the same culture at different periods in time.
Strengths of the deviation from social norms definition:
social norms are flexible to account for the individual and situation. For example, throwing tantrums and hitting people is socially normal for a toddler, but would be a sign of mental disorder in adulthood. Similarly, walking around naked in your house might be normal, but walking around naked in the street would be a sign of mental disorder.
Weaknesses of the deviation from social norms definition
Cultural relativism. What is seen as “abnormal” in one culture might be normal in another. Social norms vary between societies (e.g. hearing voices may be accepted in some cultures as spiritual). This leads to ethnocentrism if Western norms are applied globally.
Subjective and lacks objectivity. Norms are not fixed; they change over time (e.g. attitudes toward gender roles or sexuality). This makes the definition unreliable and open to bias.
Difficult to decide what counts as “unacceptable” – who decides the norm?
Not all abnormal behaviour is undesirable. Some people may deviate from social norms in a positive or harmless way (e.g. eccentric personalities). This means the definition might wrongly label harmless individuals as abnormal.
Failure to function adequately
This means a person is unable to navigate everyday life or behave in the necessary ways to live a ‘normal’ life.
Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) identify various features of dysfunction, including:
(failure to function adequately)
Personal distress
Maladaptive behaviour
Irrationality
Unpredictability
Discomfort to others
Statistical infrequency
It defines abnormality as statistically rare characteristics and behaviours. The further a characteristic or behaviour is from the mathematical average, the more rare or statistically infrequent it is.
Strengths of the failure to function definition:
The majority of people who seek clinical help for psychological disorders do so because they believe the disorder is affecting their ability to function normally. So, this definition is well-supported by the individuals themselves who suffer from mental disorders.
Weaknesses of the failure to function definition:
Not everyone who is unable to function is suffering from a mental disorder. In some contexts, psychologically healthy people may (temporarily) be unable to function adequately. For example, a person who has just lost a close friend or relative may be unable to go to work or have fun with friends due to the grief they are feeling.
Subjectivity and value judgments
What counts as “failing to function” is often judged by others, not the individual. A person may be living a non-traditional lifestyle (e.g. choosing to be homeless or eccentric) but not feel distressed. This raises the issue of labelling people as abnormal unfairly.
Some mental disorders don’t involve dysfunction. Some people with psychological disorders can appear to function adequately. E.g., someone with high-functioning depression or psychopaths may not show obvious signs of dysfunction. This suggests FFA may miss certain disorders and lacks completeness.
May not distinguish abnormality from social deviance
Some people might choose not to conform to societal expectations (e.g. nudists, spiritual practices). These behaviours might be judged as failing to function when they’re actually just nonconformist, not mentally ill.
Strengths of the statistical infrequency definition
Statistical infrequency provides a clear and objective way of determining whether something is abnormal or not. It is not just the subjective opinion of one person, but something that can be measured and quantified.
Statistical infrequency does not imply any value judgements, i.e. whether something is good or bad.
Weaknesses of the statistical infrequency definition
Statistical infrequency is an objective definition because it relies on real, measurable data, such as test scores or behaviour frequencies. This removes personal bias from the assessment of abnormality, making it more scientific and reliable.
Not all abnormal behaviours are rare
Some disorders are statistically common but still abnormal — e.g., depression affects around 1 in 6 adults. This questions the usefulness of statistical rarity as a sole criterion.
Deviation from ideal mental health
The idea is that there are various theoretical descriptions of ‘normality’ and if someone does not fit within this theoretical idea of normality their behaviour is abnormal.
Strengths of the deviation from ideal mental health :
Positive and holistic approach
Unlike other definitions, this focuses on what is healthy, not just what’s wrong. Offers a comprehensive view of well-being, including emotional, physical, and social functioning. Helps in goal-setting for therapy (e.g., helping someone achieve autonomy or self-esteem).
Weaknesses of the deviation from ideal mental health:
Unrealistically high standards
Very few people meet all six criteria all the time. For example, someone might not constantly self-actualise or have complete autonomy, but that doesn’t make them mentally ill. This could pathologise normal behaviour and label many healthy people as “abnormal.”
Cultural relativism
Jahoda’s criteria are based on Western, individualist ideals (e.g. autonomy, self-actualisation). In collectivist cultures, interdependence and conformity are valued more than independence. This means the definition may not be culturally universal, leading to ethnocentric bias in diagnosis.
Subjective and difficult to measure
Concepts like “personal growth” or “self-actualisation” are hard to define and assess objectively. Different professionals may interpret criteria differently (low reliability). Makes the definition less scientific than statistical or functional models of abnormality.
