Definitions of Abnormality

Question 1

What is the definition of abnormality?

Answer 1

Abnormality refers to behaviours and psychological functioning that are considered different from the norm within a given society. It can often lead to impaired impersonal function and/or distress to others.

Question 2

Why must we be careful whilst using the term abnormal?

Answer 2

Defining a person or behaviour as ‘abnormal’ implies something undesirable and requiring change. Therefore we must be careful how we use the term.

Question 3

What do psychologists need whilst distinguishing ‘normal’ from ‘abnormal’?

Answer 3

Psychologists need methods for distinguishing ‘normal’ from ‘abnormal’. Psychologists use definitions of abnormality to help categorise abnormal behaviour.

Question 4

What are the four definitions of abnormality?

Answer 4

The four definitions of abnormality are:
- Deviation from social norms
- Failure to function adequately
- Deviation from ideal mental health
- Statistical Infrequency

Question 5

What is the definition of deviation from social norms?

Answer 5

Deviation from social norms can be defined as a person’s concerning behaviour or thinking that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society and that goes against accepted social norms.

Question 6

What is the definition of a norm?

Answer 6

Norms can usually be defined as sets of unwritten rules that people follow as acceptable behaviour and we as a society make a collective judgement about what is right.

Question 7

What may behaviour look like that is classed as deviating from social norms?

Answer 7

The behaviour deviating from social norms may:
- be incomprehensible to others
- Make others feel threatened or uncomfortable

Question 8

What is it important to consider when looking at the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 8

With the deviation from social norms definition it is important to consider:
- The degree to which a norm is violated, the importance of that norm and the value attached by the social group to different sorts of violation.
- E.g. is the violation rude, eccentric, abnormal or criminal?

Question 9

What are social norms specific to?

Answer 9

Norms are specific to the culture that we live in as those soical norms may be different for each generation and every culture. For example, there are relatively few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal on the basis that they breach social norms. For example, homosexuality continues to be viewed as abnormal (and illegal) in some cultures e.g. in April 2019 Brunei introduced new laws that make sex between men an offence punishable by stoning to death.

Question 10

What is an example of a disorder that would be defined as deviating from social norms?

Answer 10

An example of a disorder that would be classed as deviating from social norms is antisocial personality disorder. A person with this disorder (psychopathy) is impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible. According to the DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses used by psychiatrists to diagnose mental disorders) one important symptom of the disorder is an ‘absence of prosocial internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful of culturally normative ethical behaviour’. This therefore means we are making the social judgement that a psychopath is abnormal because they don’t conform to our moral standards. Psychopathic behavior would be considered abnormal in a very wide range of cultures

Question 11

What is one strength of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 11

One strength of the deviation from social norms definition is that it has a real life application in the antisocial personality disorder which therefore means there is a place for deviation from social norms in thinking about what is normal and abnormal.

Question 12

What is one weakness of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 12

One weakness of the deviation from social norms definition is that it is not a sole explanation. For example, even though it has real life applications there are other factors to consider e.g. the distress to other people resulting from antisocial personality disorder (the failure to function definition). This therefore means deviation from social norms is never the sole reason for defining abnormality.

Question 13

What is another weakness of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 13

Another weakness with the deviation from social norms definition is that it is culturally relative:
- This is because social norms vary tremendously from one generation to another and from one community to another.
- This means, for example, that a person from one cultural group may label someone from another as behaving abnormally according to their standards rather than the standards of the person behaving that way and therfore means that attempts to apply social norms definitions across cultures (as in the DSM-5) may be ethnocentric.
- Additionally, the definition can be ethnocentrically bias in diagnoses as western social norms reflect ‘white’ norms.
- For example, hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultutres but would be seen as abnormal in the UK and is viewed as a symptom of schizophrenia.
- This creates problems for people from one culture living within another culture group and could lead to the higher diagnosis rate of schizophrenia amongst non-white British people.

Question 14

What is another weakness of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 14

Another weakness of the deviation from social norms definition is that too much reliance on this definition to understand abnormality can also lead to systematic abuse of human rights:
- For example, historical examples of deviation from social norms such as the diagnosis of ‘Drapetomania’ which was given to Black Slaves who ran away or attempted to run away or ‘Nymphomania’ which was given to Women who were sexually attracted to working class men makes it clear that these diagnoses aimed to maintain control over minority ethinic groups and women.
- These classifications seem ridiculous nowadats but only because our social norms have changed and some radical psychologists suggest that some of our modern categories of mental disorder are abuses of people’es right to be different and that it is used to justify the removal of ‘unwanted people’ from society.

