definitions of abnormality Flashcards
statistical infrequency definition
occurs when an individual has a less common characteristics , for example being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the population
statistical infrequency example
comes into its own when we are dealing with characteristics that can be reliably measured ie intelligence.
in any human characteristic the majority of people scores cluster around the average .
the fewer we go above and below the average the fewer people will attain the score. this is normal distribution .
average iq is set at 100
most people have an iq 85-115
only 2% of people have a score below 70
individuals scoring below 70 are abnormal , and liable to receive a diagnosis of physchological disorder - intellectual disability disorder
real life application
statistical infrequency evaluation
a strength as it has its place in the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder , helps us thinking about abnormal / normal behaviours .
all assessments of patients with mental disorders have some kind of measurement go how severe their symptom are compared to statistical norms
unusual characteristics = positive
statistical infrequency evaluation
a weakness , iq scores over 130 are just as uncommon as unsual as those below 70 , but we wouldn’t think being super smart as an undesirable characteristic that needs treatment. just because very few people show a behaviour that makes them statistically abnormal doesn’t mean they need treatment.
this is a limitation to the concept of statistical infrequency and means that it would never be used alone to make a diagnosis .
beneficial with a label ?
statistical infrequency evaluation
a weakness , not everybody benefits from having a label.if someone is living a happy and fulfilled life no benefit to them being labelled as abnormal regardless of how unusual they are .
ie someone with a low iq below 70 but was not distressed and was capable of working would not need a diagnosis off intlectuall disability .
if this person was labelled as abnormal it might have negative impact on the way them or others view themselves .
deviation from social norms definition
concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
deviation from social norms
example
anti social personality disorder (psychopath) a person diagnosed wit this will be impulsive aggressive and irresponsible
DSM-5 diagnosis this by “absence of prosocial internal standards …”
we are making the social judgement that a psychopath is abnormal because they don’t conform to our moral standards .
not a sole explanation
deviations from social norm
a strength , it has real life explanations in the diagnosis of anti social personality disorder . there is therefore a place for it in thinking about normal/abnormalitys
however even in this case there are other factors to consider for example the distress to other people resulting from anti social personality disorder (the failure to function definition)
o in practice deviation from social norms is never the sole reason for defining abnormality
cultral relativism
deviations from social norm
a weakness , social norms vary tremendously from one generation to another and from one community to another
meaning that a personal from one cultural group may label someone from a diffrent cultural group as behaving abnormally by their standards
ie hearing voices in some cultures is socially acceptable but would be seen as a sign of mental abnormality in the uk
creates problems for people from one culture living within another culture group , or the basis of a diagnosis itself
can lead to human rights abuses
deviations from social norm
too much reliance on deviation from social norms to understand abnormality can also lead to systematic abuse of human rights
ie drapetomania was bolack slovaks running away and was classed as an abnormality
historically abnormalities have been used to maintain control over minority ethic groups
the classification woudol not make sense today only because our social norms have changed .
