Psychopathology - Defining Abnormality Flashcards
4 ways to define abnormal behaviour
- Statistical infrequency
- Deviation from social norms
- Failure to function adequately
- Deviation from ideal mental health
Statistical infrequency
Statistical deviation
Focuses on how rare a behaviour is
Used normal distribution to determine abnormality
E.g. IQ scores
Strengths: objective: not influenced by personal opinions
Uses clear guidelines and cut-off points
Allows for standardised measurement
Reduces subjectivity in defining abnormality
Limitations:
May define desirable behaviours as abnormal - high intelligence
Excludes some common mental health issues - depression affects 1 in 5 people
Deviation from social norms
Considers behaviours that don’t fit societal expectations
Can be explicit (laws) or implicit (unwritten rules)
- talking to yourself
Strengths:
More flexible than statistical deviation
Can account for context and culture
Allows for changes in societal norms over time
Limitations:
Subjective - open to interpretation
Can lead to cultural bias (ethnocentrism)
May result in misdiagnosis of minority groups
Failure to function adequately
Focuses on inability to cope with daily life
Rosenhan + seligman:
Personal distress
Irrationality
Unpredictably and loss of control
Strengths:
Comsiders individuals subjective experiences- measure from GAF scale or WHODAS
Acknowledges personal distress and emotions
More holistic approach than statistical methods
Limitations: some abnormal behaviours don’t imoair functioning - some criminals feel no distress
Difficult to define “adequate” functioning
May miss high-functioning individuals with issues
Deviation from ideal mental health
Focuses on what makes someone psychologically healthy
Marie Jahodas’s criteria for ideal mental health
Positive self-attitude
Reality (accurate perception of)
Autonomy
Integration (fit in, deal with stress)
Self-actualisation
Environmental mastery
Limitations:
Sets unrealistically high standards
Few people meet all criteria consistently - therefore according to this definition, they are abnormal
Ethnocentric p - based on western individualistic values
May not apply to collectivist cultures
Conclusion on defining abnormality
No single definition is perfect
Each has its strengths and limitations
Important to consider multiple perspectives
Cultural context is crucial