Question 15

What is another weakness of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 15

Defining abnormality according to social norms may lack temporal validity as social norms change between cultures and over time. Consequently, so do people’s conceptions of abnormality. For example, homosexuality was regarded as a mental illness until 1973. However, this diagnosis was dropped as it was found that homosexuality wasn’t as infrequent as previously thought, and that homosexuals don’t differ from heterosexuals in terms of psychological well being.

Question 16

What is a strength to the deviation from social norms definition if it is not generalised across cultures?

Answer 16

If the deviation from social norms definition is NOT generalised across cultures, social norms based definitions may be useful for appreciating cultural differences. For example, culture - bound syndromes are mental illnesses that are only recognised by particular cultures.

Question 17

What is another strength of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 17

Another strength of the deviation from social norms definition is that it clearly distinguishes between normal and abnormal behaviour which means that society can step in to help individuals that may need it.

Question 18

What is another weakness of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 18

Another weakness of the deviation from social norms definition is that it is individualistic. For example, just because someone doesn’t conform to social norms doesn’t make them abnormal as some individuals may simply choose to be different (eccentric) and are not problematic in any way.

Question 19

What is another strength of the deviation from social norms definition?

Answer 19

One strength of the deviation from social norms definition is that it includes the issue of the desirability of behaviour. The statistical infrequency approach doesn’t take desirability into account. For example, being a genius (having an abnormally high IQ) is statistically abnormal but we wouldn’t want to include that in our definition of abnormal behaviour. That means that soical norms can be more useful than statistical norms.

Question 20

What is the definition of failure to function adequately?

Answer 20

Failure to function adequately can be defined as occuring when someone is unable to cope with ordianry demands of day-to-day living.

Question 21

What may behaviour look like in someone who is failing to function adequately?

Answer 21

They may be unable to perform the behaviours necessary for everyday living:
- e.g. self-care, hold down a job, interact meaningfully with others, make themselves understood etc.
- People like this are often unable to experience the usual range of emotions or behaviours that a non abnormal individual can
- The definition focuses on personal experiences associated with mental disorders

Question 22

Who suggested characteristics which suggest that someone is not functioning adequately?

Answer 22

Rosenhan & Seligman (1989)

Question 23

Which characteristics did they decide suggests that someone is failing to function adequately?

Answer 23

Rosenhan & Seligman (1989) suggest the following characteristics thst suggest someone was not functioning adequately or that they are not coping:
1. Maladaptiveness = When a person’s behaviour becomes dangerous to themself
2. Suffering/Personal Distress = When a person experiences severe personal distress
3. Observer discomfort = Behaviour that causes other individuals to become uncomfortable
4. Dysfunctional behaviour = Behaviour which goes against the accepted standards of behaviour
5. Irrational behaviour = Behaviour that is unreasonable and illogical and where there behaviour becomes dangerous to themselves or others
6. Unpredictable behaviour = Impulsive behaviour that seems to be uncontrollable
7. Vividness & Unconventionality (stands out) = When a person no longer conforms to standard impersonal rules, for example maintaining eye contact and respecting person space.

Question 24

Which anagram can we use to remember these characteristics?

Answer 24

My Maladaptiveness
Ultra Unpredictable Behaviour
Violence Vividness & Unconventionality
Is Irrational Behaviour
Sort Suffering/Personal Distress
Of Observer Discomfort
Difficult Dysfunctional Behaviour

Question 25

What does it mean if you fit more than one of the characteristics?

Answer 25

If you can tick the box for more than one of the characteristics/criteria for failing to function adequately, the person's behaviour is considered to be abnormal. However almost everyone has done things which fit under these categories at some point.

Question 26

What is an example of a disorder that would be defined as failing to function adequately?

Answer 26

An example of a disorder which would be classed as failing to function adequately is intellectual disability disorder. One of the criteria for having this disorder is having a very low IQ (a statistical deviation). However, a diagnosis would not be made on this basis only - an individual must alos be failing to function adequately before a diagnosis would be given.

Question 27

What are some examples of behaviours that raise the question of whether groups of people are failing to function adequately or if it is a lifestyle choice?

