Definitions Of Abnormality

Question 1

What are the four definitions of abnormality

Answer 1

Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Deviation from ideal mental health
Failure to function adequately

Question 2

Outline deviation from social norms

Answer 2

• someone acting out of the unwritten rules of what is acceptable in society
• If deviating from norms the individual is considered abnormal

Question 3

Evaluate deviation from social norms

Answer 3

X Social norms are inconsistent and change over time e.g. homosexuality
X Criminals deviate from social norms but aren’t all mentally ill
X Cultural differences in social norms e.g. nudity 

Question 4

Outline statistical infrequency

Answer 4

• Behavioural characteristics seen as abnormal if statistically rare
• an objective way to define abnormality
• can use the normal distribution to see what characteristics or behaviours are statistically rare (infrequent)
• e.g. IQ below 70% is statistically infrequent and could be a sign of abnormality

Question 5

Evaluate statistical infrequency

Answer 5

+ can make adaptations to support people with low IQ or other rare behaviours or characteristics
X Doesn’t make sense for rare but desirable statistics e.g. IQ
X Some psychopathologies aren’t rare e.g. depression in 19.7% of people over

Question 6

Outline deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 6

• Person deemed abnormal if they fail to meet just one criteria for ideal mental health
• missing several criteria makes the abnormality more severe
• Suggested by Marie Jahoda
  REMEMBER PRAISE JAHODA
  Personal growth (to self actualisation)
  Reality perception- between
  Autonomy (independence)
  Integration
  Self-esteem
  Environmental mastery

Question 7

Evaluate deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 7

+Takes a more positive outlook than other definitions
+Gives ‘abnormal’ individuals something to work towards
- Ideal mental health is subjective
- Not realistic and too demanding for the average person
- Westernised and ethnocentric to individualistic cultures

Question 8

Outline Failure to function adequately

Answer 8

• A person considered abnormal if they can’t meet the demands of everyday life or live independently
• Failure to cope is distressing for both the individual and those around them
• measured on the GAF scale 100 function well, 0 not functioning at all

Question 9

evaluate failure to function adequately

Answer 9

X Some people function adequately with mental disorders e.g. Churchill and depression
X filling in a questionnaire, people may not be able to take them themselves so may not be accurate
X Subjective idea who decides what adequately functioning is
X Cultural differences make it hard to define e.g. every day functioning would be different in different cultures