psychopathology- definitions of abnormality: statistical infrequency

Question 1

how do we define abnormality in terms of statistics?

Answer 1

most obvious way to define anything as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ is in terms of the number of times its observed

Question 2

‘normal’ behaviour

Answer 2

any relatively usual, or often seen behaviour can be thought of as normal

Question 3

‘abnormal’ behaviour

Answer 3

any behaviour that is different or rare is ‘abnormal’ i.e. a statistical infrequency

Question 4

IQ and intellectual disability disorder

Answer 4

-average IQ is 100. most have IQ between 85 and 115, only 2% have score below 70
-those individuals scoring below 70 are statistically unusual or ‘abnormal’ and are diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder

Question 5

ao3 of statistical infrequency: real-world application

Answer 5

-statistical infrequency is useful in diagnosis, e.g. intellectual disability disorder bc this requires an IQ in the bottom 2%
-also helpful in assessing range of conditions e.g. the BDI assess depression, only 5% of people score 30+ (=severe depression)
-means that statistical infrequency is useful in diagnostic and assessment processes

Question 6

ao3 of statistical infrequency: characteristics can also be positive

Answer 6

-if very few people display a characteristic then the behaviour is statistically infrequent but doesn’t mean we would call them abnormal
-IQ scores above 130 are just as unusual as those below 70, but not regarded as undesirable and needing treatment
-means although statistical infrequency can be part of defining abnormality, out can never be its sole basis

Question 7

ao3 of statistical infrequency: benefits vs problems

Answer 7

-when s/o living a happy and fulfilled life then there’s no benefit too them being labelled as abnormal
-however this label of abnormality, e.g. intellectual disability disorder, might carry a social stigma
-means that labelling s/o as abnormal just bc they are statistically unusual is likely to do more harm than good