Answer 27

People who live alternative lifestyles may appear to function inadequately or to deviate from ideal mental health. When does a lifestyle choice become abnormal? For example: - New Age Travellers = Do not live in permanent accomodation and may not work. - Base Jumpers = Take part in an extreme sport with a high mortality rate. - Spiritualists = Take part in religious rituals believing they are communicating with the dead.

Question 28

What is one strength of the failure to function adequately definition?

Answer 28

A strength of the failure to function adequately definition is that it does attempt to include the subjective experience of the individual and the patient's perspective. It may not be an entirely satisfactory approach because it is difficult to assess distress, but at least the definition acknowledges that the experience of the patient (and/or others) is important. The definition also captures the experience of many of the people who need help. This suggests that failure to function adequately is a useful list of charateristics for assessing abnormality.

Question 29

What is one weakness of the failure to function adequately definition?

Answer 29

One weakness of the failure to function adequately definition is that it can be hard to say when someone is really failing to function and when they are just deviating from social norms. We might think that not having a job or a permanent address is a sign of FFA. But then what do we say about people with alternative lifestyles who choose to live that way? Similarly, those who practice extreme sports could be accused of behaving in a maladaptive way, whilst those with religious or supernatural beliefs couls be seen as irrational. If we treat these behaviours as 'failures' of adequate functioning, we risk limiting personal freedom and discriminating against minority groups.

Question 30

What is another weakness of the failure to function adequately definition?

Answer 30

Another weakness of the failure to function adequately definition is that it has subjective judegements. For example when deciding whether someone is failing to function adequately, someone has to judege whether a patient is distressed or distressing. Some patients may say they are distressed but may be judged as not suffering. There are methods for making these judgements as objective as possible, including checklists such as the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. However, the principle remains that a psychiatrist has the right to make this judgement.

Question 31

What is another weakness of the failure to function adequately definiton?

Answer 31

Another weakness of the failure to function adequately definition is that it may still be culturally biased as adequate functioning is defined largely by social norms.

Question 32

What is another weakness of the failure to function adequately definition?

Answer 32

Another weakness of the failure to function adequately definition is that many people fail to function adequately at some times but are not considered abnormal: - E.g. after beaverment - Ironically, they might actually be considered more abnormal if they functioned as usual - Many people also engage in behaviour that is maladaptive/harmful or threatening to self, but we don't class them as abnormal e.g. adrenaline sports, smoking, drinking alcohol

Question 33

What is the definition of deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 33

Deviation from ideal mental health can be defined as occuring when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health.

Question 34

Why is the deviation from ideal mental health definition different from the other definitions of abnormality?

Answer 34

This definition of abnormality is different as rather than definining what is abnormal it defines what is normal/ideal behaviour and anything that deviates from that is considered abnormal. So in other words it considers deviation from ideal mental health. Once we have an idea of how we should be psychologically healthy we can begin to identify who deviates from this ideal.

Question 35

Who suggested criteria which suggests someone has ideal mental health?

Answer 35

Marie Jahoda (1958)

Question 36

Which characteristsics did she decide suggests someone has ideal mental health?

Answer 36

Marie Jahoda (1958) suggested that we are in good mental health if we meet the following criteria: 1. Positive attitude towards one self = Having Self - Respect & a positive self - concept 2. Self Actualisation = Experiencing personal growth & development, 'becoming everything one is capable of becoming' 3. Autonomy = Being independent, self - reliant & able to make personal decisions 4. Resisting Stress = Having effective coping strategies & being able to cope with everyday anxiety - provoking situations 5. Accurate perception of reality = Perceiving the world in a non-distorted fashion. Having an objective and realistic view of the world 6. Environmental Mastery = Being competent in all aspects of life and able to meet the demands of any situation. Having the flexibility to adapt to changing life circumstances

Question 37

What is there some overlap between in the deviation from ideal mental health definiton?

Answer 37

Inevitably there is some overlap between deviation from ideal mental health and failure to function adequately. So we can think of someone's inability to keep a job as either a failure to cope with the pressures of work or as deviation from the ideal of successfully working.

Question 38

What is one strength of the deviation from ideal mental health definition?

Answer 38

One strength of the deviation from ideal mental health definition is that it is very comprehensive. It covers a broad range of criteria for mental health. It most likely covers the most amount of reasons why someone would seek help from mental health services or be referred for help. The large variety and range of factors discussed in Jahoda's criteria make it a good tool for diagnosing mental health disorders and provides useful targets, for goal-setting and treatment (e.g. in CBT, targets will be set for patients).

