Definition of abnormality - Statistical Infrequency

Question 1

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 1

Behaviours that are rare or abnormal

-for example, it is normal to have a baby between 20 and 40 (mean, mode, median)

• <20 or >40 would be abnormal

Question 2

What is an example of a statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

Fear of dogs

-ppts asked to rank their fear of dogs 1-10

-The average would be around 4-7

-‘abnormal’ people would be those that rated their fear of dogs outside of this range

Question 3

AO3 -

Cut off point is subjective

Answer 3

It is hard to decide where to separate normality from abnormality

-Therefore abnormality is ambiguous, and it could potentially mean that statistical infrequency is invalid

Question 4

AO3 -

Cultural relativism

Answer 4

Behaviours that are infrequent in one culture may be frequent in another

-it is normal for people to ‘hear voices’ in come cultures

-however in the UK, it is considered abnormal to do so

Therefore hard to be used globally