Definitions Of Abnormality

Question 1

What is a general, overarching definition for abnormality?

Answer 1

A psychological condition/behaviour that departs an individual from the norm or is harmful/distressing to them/those around them

Question 2

Why is abnormality hard to define?

Answer 2

It is hard to categorise the ‘norm’ (and therefore determine which individuals don’t fit this standard)

Question 3

What are the four definitions of abnormality used in psychology in order to be more specific?

Answer 3

1) Deviation from social norms
2) Failure to function adequately
3) Statistical infrequency
4) Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 4

Why is abnormality important in psychopathology?

Answer 4

If an individual is deemed to have persistent abnormalities they may be diagnosed with a mental disorder

Question 5

What is psychopathology?

Answer 5

The scientific study of mental disorders

Question 6

Define ‘Deviation from social norms’

Answer 6

A definition for abnormality, whereby a person’s behaviour is different from the accepted standards of behaviour (the ‘norm’) in a society/community

Question 7

In what ways do ‘norms’ vary?

Answer 7

• Vary between cultures/societies

- Vary over time

Question 8

Give an example of a varying ‘norm’

Answer 8

‘Norm’ = Homosexuality

• Homosexuality considered abnormal in UK culture in the past (in 1974 it was a disorder in the DSM)
• Homosexuality is still considered abnormal in some cultures, e.g. Brunei (in 2019 sex between men was punishable by stoning to death)

Question 9

What is an example of a mental disorder which is diagnosable in terms of deviation from social norms?

Answer 9

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)

Informally known as ‘psychopathy’

Question 10

Outline how ADP is diagnosed

Answer 10

• One of key symptoms (in DSM-5) is failure to conform to ‘lawful and culturally normative ethnic behaviour’
• Failure to conform to norms is driven by lack of empathy
• Sufferers are often: reckless, aggressive, deceitful
• (Sufferers considered abnormal because they deviate from social norms)

Question 11

Give 2 positive evaluation points for deviation from social norms as a definition for abnormality

Answer 11

Practical application

• Is used in clinical diagnosis of mental disorders
• E.g. Category in DSM-5 for APD

Practical application

• Encourages adherence to social norms in order to be considered ‘normal’
• This helps society to remain predictable + orderly

Question 12

Give 2 negative evaluation points for deviation from social norms as a definition for abnormality

Answer 12

Methodology is too subjective

• Social norms are specific to cultures - can make it hard to decide whether someone who has moved cultures is ‘abnormal’
• Social norms are specific to situations - e.g. deceitfulness more acceptable in certain circumstances
• This cultural and situational relativism makes it hard to diagnose, as one behaviour doesn’t automatically indicate abnormality

Debates - too discriminatory

• Defining someone as abnormal can be unfair, removing right to individuality
• Can become a form of social control, as minority groups are labelled ‘abormal’ + suppressed

Question 13

What are two occasions when minority groups have been labelled ‘abnormal’ in attempt to control their deviation from social norms?

Answer 13

Drapetomania - Black slaves trying to escape labelled ‘abnormal’

Nymphomania - Women’s sexual desires labelled ‘abnormal’

Question 14

What is ‘Failure to function adequately’?

Answer 14

A definition for abnormality whereby a person is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living

Question 15

How can a person be diagnosed as ‘abnormal’ due to their failure to function adequately?

Answer 15

Rosenhan + Seligman (1989) proposed their ‘Seven Features of Personal Dysfunction’ to identify when an individual fails to function adequately, including…

• No longer conforming to standard interpersonal rules (e.g. personal space)
• Experiencing personal distress
• Irrational behaviour that may endanger themselves or others

Question 16

What are the two general things individuals who fail to function adequately cannot do?

Answer 16

Stay SAFE + SANITARY

Question 17

What is an example of a mental disorder which is diagnosable in terms of failure to function adequately?

Answer 17

Hoarding

• Irrational behaviour (excessively saving worthless items)
• Can have detrimental affect on their day-to-day lives, so that they struggle to keep themselves safe + sanitary (e.g. dirty living space)

Question 18

Give 2 positive evaluation points for failure to function adequately as a definition for abnormality

Answer 18

Methodology - Seven Features of Personal Dysfunction are visibly observable

• Mind (mental health charity) says annually 25% UK experience mental health issue but many fail to get help due to mild/non-observable symptoms
• When individuals fail to function adequately, others can visibly see their need for help

Methodology allows assessment of severity of abnormality
- GAF scale (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale)

Question 19

Give 2 negative evaluation points for failure to function adequately as a definition for abnormality

Answer 19

Methodology - Seven Features of Personal Dysfunction can be subjective

• Makes valid diagnosis harder
• E.g. high risk leisure activities (skydiving) may be seen as irrational behaviour to some, but normal and fun to others

Short periods of failing to function adequately may be normal

• E.g. during bereavement people may lack motivation to get washed + dressed, but will eventually return to ‘normal’
• Diagnosis may identify someone as permanently ‘abnormal’ based on temporary behaviours

Question 20

What is ‘statistical infrequency’?

Answer 20

A definition for abnormality whereby a person has a less than common statistic, when statistically compared to the entire population

Question 21

How can a person be diagnosed as ‘abnormal’ in terms of statistical infrequency?

Answer 21

Normal distribution curve (bell curve) drawn

• Most common results in middle
• Within 1 standard deviation: ‘normal’
• Within 1-2 standard deviations: ‘unusual’
• Extreme ends of curve: ‘abnormal’

Question 22

What is an example of a mental disorder which is diagnosable in terms of statistical infrequency?

