Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

Statistical Infrequency

Answer 1

Numerically unusual behaviour or characteristic. E.g. IQ below 70 (bottom 2%) is part of the diagnosis of IDD.

Question 2

Evaluation of Statistical Infrequency

Answer 2

• Real world application -> Useful in diagnosis and assessment.
• Unusual characteristics can be positive -> Some unusual characteristics would not be judged as abnormal e.g. high IQ.
• Benefits vs problems -> Some people with low IQ function adequately and don’t benefit from being labelled (social stigma).

Question 3

Deviation from social norms

Answer 3

Social judgements about what is acceptable.
What is thought normal in one culture may not be in another (e.g. homosexuality). Example: antisocial personality disorder - impulsive, aggressive, irresponsible behaviour is not socially acceptable in many cultures.

Question 4

Evaluation of deviation from social norms

Answer 4

• Real world application -> Used to diagnose some disorders.
• Cultural and situational relativism -> Different standards, therefore hard to make judgements (e.g. hearing voices).
• Human rights abuses -> Social norm approach maintains control over minority groups, e.g. women and slaves, but useful for e.g. antisocial personality disorders.

Question 5

Failure to function adequately

Answer 5

Inability to cope with demands of everyday life.
Rosenhan and Seligman listed signs e.g. non-conformity to social rules, personal distress, severe distress or danger to self or others. Example: intellectual disability disorder - Failure to function is part of the diagnosis of IDD as well as low IQ.

Question 6

Evaluation of failure to function

Answer 6

• Represents a threshold for help -> Provides a way to identify when someone needs professional help.
• Discrimination and social control -> May lead to people leading non-standard lifestyles and being judged as abnormal.
• Failure to function may not be abnormal -> Most of us experience such failure e.g. bereavement, but still may require help.

Question 7

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 7

Jahoda considered normality rather than abnormality.
Ideal mental health includes: lack of symptoms, rationality, self-actualisation, coping with stress, realistic world-view.

Question 8

Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 8

• A comprehensive definition -> Includes most of the reasons why anyone might seek help.
• May be culture-bound -> Some ideas e.g. self-actualisation are specific to US/European cultures, and independence varies within European cultures (e.g. Germany vs Italy).
• Extremely high standards -> Few people ever meet them, but useful as a goal for mental health.