Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What does ‘abnormal’ mean?

Answer 1

Deviating from the average (norm)

Question 2

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

When does statistical infrequency occur?

Answer 3

When an indivual has a less common characteristic

Question 4

What is the definition of ‘statistical infrequency’?

Answer 4

When an individual has a less common characteristic than most of the population such as IDD

Question 5

What is an example of being statistically infrequent?

Answer 5

Having intellectual disability disorder - an average person has an IQ of 100 but anyone with an IQ less than 70 is considered to have this condition

Question 6

What is a strength of statistical infrequency?

Answer 6

• Useful
• Can be used in clinical practices to diagnose and assess the severity of certain conditions.
• For example, IDD.

Question 7

What is a limitation of statistical infrequency?

Answer 7

• Infrequent characteristics aren’t always negative.
• For example, we wouldn’t think of someone with a very high IQ score as being abnormal, however they technically are.
• This shows that being at one end of a spectrum doesn’t make someone abnormal.

Question 8

What is the definition of ‘deviation from social norms’?

Answer 8

Behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society

Question 9

What is an example of ‘deviation from social norms’?

Answer 9

• Antisocial behaviour disorder
• Makes someone impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible

Question 10

What is a strength of deviation from social norms?

Answer 10

• Useful
• Can be used in clinical practices
• For example, antisocial personality disorder

Question 11

What is a limitation of deviation from social norms? (culture)

Answer 11

• Someone from one culture may label another person as abnormal using their own standards
• For example, hearing voices may be normal in some cultures but not in the UK
• Social norms differ from one situation to another

Question 12

What is a limitation of deviation from social norms? (labelling)

Answer 12

• Carries the risk of unfair labelling
• It may cause unwanted control on a person or self-esteem issues
• However, DFSM is needed to help diagnose conditions

Question 13

What is ‘failure to function adequately’?

Answer 13

When someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day life

Question 14

What is an example of failing to function adequately?

Answer 14

Being unable to maintain hygiene or relationships

Question 15

What are the 3 signs that someone is failing to function adequately?

Answer 15

• When someone no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules
• When someone experiences severe personal distress
• When someone’s behaviour become irrational or dangerous to themselves or others

Question 16

What is a strength of ‘failure to function adequately’?

Answer 16

• It represents a threshold for help
• Many people will suffer from symptoms of mental illness, however many people also suffer from severe symptoms
• This criteria means that treatment and services can be directed to those who need it most

Question 17

What is a limitation of ‘failure to function adequately’?

Answer 17

• It is easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
• It can be hard to say when someone is failing to function and when they have simply decided to deviate from social norms
• This means that people who have unusual lifestyle choices may be at risk of being labelled as ‘abnormal’

Question 18

What is ‘deviation from ideal mental health’?

Answer 18

When someone does not mett a set of criteria for good mental health

Question 19

What are 4/8 of the criteria that must be met to be classed as having good mental health?

Answer 19

• Have no symptoms of distress
• We can cope with stress
• We have a realistic view of the world
• We have good self-esteem and lack guilt

Question 20

What is a strength of ‘deviation from ideal mental health’?

Answer 20

• It is highly comprehensive
• The criteria helps to distinguish the difference between mental health and illness
• It helps individuals to discuss their symptoms meaningfully with professionals who might have different views
• This means that the criteria provides a checklist so we can assess ourselves

Question 21

What is a limitation of ‘deviation from ideal mental health’?

Answer 21

• May be culture-bound
• The criteria is firmly located in the context of the USA and western Europe however concepts such as self-actualisation may be dismissed as self-indulgent in other parts of the world
• What defines our success differs in different cultures