Question 39

What is one weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definition?

Answer 39

One weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definition is that it is culturally relative. For example, some of Jahoda's criteria for ideal mental health are specific to Western Eurpoe and North American Cultures (they are culture-bound). For example, the emphasis on personal achievement in the concept of self-actualisation would be considered self-indulgent in much of the world because the emphasis is so much on the individual rather than the family or community. Similarly, much of the world would see independence from other people as a bad thing therefore some of the characteristics are typical of individualist cultures.

Question 40

What is another weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definiton?

Answer 40

Another weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definition is that it sets unrealistically high standards for mental health. For example, very few people will meet all of Jahoda's criteria for mental health, and most likely no one will achieve them all at the same time or keep them up for very long. Therefore this approach sees almost everyone as abnormal. We can see this as a positive or negative. On the positive side it makes it clear to people the ways in which they could benefit from seeking treatment (e.g. counselling) to improve their mental health. On the other hand, deviation from ideal mental health is probably no use in thinking about who might benefit from treatment against their will.

Question 41

What is another weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definition?

Answer 41

Another weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definition is that it lacks temporal validity. For example, what is considered 'healthy' at one time, wouldn't necessarily be at another. An example of this is that in some cultures today, it's considered abnormal for women to enjoysex - they may be forced to have their clitoris surgically removed to prevent their enjoyment. In victorian times, women who enjoyed sex were deemed abnormal and hence Freud began to use the term 'nymphomania'.

Question 42

What is another weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definition for abnormality?

Answer 42

Another weakness of the deviation from ideal mental health definition for abnormality is that giving people labels can add to their problems. For example, when we make a judgement that someone is failing to cope we may enf up giving them a label that can add to their problems. For example, it owuld be very 'normal' to get depressed after the loss of a job, home or relationship. Someone in that position might well benefit from psychological help. However, future employers may attach a permanent label to that person.

Question 43

What is the definition of statistical infrequency?

Answer 43

Statistical infrequency can be defined as occuring when an individual has a less common characteristic, for example being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the population.

Question 44

What is different about the statistical infrequency definition compared to the other definitions

Answer 44

The statistical infrequency definition is the most obvious and logical way to define anything as 'normal' or 'abnormal' as it is according to the number of times we observe it, e.g. a behaviour is deemed abnormal if it is extremely rare. Therefore, according to the statistical definition any relatively usual behaviour or characteristic can be thought of as 'normal', and any behaviour that is different to this is 'abnormal'. This is what is meant by statistical infrequency. For example, we can say that at any one time only a small number of people will have an irrational fear of buttons or believe for no good reason that their neighbours are zombies.

Question 45

What do we use to help us understand the concept of abnormality?

Answer 45

We use descriptive statistics to help us understand the concept of abnormality, such as mean, median and mode. If we can define what is most common or normal, then we also have an idea of what is uncommon i.e. abnormal.

Question 46

How can we display characteristics that can be measured?

Answer 46

We can display abnormal characteristics by using the normal distribution. The statistical infrequency approach helps us to deal with characteristics that can be reliably measured e.g. intelligence. For example, in any human characteristic, the majority of people's scores will cluster around the average, and that the further we go above or below that average, the fewer people will attain that score, this is the normal distribution and it can be displayed on a graph/diagram.

Question 47

On the normal distribution where do the people who behave in an average way go on the graph?

Answer 47

People who behave in the average way make up the middle of the bell curve.

Question 48

Where does most 'normal' behaviour lie on the normal distributions graph?

Answer 48

Most 'normal' behaviour falls within 1-2 standard deviations (numbers on bottom of graph) from the mean (average).

Question 49

Where does 'abnormal' behaviour lie on the normal distributions graph?

Answer 49

Those people who behave 'abnormally' make uo the tail ends of the bell curve as this behaviour is rare or statistically infrequent.

Question 50

What is an example of a disorder that would be defined as being statistically infrequent?

Answer 50

One example of a disorder that would be linked with people being statistically infrequent would be intellectual disability disorder. For example, the average IQ is set at 100. Most people (68%) have an IQ in the range from 85 to 115. Only 2% of people have a score below 70. Those individuals scoring below 70 are very unusual or 'abnormal' and are therefore liable to recieve a diagnosis of a psychological disorder e.g. intellectual disability disorder.

