Definitions of Abnormality

Question 1

Definitions of Abnormality

Answer 1

• Deviation from Social Norms
• Failure to Function Adequately
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
• Statistical Infrequency

Question 2

Deviation from Social Norms

Answer 2

• abnormal = violates expected social norms
• specific to cultures
• Examples: antisocial Personality Disorder - impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible

Question 3

Failure to Function Adequately

Answer 3

• abnormal = not coping with the life demands of everyday life
• David Rosenhan and Martin Seligman (1989)
• standard interpersonal rules
• severe personal distress
• behaviour becomes irrational/dangerous
• Example: Intellectual Disability Disorder - diagnosis made if individual are also failing to function adequately

Question 4

Statistical Infrequency

Answer 4

• abnormal = falls out of range of what is typical for most people/ average
• Example: Intellectual Disability Disorder - normal = 100, between 85 and 115
  statistically infrequent = less than 70/ more than 130

Question 5

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Answer 5

• abnormal = not meeting the criteria for ideal mental health
• Jahoda (1958) good mental health
• R - resistance to stress
• A - accurate perception to reality
• P - personal autonomy
• P - positive attitude towards themselves
• A - adapting to the environment
• S - self actualisation

Question 6

Deviation from social norms - Strength

Answer 6

• Real World Application
• useful in clinical practices
• example: antisocial personality disorder - failure to conform (aggressive, reckless)
• shows deviation from social norms has value in psychiatry

Question 7

Deviation from social norms - weakness

Answer 7

• Culture/situational bound
• difficult to judge deviation across different situations and cultures
• carries risk of unfair labeling leaving them open to human rights abuses
• Example: hearing voices would be seen as deviating from social norm but in some cultures this is normal

Question 8

Failure to Function Adequately - Strength

Answer 8

• represents a threshold for help
• measure what it’s meant to
• comprehensive checklist
• treatment given to those who need it most

Question 9

Failure to Function Adequately - Weakness

Answer 9

• discrimination and social control
• label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal
• Example: living off-grid is a life choice but may seem abnormal to some

Question 10

Statistical Infrequency - Strength

Answer 10

• Real - world application
• used in clinical practices as part of a formal diagnosis
• Example: Becks Depression Inventory - score of 30+ is interpreted as indicating severe depression

Question 11

Statistical Infrequency - Weakness

Answer 11

• Unusual characteristics can be positive
• can be positive
• Example: IQ - high 130+ isn’t seen as abnormal
• Example: BDI - low BDI wouldn’t be seen as abnormal

Question 12

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health - Strength

Answer 12

• Comprehensive definition
• covers a wide range of mental health disorders
• provides a checklist to compare against

Question 13

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health - Weakness

Answer 13

• Culture Bound
• to western societies
• Example ; autonomy is not valued or encouraged in certain cultures