Definitions Of Abnormality Flashcards
What is statistical infrequency
When a persons behaviour is statistically rare
How is statistical infrequency measured
On a normal distribution curve. If they fall out of the 5% then they are deemed statistically rare
Example of statistical infrequency
Intellectual disability disorder
IDD
what is IDD
When a person has an IQ below 70. They may struggle to cope with the demands of everyday life E.G cooking, going to work etc
Percentage of people with an IQ below 70
2%
Average IQ
85-115
strengths of statistical infrequency definition
-Clear cut off point- clear to determine an abnormality
-Quantitative data- easy to analyse
Limitations of statistical infrequency definition
-Cut off point is too specific. E.G people with an IQ of 71 will not pass for support
-Doesn’t distinguish between a desirable and undesirable abnormality E.G high IQ is just as rare as a low IQ
-Not all disorders are rare. E.G anxiety- 1in5. Depression -1in6
Deviation from social norms
A persons behaviour does not conform to the unwritten rules and expectations of society
What do social norms depend on
Time, place, culture
Example of a deviation from social norms
Homosexuality once deviated from the dominant norms of heterosexuality
When was homosexuality made legal
1963
When was homosexuality deemed a mental disorder under the DSM
1967
Strengths of deviation from social norms definition
Help us to identify behaviour that is dangerous or breaks the law
Limitations of the deviation from social norms defintion
-Hindsight bias
-Cultural bias
What is hindsight bias
-Social norms can change overtime.
E.G homosexuality is no longer considered a deviation from social norms and society has become more diverse.
-This means that historically, people were discriminated against for basic human rights and so the social norm definition is not reliable
What is cultural bias
-DSM has a tendency to favour western culture and not take into account the norms of other cultures.
-E.G in some African tribes auditory hallucinations is associated with communication with ancestors is widely accepted, while the DSM would most likely diagnose this as schizophrenia
Failure to function adequately
-People are ‘abnormal’ if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life . This can cause a person personal suffering.
Examples of demands of everyday life life
-Going to work
-Maintaining relationships
-Nutrition
-Hygiene
Example of a group of people that would fail to cope with the demands of everyday life
-Those with IDD. May struggle to go to work, make food etc
Strength of the failure to function adequately definition
-Represents a sensible threshold to diagnose abnormality
Limitations of the failure to function adequately definition
-Cultural bias
-Personal lifestyles
=Too subjective. Demands of everyday life may be different for others.
-Not all disorders display a visible inability to cope that can be identified.(E.G Cotton)
What did Cotton find (FFA)
-Disorders relating to anxieties, ADHD and autism do not always display a visible inability to cope, particularly within girls
Who proposed the deviation from ideal mental health definition
Marie Jahoda (1958)
Deviation from ideal mental health definition
People are abnormal if they do not have good mental health
What is Jahodas ideal mental health criteria
-The absence of any of these= abnormality
-We have no symptoms or distress
-We are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
-We can self actualise
-We can cope with stress
-We have a realistic view of the world
-We have good self esteem and lack guilt
-We are independent of other people (autonomy)
-We can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure time (environmental mastery)
Strength of ‘deviation form ideal mental health’
-Only definition that looks for positives not negatives
-Limitations of ‘deviation from ideal mental health ‘
-Unrealistic criteria
-Too subjective, difficult to measure
-Cultural bias
