Definitions of Abnormality

Question 1

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

• Deviation from social Norms
• Failure to function adequately
• statistical infrequency
• Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

What is deviation from social Norms as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 2

When someone breaks the unwritten rules about what is acceptable in society

eg: walking through the street nude

Question 3

What are the evaluation points for deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 3

• Issue: Cultural relativism, social norms differ between cultures so there can be no global standard definition for abnormality
• Issue: Hindsight bias, Norms change over time and so minority groups could be excluded or individuals could have their human rights violated
• Issue: The definition doesn’t take into account context or the degree of severity of the action and so does not offer a complete explanation

Question 4

What is failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 4

A person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life and live independently, their behaviour should cause personal suffering and distress to classify

eg: Struggling to get out of bed in the morning to go to work

Question 5

What are evaluation points as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 5

• weakness: individual difference, people with the same ailment may act differently eg: OCD may have night or morning rituals and so it will impact their days differently
• Strength: Personal experience is accounted for, takes into account their feelings and so is a useful model for assessing behaviour
• Issue: similar to deviation from social norms and so it’s hard to assess whether the behaviour is maladaptive

Question 6

What is statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 6

A behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is statistically uncommon in society: the edges of the distribution graph =2.5%

eg: IQ graph

Question 7

What are the evaluation points of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 7

• issue: misdiagnosis can be common as eg: depression is at 10% so is common, thus there are drawbacks to the statistical method
• Labelling: the labelling of anyone on the fringe as abnormal may not be helpful as they could still lead a normal life and it would merely contribute to a poor self-image
• The statistical infrequency definition does not differentiate between desirable uncommon traits and abnormal traits and as such is not specific enough

Question 8

What is deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 8

Abnormality is defined as the absence of particular ideal characteristics. there are 6 principles including:
. High self esteem
. Self actualise
. be independent
. Accurate reality
. Resist stress
. Master environment

Question 9

What are the evaluation points for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 9

• Unrealistic criteria, everybody cannot fulfil all those at all times and as such, circumstances being excluded, there are limitations to the approach
• Strength, positive and holistic, it takes a positive view and attempts to be holistic meaning it is valid as it accounts for a wide array of things
• Cultural relativism is a weakness as perceptions of ideal mental health differ in different countries so it cant be a global definition of abnormality