Definitions of abnormality 1

Question 1

What are the first 2 defintions of abnormality?

Answer 1

• Statistical infrequency
• Deviation from social norms

Question 2

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

• Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic
• Any relatively usual behaviour can be thought of as ‘normal’
• Any behaviour that is uncommon can be seen as ‘abnormal’

Question 3

What is an example of statistical infrequency?

Answer 3

IQ and intellectual disabiloty disorder:
- Average IQ is 100
- 68% of people have an IQ 85-115
- 2% have an IQ below 70 (ABNORMAL)

Question 4

What is a strength of statistical infrequency?

Answer 4

I= Real world application
D= Used in clinical practice, as part of a formal diagnosis and as a way to access the severity of an individual’s symptoms (e.g. a diagnosis of IDD requires an IQ below 70)
E= The value of statistical infrequency criterion is useful in diagnostic and assessment processes

Question 5

What is the limitation of statistical infrequency?

Answer 5

• I= Unusual characteristics can be positive
• D= For every person with an IQ below 70, there is another person with an IQ above 130, yet we would not think having a high IQ is abnormal. This shows being unusual does not make someone abnormal
• E= This means statistical infrequency is never sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality

Question 6

Benefits vs problems with statistical infrequency

Answer 6

STRENGTH- some unusual people benefit from being classed as abnormal (IDD diagnosis ensures individuals can access support services)
LIMITATION- Not all statistical infrequent people benefit from labels- there is a social stigma attached to labels (someone with a low IQ can cope with their conditions)

Question 7

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 7

• Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
• Groups of people choose to define behaviour as ‘abnormal’ on the basis that it offends their sense of what is acceptable or the norm

Question 8

What is an example of deviation from social norms?

Answer 8

• A person with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) is impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible
• Society makes the judgement that psychopaths are abnormal, as they don’t conform to our moral standards

Question 9

What is a strength of deviation from social norms?

Answer 9

I= Real world application
D= Deviation from social norms is used in clinical practice. Signs of the antisocial personality disorder are all deviations from social norms. Such norms play a part in the diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder
E= Deviation from social norms criterion has value in psychiatry

Question 9

What is a limitation of deviation from social norms?

Answer 9

I= Cultural and situational relativism
D= A person from one cultural group may label someone as abnormal using their standards rather than the other person’s standards. E.g: the experience of hearing voices is the norm in some cultures, but would be seen as abnormal in most parts of the UK
E= It’s difficult to judge deviation from social norms across culture

Question 10

Human rights abuse

Deviation from social norms

Answer 10

• LIMITATION- Using deviation from social norms to define someone as abnormal carries the risk of unfair labelling, and leaves them open to human rights abuse
• STRENGTH- It can be argued we need to use deviation from social norms to diagnose conditions like antisocial personality disorder