Definition Of Abnormality

Question 1

What is considered abnormal?

Answer 1

Behaviour that is seen as a deviation from social norms.

Question 2

What is a norm?

Answer 2

Standards of acceptable behaviour.
It is set by a social group & carried out by a social group.

Question 3

When is behaviour considered to be abnormal?

Answer 3

If society or the majority considers it unacceptable or undesirable.

This refers to deviant behaviour, anti social behaviour or undesirable behaviour.

Question 4

When have social norms changed?

Answer 4

Acceptable to not acceptable: Smoking
Not acceptable to acceptable: Homosexuality

Question 5

Are norms universal?

Answer 5

No. There are few norms that are universal. Norms are usually dependent on your culture.

Question 6

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 6

Behaviour that is statistically rare is considered to be abnormal.

Question 7

The maths behind statistical infrequency

Answer 7

Mathematical method for defining abnormality.
The idea that human attributes fall into a normal distribution within the population
Meaning there is a central average and the rest of the population fall symmetrically above and below that mean.
Standard deviation as a measure informs us how far scores fall on either side away from the mean

Question 8

What is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 8

Abnormality is seen as any behaviours deviating from an ideal positive mental health.

Question 9

Marie Jahoda - suggestions of good mental health.

(Say promise I am actually malicious)

Answer 9

Proposed 6 criteria which indicate ideal mental health.

Self attitude: having high self-esteem and a strong sense of identity
Personal growth and self-actualisation: the extent to which a person develops their full capabilities
Integration: being able to cope with stressful situations
Autonomy: being independent and self regulating
Accurate perception of reality
Master of the environment

Question 10

What is failure to function adequately?

Answer 10

Abnormal behaviour is judged in terms of being able to function adequately. Healthy people are judged as as being able to operate within certain acceptable limits. If abnormal behaviour interferes with adequate functioning then one is considered abnormal.

Question 11

When are individuals viewed as dysfunctional?

Answer 11

When they cannot look after themselves or who are perceived to be irrational or out of control

Question 12

Rosehan and Seligman (1989)

Answer 12

Proposed seven major features that appear in abnormal behaviour as opposed to normal behaviour

Question 13

7 features in abnormal behaviour: Rosenhan and Seligman
SMULIOV

So my uncle lives in Orange Village

Answer 13

Suffering
Maladaptiveness: prevents an individual from achieving, from having fulfilling relationships, working effectively
Unconventionality
Loss of control: unpredictable
Irrational
Observer discomfort: Behaviour is governed by unspoken rules about how we should behave. When others break these we experience discomfort.
Violation of moral standards

Question 14

Limitations of DFSN

Answer 14

P - Culturally relative
E - The DSM is the main tool used to diagnose mental illnesses. This classification system is primarily based on Western social norms, and yet is applied to all cultures.

E - Dangerous social consequences
E - Szasz argued that this definition is just a way to exert social control by excluding or labelling non-conformists’ and individuals who could be problem in society.

P - Difficulty in deciding what is abnormal
E - Dependent on the context in which you do certain behaviours such as shouting in the street is considered abnormal but at a concert, it wouldn’t be.

Question 15

Strengths of DSN

Answer 15

P - Real-world application
E - Useful as the definition is used in clinical practice. Used in the diagnosis of anti-social personality disorder as the signs of failure to conform to society standards such as aggression are all deviations from social norms.

Question 16

Limitations of SI

Answer 16

P - Doesn’t differentiate between rare and undesirable behaviours.
E - Although having an extremely high IQ is rare and infrequent, it is usually considered a positive trait and people with a very high IQ are considered geniuses. In contrast, although depression is quite common, it is considered a mental health disorder.

P - Different cultures have differences in statistically rare behaviours.
E - For example, in most Western and Eurocentric cultures, hearing voices would be considered rare. However, in many other cultures, this is a desirable common trait.
E - Practical implications for diagnosis and treatment as it highlights the need for diagnostic tools to be culturally relative

Question 17

SI extended PEEL

Answer 17

STRENGTH:
P - Objective measure of abnormality
E - Based on the normal distribution curve, you could argue that only behaviours which occur in less than 5% of the population should be considered abnormal
E - Possible to establish a clear cut-off point to determine behaviours which are abnormal, making diagnosis more reliable.

LIM:
P - HOWEVER, this may not be the most effective approach to mental health diagnosis.
E - One of the key criteria for diagnosis depends on the impact and level of distress a behaviour has on the person. For example, someone with an abnormally low IQ may still be functioning well and without distress within their capabilities.
E - May lead to unhelpful labelling of people who do not need treatment and increase stigmatisation and discrimination of certain traits and behaviours

Question 18

DFIMH Limitations

Answer 18

P - Not realistic
E - Jahoda’s criteria - we may not be able to cope with stress in every situation for example and you need all 6 to be mentally healthy.
E - Very difficult to achieve, especially over a long period of time. Limitation because if diagnosis is based only on this definition, most will end up being labelled as abnormal.

P - Treats mental health in the same way as physical health
E - Jahoda’s criteria can help to identify symptoms or poor mental health, similar to doctors using symptoms to diagnose poor physical health.
E - Mental health is much more complex, with multiple causes which are not always easily identifiable. Some may be able to mask their symptoms or seem to be copying, making it harder to identify.

P - Lacks cultural relativism
E - Jahoda’s criteria is not applicable to all cultures such as self-actualisation in other cultures would be seen as self-indulgent.
E - Not as relevant to non-Western cultures.

Question 19

FFA Limitations

Answer 19

P - Definition is subjective
E - For example, the criteria of observer discomfort suggests that for behaviour to be considered abnormal, it requires someone else to judge it as such or feel uncomfortable with it.
E - Some may report being in distress yet not meet the medical threshold for diagnosis and not receive the support they need. Some people with a diagnosis may not feel there is anything wrong with them, and as a result won’t engage with treatment

P - Doesn’t apply to all dysfunctional behaviours.
E - For example, violation of social norms. Some people may speak to themselves so it aids them to function adequately however this is seen as abnormal.

P - Doesn’t take account cultural differences
E - Violation of social norms. In some cultures, people speak in tongues for example. This may be considered abnormal in a Western society but in other cultures, this is seen as desirable.

Question 20

FFA Strength

Answer 20

P - Represents a reasonable threshold for when people need to seek professional help.
E - 25% of people experience mental health symptoms. This does not mean that we need professional help though. However, once we cease to function adequately is when you are in need to receive professional help.
E - Help those who need help.