Answer 22

Intellectual Disability Disorder (IDD)

• People with the disorder have a statistically infrequent IQ
• Average IQ: 100
• ‘Normal’ people have IQ between 85 and 115
• Only 2% people have IQ below 70 - likely considered ‘abnormal’ + diagnosed with IDD

Question 23

Give 2 positive evaluation points for statistical infrequency as a definition for abnormality

Answer 23

Methodology is objective

• Mathematical technique
• No subjective judgement or observer bias
• Diagnosis has higher internal validity

Methodology provides useful overview

• Individual is compared to data from the entire population
• Diagnosis has higher internal validity, as it is informed rather than judging one isolated case

Question 24

Give 2 negative evaluation points for statistical infrequency as a definition for abnormality

Answer 24

Methodology may be TOO objective

• Diagnosis is inflexible
• No consideration of external factors that may explain abnormal behaviour (e.g. culture)
• Diagnosis may be uniformed, due to only looking at data

Debates - arguably socially sensitive presenting all abnormalities as bad

• One end of normal distribution curve often seen as positive
• Diagnosis as ‘abnormal’ suggests person is suffering from a condition
• May actually be a positive, e.g. abnormally high IQ (genius)

Question 25

What is ‘deviation from ideal mental health’?

Answer 25

A definition for abnormality, whereby a person doesn’t meet a series of criteria for ‘ideal mental health’ proposed by Jahoda in 1958

Question 26

Who proposed the categories for ideal mental health + when?

Answer 26

Jahoda (1958)

Question 27

What are the criteria for ‘ideal mental health’?

Answer 27

• We have no symptoms or distress
• We are rational + perceive ourselves accurately
• We self-actualise (strive to reach full potential)
• We can cope with stress
• We have a realistic view of the world
• We have good self-esteem + lack guilt
• We are independent of others
• We can successfully work, love + enjoy leisure

Question 28

How many criteria for ‘ideal mental health’ are there?

Answer 28

8

Question 29

How can ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ be used to diagnose abnormality?

Answer 29

• If somebody doesn’t meet the ‘ideal mental health’ criteria, may be diagnosed as abnormal (the fewer criteria are met, the more ‘abnormal’ somebody’s mental health is)

Question 30

Which definitions for abnormality most commonly overlap?

Answer 30

Failure to function adequately + deviation from ideal mental health

E.g. ‘Experiencing personal distress’ (Seven Features of Personal Dysfunction) + not meeting ‘We have no symptoms of distress’ (Jahoda’s Criteria for Ideal Mental Health)

Question 31

Do the definitions for abnormality sometimes overlap?

Answer 31

Yes

Question 32

Give 2 positive evaluation points for ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ as a definition for abnormality

Answer 32

Methodology is comprehensive

• Range of categories that cover most reasons people seek help
• Creates a comprehensive checklist for individuals + professionals to holistically assess mental wellbeing

Fits the ‘positive psychology’ movement

• (Movement started in late 1990s by Seligman)
• Focus on positive traits and how to achieve positive goals, rather than remove personal weaknesses, can be more encouraging when striving for ‘normal’ mental health

Question 33

Give 2 negative evaluation points for ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ as a definition for abnormality

Answer 33

Methodology/criteria may be seen as setting unattainable standards

• People may not be ‘abnormal’ but do not fit all Jahoda’s criteria
• E.g. many people don’t self-actualise but have good mental health
• May lead to over-diagnosing people as mentally ‘abnormal’

Culturally bound (ethnocentric) + time bound

• Criteria most suited to ,mid-20thC, Western, individualistic societies
• E.g. collectivist societies may find being independent an ‘abnormal’ characteristic, not an element of ‘ideal mental health’
• Definition can be difficult to generalise validly worldwide forever

Question 34

Who did a key study regarding diagnosing abnormality? When? What was it called?

Answer 34

‘On Being Sane in Insane Places’

• Rosenhan
• 1973

Question 35

Outline Rosenhan’s 1973 study

Answer 35

Aim:
- To investigate how easy it is to diagnose abnormality/mental disorders

Procedure:

• Naturalistic observation, with aspects of field experiment
• 8 pseudopatients: 5 men, 3 women (3 psychologists, including Rosenhan)
• Sent to 12 US psychiatric hospitals
• Pseudopatients acted one symptom: hearing voices (‘empty’, ‘thud’, etc)
• After clinical interview stop acting, don’t take meds + behave normally
• Complete covert, unstructured observation on hospital (ppts are staff + real patients)

Findings:

• All 12 hospitals diagnosed mental disorders (11 schizophrenia + 1 priv hospital manic depression)
• Mean length of stay: 19 days
• Range length of stay: 7-52 days
• No staff recognised pseudopatients as healthy (some patients did)
• Mainly discharged with schizophrenia in remission (no current symptoms)
• Observed many other disturbing things, e.g. abusing patients

Conclusion:

• Difficult to validly diagnose mental disorders
• These diagnosis (even if faulty) are hard to leave behind

Question 36

What is a pseudopatient?

Answer 36

Fake patient

Question 37

Give 2 positives of Rosenhan’s 1973 study

Answer 37

Methodology had high generalisability

• Used representative sample: 12 hospitals across US of varying standard
• All had similar results

Practical applications

• Prompted edits/improvements to the DSM
• In current DSM-5, have to ‘hear voices’ for over 6 months to be diagnosed with schizophrenia
• Improved diagnosis validity

Question 38

Give 2 negative evaluation points for Rosenhan’s 1973 study

Answer 38

Methodology may have low external validity for all mental disorders

• Ketty (1974) noted that pseudopatients only faked one set of specific symptoms
• Conclusions implying issues with diagnosis may not apply to all mental disorders

Ethical issues

• Used deception
• Didn’t get informed consent
• May be viewed as exploiting ppts in unethical way