Question 51

What is one strength of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality?

Answer 51

One strength of the statistical infrequency definition is that is has a real-life application in the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder. There is therefore a place for statistical infrequency in thinking about what are normal and abnormal behaviours and characteristics. All assessments of patients with mental disorders include some kind of measurement of how severe their symptoms are in comparison to statistical norms. Statistical infrequency is therefore a useful part of clinical assessment.

Question 52

What is one weakness of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality?

Answer 52

One weakness of the statistical infrequency definition is that unusual/abnormal characteristics can be positive and are not always negative. For example IQ scores over 130 are just as unusual as those that are below 70, but we wouldn't think super-intelligence as an undesirable characteristic that needs treatment. Just because very few people display certain behaviours (which makes it statistically 'abnormal') doesn't mean that it requires treatment to return to 'normal'. This is a serious limitation to the concept of statistical infrequency and means that it would never be used alone to make a diagnosis.

Question 53

What is another weakness of the statistical infrequency defintion for abnormality?

Answer 53

Another weakness of the statistical infrequency defintion for abnormality is that not everyone who is unsual/'abnormal' benefits from a label. For example if someone is living a happy and fulfilled life, there is no benefit to them being labelled as abnormal regardless og how unusual they are. So someone with a very low IQ but who was not distressed, quite capable of working etc. would simply not need a diagnosis of intellectual disability. If that person was 'labelled' as 'abnormal' this might have a negative effect on the way others view them and the way they view themselves which could possibly lead to deviation from ideal mental health.

Question 54

What is another weakness of the statistical infrequency defnition for abnormality?

Answer 54

Another weakness of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality is that it doesn't take into account the desirability of behaviour, just its frequency. For example, a very high IQ is abnormal and so is a very low one, but having a high IQ is desirable whereas having a low IQ is undesirable.

Question 55

What is another weakness of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality?

Answer 55

Another weakness of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality is that there is no distinction betweeen rare, slightly odd behaviour and rare, psychologically abnormal behaviour as there is no definite cut-off point where normal behaviour becomes abnormal behaviour. For example, some behaviours that are considered psychologically abnormal are quite common, e.g. mild depression. Hassett and White (1989) argue that you cannot use statistical infrequency to define abnormality becasue of this. Therefore, using statistical infrequency idea, some disorders would not be classes as anything unusual.

Question 56

What is another strength of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality?

Answer 56

Another strength of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality is that using statistics ensures that it is an objective and unbiased way of defining abnormality. For example, finding people in a population more than two standard deviations from the mean (average) can be done objectively and without bias. However, the exact cut off point that you use to determine 'abnormality' may still be subjective.

Question 57

What is another strength of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality?

Answer 57

Another strength of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality is that using statistics is sometimes appropriate, especially when used in combination with other measures. E.g. an IQ more than two dtandard deviation below the mean (average) may be helpful for diagnosis, when it occurs in addition to other features of other definitions (e.g. distress/irrationality). The stats can also be used to justify requests for psychiatric assistance.

Question 58

What is another weakness og the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality?

Answer 58

Another weakness of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality is that not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent. For example depression is very common (10% of people will suffer it at some point). So it is argued it should not be classed as abnormal under this definition.

Question 59

What is another strength of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality?

Answer 59

Another strength of the statistical infrequency definition for abnormality is that it doesn't specifically say that being normal/abnormal is right/wrong. For example, the defintion simply determines if something or someone is normal or abnormal by the frequency of their behaviours. E.g. homosexuality is less frequent but not viewed as wrong or unacceptable by this definition.

Question 60

What are some symptoms that are associated with mental illness?

Answer 60

The Department of Health provides a guide to assess symptoms associated with mental illness. To be classified as a mental illness, there should be one or more of the following (not temporary) symptoms: 1) Impairment of intellectual functions, such as memory and comprehension 2) Alterations to mood that lead to delusional appraisals of the past or future, or any lack of appraisal 3) Delusional beliefs, such as presecution or jealousy 4) Distorted thinking - the person may be unable to appraise their situation or communicate with others.

Question 61

What is the definition of appraise?

Answer 61

The definition of appraise is to examine someone or something in order to judge their success or needs as well as setting a value on their worth.

Question 62

What is the definition of ethnocentrism?

Answer 62

Ethnocentrism can be defined as where one culture is used as the standard by which other cultures are judged.