Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

If it is statistically unusual or rare, then it is classed as abnormal.

Question 3

What example can be used for statistical infrequency?

Answer 3

IQ
Average IQ score is 100, only 2% of individuals have an IQ under 70.
Under 70 individuals are liable to receive a diagnosis of an intellectual disability order.

Question 4

State 4 criticisms of statistical infrequency.

Answer 4

Subjective judgement as to where the boundary between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ lies.
Unusual characterises can be positive (high IQ).
Cultural relativism - seen as abnormal in one culture but not another.
Label - when someone is living a happy and fulfilled life there is no benefit to them being labelled as abnormal.

Question 5

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 5

Concerns behaviour that is different than the accepted standards in a community or society - e.g. wearing clothes in public.

Question 6

State 4 criticisms of deviation from social norms.

Answer 6

Cultural relativism.
Abnormal or eccentric?
Changes over time.
Risk of abusing human rights - Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela.

Question 7

Define failure to function adequately.

Answer 7

Occurs when an individual is unable cope with the ordinary demands of day-to-day living.

Question 8

Who came up with the 7 criteria for ‘failing to function’?

Answer 8

Rosenhan and Seligman.

Question 9

Name the 7 criteria for ‘failing to function’.

Answer 9

Suffering - patient may suffer as a result of their condition.
Maladaptiveness - behaviour prevents the person reaching desired goals.
Irrational - behaviour seem to defy logical sense.
Observer discomfort - behaviour makes others around them feel uncomfortable.
Vividness - Others find the behaviour odd.
Violation of moral codes - not behaving in accordance with society norms.
Unpredictability - behaviour is unpredictable.

Question 10

State 4 criticisms of failing to function adequately.

Answer 10

• Subjective judgement.
• Many people live functional lives despite having a clinical diagnosis of a disorder (e.g. dyslexia).
• We all fail to function at some point in our lives (e.g. grieving the loss of a loved one).
• Many people engage in behaviour that is maladaptive or thretening to self but we do not class them as abnormal (e.g. skydiving, smoking).

Question 11

Define deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 11

Occurs when someone does not meet the criteria for good mental health.

Question 12

Who proposed a list of criteria that indicated normal mental health?

Answer 12

Jahoda.

Question 13

List the criteria for ideal mental health.

Answer 13

• Positive attitude towards oneself
• Autonomy - being able to make decisions on our own and not being dependent on other people
• Resistance to stress
• Accurate perception of reality - having a realistic view of the world (not being too optimistic or pessimistic).
• We self-actualise - reach our potential
• We can successfully work, love and enjoy leisure.

Question 14

How would an individual be defined as abnormal through deviation of ideal mental health?

Answer 14

If the individual had an absence in the criteria set.

Question 15

State a strength of deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 15

Comprehensive definiton - gives a broad range of criteria and covers most of the reasons why someone might seek help from mental health services.

Question 16

State 2 criticisms of deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 16

Cultural relativism - Jahoda’s criteria are specific to western and North American cultures so are culture bound.
Sets unrealistically high standards for mental health - very few people will attain all of Jahoda’s criteria so this approach would identify the majority as abnormal.