Definitions Of Abnormalities (1) Flashcards
What is the concept of Statistical Infrequency?
Classing any unusual behaviour as ‘abnormal’
What determines whether behavior is considered ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’?
How often we come across it
This concept is related to the statistical definition of abnormality.
When is the Statistical Infrequency approach helpful?
When dealing with characteristics that can be reliably measured
What is an example of statistical infrequency in psychology?
IQ and intellectual disability disorder
Intelligence can be reliably measured
What does normal distribution mean in the context of Statistical Infrequency?
Majority of peoples scores will cluster around the average
Further we go above or below the average, fewer people we will find there
What does the normal distribution indicate about intelligence scores?
Scores cluster around the average
The average IQ is set at 100, with 68% of people ranging from 85-115.
What percentage of people have an IQ score lower than 70?
2%
This score is significant for diagnosing intellectual disability disorder (IDD).
What do groups notice when someone’s behavior deviates from the social norm?
If it offends their sense of ‘normal’
Indicates a collectivist judgment of abnormality.
What is the role of culture in social norms?
Every culture and each generation may have different social norms
Very few behaviours considered universally abormal
- homosexuality considered abnormal in britain in the past
- still viewed abnormal and illegal in some cultures like Yemen
What is antisocial personality disorder (APD) also known as?
Psychopathy
APD is characterized by impulsive, aggressive, and irresponsible behavior.
What is the definition of psychopathy?
“Absence of prosocial (good) internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behavior”
Psychopaths are viewed as abnormal in a very wide range of cultures due to non-conformity to moral standards.
What is a strength of the statistical infrequency approach?
Useful in clinical practices
Used to diagnose and assess the severity of symptoms.
- IDD diagnosed if IQ is below 70
- Severity of depression assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
- Shows value of statistical infreuqency criterion
What’s another strength of statistical infrequency?
Those with very low IQ benefit from being classed as abnormal and being diagnosed with IDD as they can then access support
Those with a very high BDI benefit from being assessed as theyre likely to require therapy
What is a limitation of statistical infrequency?
Can be positive as well as negative
- High IQ scores are often not labeled as abnormal, unlike low scores.
- High depression scores are labelled as abnormal unlike low scores.
- Being unusual doesnt make someone abnormal
- Not sufficient as the sole basis for defining abnormality
What is a criticism of using statistical infrequency?
Not all people benefit from labels
Social stigmas are attached to labels
What is a strength of deviation from social norms?
Useful in clinical practice
Helps in diagnosing psychopathy and schizotypal personality disorder.
Key feature of psychopathy: not conforming to cultural acceptable behaviour
What is a limitation of using deviation from social norms?
Variability in norms across cultures
A person in 1 culture may label someones from a different culture as ‘abnormal’ using their own cultures standards
- Hearing voices in normal in some cultures (ancestors)
- Would be labelled as abnormal by someone from the UK
What’s another limitation of deviation from social norms?
Variability in norms in different situations
Aggression and deceitfulness are deemed socially unacceptable
- These skills are more acceptable in corporate deal making
