evaluation: definitions of abnormality

Question 1

what does it mean when we say there is real life application for definitions of application

Answer 1

a strength of the statistical definition is that it has a real-life application in the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder

This is therefore a place for statistical infrequency in thinking about what are normal and abnormal behaviours and characteristics

ACTUALLY, all assessments of patients with mental disorders include some kind of measurements of how severe their symptoms are as compared to statistical norms (as distinct social norms)

Statistical infrequency is thus a useful part of clinical asssessment

Question 2

what does it mean when we say that some unusual characteristics can be positive

Answer 2

IQ scores over 130 are just as unusual as those below 70
, but we shouldn’t think if superintelligence as an undesirable characteristic that needed treatment

Just because very few people display certain behaviours does make the behaviour statistically normal

This is a serious limitation to the concepts of statistical infrequency and means that it would never be used alone to make a diagnosis

Question 3

what does it mean when we say not everyone benefits from a label

Answer 3

another problem with statistical infrequency is that, where someone is living a happy fulfilled life, there is no benefit to them being labeled as abnormal regardless of how unusual they are

e.g. someone with a low IQ but was not distressed, quite capable of working, e.t.c, would simply not need a diagnosis of intellectual disability
If that person was “labeled” as abnormal this might have a negative effect on the way others view them and how they view themselves

Question 4

what is a strength of social norms

Answer 4

a strength of the deviation from social norms definition is that it has a real-life application in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder

There is therefore a place for deviation from social norms in thinking about what is normal abnormal

HOWEVER, even in this case, there are other factors to consider e.g. the distress to other people resulting from an antisocial personality disorder ( the failure to function definition)

So in practice, deviation from social norms is never the sole reason for defining abnormality

Question 5

what is a strength for failure to function

Answer 5

A strength of failure to function adequately is that it does attempt to include the subjective experience of the individual

It may not be an entirely satisfactory approach because it is difficult to assess distress ut at least this definition acknowledge that the experience of the patient is important

This suggests that failure to function adequately is a useful criterion for assessing abnormality