Definitions of abnormality Flashcards
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
Deviation from social norms
Failure to function adequately
Statistical Infrequency
Deviation from ideal mental health
Outline the deviation from social norms definition.
Someone may be considered abnormal if they go against social norms. Social norms are the unwritten rules describing how we should behave in society
Outline the failure to function adequately definition.
Someone may be considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of daily life.
What are the set of abnormal characteristics outlined by Rosenhan and Seligman?
Suffering Maladaptiveness Unconventional Behaviour Unpredictability and loss of control Irrationality Observer discomfort Violation of moral standards
What is maladaptiveness?
behaviour that stops a person achieving major life goals such as keeping a job or maintaining a relationship
According to statistical infrequency, who is considered abnormal?
Someone may be considered abnormal if their behaviour is rare or anomalous (statistically unusual).
How is abnormality measured according to statistical infrequency?
Measured on a ‘normal distribution curve’ - those who fall more than 2 standard deviations away from the mean are considered statistically rare or abnormal
According to the deviation from ideal mental health definition, who would be considered abnormal?
Someone is considered abnormal if they don’t show the characteristics of ideal mental health created by Marie Jahoda
What are the characteristics of ideal mental health created by Marie Jahoda?
Personal Growth - being goal orientated Resistance to stress Autonomy - being independent Perception of reality Environmental mastery Self-attitudes - high self esteem
What are the strengths of the deviation from social norms definition?
Protects society - prevents a label/stigma being attached to someone, becomes a means of protection so that people who have an abnormality can follow social norms
Helps people - creates a framework of how you should act, so lets people understand abnormality
What are the weaknesses of the deviation of social norms definition?
Historically biased - not accurate over time, social norms change over time
Culturally biased - only based on one culture and social norms vary over different cultures
Subjective - based on opinions so doesn’t apply to everyone as its not factually correct
What are the strengths of the failure to function adequately definition?
Matches sufferer’s perceptions - can assess themselves based on the features, can be self diagnosed
Observable behaviours - assess people’s normality based on behaviours we can see e.g. OCD seen to suffer from maladaptiveness
What are the weaknesses of the failure to function adequately definition?
Subjective - uses personal opinion to decide, has objective set of criteria but its a subjective choice
Cultural differences - vary across cultures
