Psychopathology- Definitions Of Abnormalities Flashcards
Statistical infrequency
Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, for example being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the population.
Deviation from social norms
Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society.
What is statistical infrequency in defining abnormality?
Statistical infrequency defines abnormality based on how often a behaviour or characteristic occurs. If a behaviour is statistically rare, it is considered abnormal.
How does the statistical definition determine what is ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’?
If a behaviour or characteristic is relatively common, it is considered “normal.” If it is rare or significantly different from the majority, it is considered “abnormal.”
Give an example of statistical infrequency in defining abnormality.
An example is having an irrational fear of buttons or believing without reason that one’s neighbours are zombies, as these behaviours are rare.
How does statistical infrequency relate to IQ and intellectual disability disorder?
IQ scores follow a normal distribution, where most people (68%) have an IQ between 85 and 115. Only 2% of people have an IQ below 70, which is statistically rare and considered abnormal. Those scoring below 70 may be diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder.
What is deviation from social norms in defining abnormality?
Deviation from social norms occurs when a person behaves differently from what society expects. Abnormality is determined by whether behaviour offends a group’s sense of what is acceptable.
Why are social norms culturally specific?
Social norms vary between cultures and generations. Behaviour considered abnormal in one society may be normal in another.
Give an example of how deviation from social norms is culturally dependent.
Homosexuality is considered normal in many Western countries but remains illegal and abnormal in some cultures, such as Brunei, where it was punishable by stoning to death as of April 2019.
How does antisocial personality disorder relate to deviation from social norms?
People with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) behave impulsively, aggressively, and irresponsibly. The DSM-5 states that they lack prosocial internal standards and fail to conform to cultural or legal norms. This makes their behaviour socially abnormal across many cultures.
What is a strength of statistical infrequency in defining abnormality?
It has real-life applications, such as in diagnosing intellectual disability disorder. Clinical assessments compare symptoms to statistical norms, making statistical infrequency a useful diagnostic tool.
What is a limitation of statistical infrequency regarding unusual positive characteristics?
Some statistically rare traits, like having an IQ over 130, are not seen as negative or requiring treatment. This shows that not all statistically infrequent behaviours should be classified as abnormal.
Why might labelling someone as ‘abnormal’ based on statistical infrequency be problematic?
If a person is happy and functioning well, labelling them as abnormal could harm their self-perception and how others view them, even if they have an unusual trait.
Why is deviation from social norms not a sole explanation for abnormality?
While it is useful in diagnosing disorders like antisocial personality disorder, other factors, such as distress to others, must also be considered. It is rarely used alone to define abnormality.
What is cultural relativism in defining abnormality?
Cultural relativism means that what is considered abnormal varies between cultures. For example, hearing voices is acceptable in some cultures but viewed as a sign of mental illness in the UK.
