Psychopathology - Definitions of abnormality Part 1

Question 1

Define statistical infrequency and deviation from social norms

Answer 1

Statistical infrequency- defines those behaviours that are rare and uncommon as being abnormal ie) depression or very low IQ.

Deviation from ideal mental health- defines those behaviours that are not accepted or follow societies standards of normality as abnormal. (legally or ethically)

Question 2

Explain Statistical Infrequency?

Answer 2

Uses numbers (statistics) to measure what is considered abnormal and what is normal. 
Key example is in IQ testing and I.D.D - Intellectual Disability Disorder. S.I is used to diagnose those individuals with I.Q below 70 as abnormal, mentally retarded and so Intellectually disabled.

Question 3

Explain Deviation from Social Norms?

Answer 3

What is considered abnormal is dependant on the culture it exists within. As generations change and cultures within a society adapt, so do its norms, so universality in abnormal behaviours is rare. Ie) homosexuality once seen as abnormal within our own western culture, but is now accepted.

Key example - Antisocial personality disorder, (psychopathy) According to DSM-5 a key symptom of this disorder is failure to conform to lawful or ethical norms of a society, so, psychopathic behaviour is seen as abnormal in many cultures.

Question 4

Evaluate Statistical Infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 4

Good because has Real-Life Application - as used in I.D.D and IQ testing. So, is a useful part of all clinical assessments.

Bad because fails to differentiate between desirability and abnormality, so, insists that an I.Q of 130 would be abnormal, which is a somewhat negative label.

Bad because not everyone benefits from labels, if they function fine adding a label like I.D.D is thought to only have a negative impact.

Question 5

Evaluate Deviation from Social Norms

Answer 5

Good because unlike S.I, is able to differentiate when it comes to desirability ie) IQ over 130 = genius, not abnormal.

Bad because of cultural relativism. A person from 1 culture can negatively label someone from another ie) hearing voices is normal in some of Asia and Africa, but not UK.

Bad because it can lead to Human Rights Abuses as history shows that such diagnosis were used in the past by men to control women and ethnic minorities.

Bad because is not a sole explanation for abnormality as it has to take into account other definitions ie) failure to function adequately when diagnosing something as abnormal.