Definitions of Abnormality

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

The scienfitic study of psychological disorders; i.e. mental health

Question 2

Outline the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality

Answer 2

• Mathematical method for defining abnormality
• Proposes abnormality should be based on infrequency
• If a behaviour is uncommon or rare then it is considered abnormal
• Human behaviours are normally distributed
• Most people cluster around the mean (average)
• Only small numbers of people at the extremes

Question 3

Outline the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality

Answer 3

• Abnormal behaviour does not fit in with the unwritten rules of society, i.e. if it is socially unacceptable
  Examples:
• showing disrespect to those older than you
• infidelity
• lying

Acceptable in one culture and unacceptable in another:
- eating with your hands
- wearing shoes in the house

Question 4

Outline the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality

Answer 4

Abnormal behaviour is when an individual is not able to cope with everyday life (nutrition, hygiene, responsibilities)
- Behaviour causes them distress or concerns a loved one
- Functioning ‘normally’:
Eating enough food
Drinking enough water
Taking time to relax

Question 5

Outline the Jahoda’s deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality

Answer 5

‘Ideal mental health’ categories:

Self-attitudes
- Having high self-esteem

Personal growth
- Reaching your potential

Integration
- Adapting to your surroundings

Autonomy
- Being self-sufficient

Accurate perception of reality
- Understanding what is real and false

Mastery of the environment
- Building a life for yourself
- Education, work, relationships

Question 6

Outline a strength and a limitation of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality

Answer 6

Limitation:
P: Not all infrequent behaviours are undesirable
Ev: Very few people have IQ over 130 but having a high IQ is not undesirable nor associated with poor mental health. Similarly, depression and anxiety are common but these are not normal behaviours and are signs of poor mental health
Ex: This definition limits us from distinguishing between desirable and undesirable behaviours. There needs to be a way of identifying behaviours which are both infrequent AND undesirable to identify those which need treatment.
L: ‘Statistical infrequency’ is not particularly useful for diagnosing patients with mental health problems who need support

Strength:
P: Sometimes only appropriate when used to define abnormality
Ev: Intellectual disability is defined through normal distributions using the concept of standard deviation. Anyone with IQ more than two standard deviations below the mean (IQ lower than 70) is considered to have a mental disorder
Ex: Provides a clear cut-off point of two standard deviations for abnormality, which makes diagnosis more objective. However, such a diagnosis should only be made along with a patient’s ‘failure to function adequately’
L: Therefore, statistical infrequency will always provide objective statistics = deviations can be compared with averages to further understand behaviour in terms of abnormality. However, perhaps it should not be the only definition used to diagnose patients as there is a lack of subjectivity

Question 7

Outline a strength and a limitation of the deviation from scoial norms definition of abnormality

Answer 7

Limitation:
P: What we consider to be abnormal will change over time due to social norms
Ev: Today homosexuality is acceptable but in the past it was illegal and considered to be a mental health disorder. Homosexuality remains an illegal act in many countries around the world
Ex: Individuals who are simply ‘non-conformists’ and don’t like to ‘fit in’ will be classified as abnormal based on this definition = society isolate people who they disapprove of = discriminating against a person’s right to be ‘different’
L: Definition of abnormality is likely to change constantly as society’s views change over time and may be open to abuse minorities who don’t ‘fit in’

Strength:
P: Ability to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours
Ev: Considers the effect behaviour has on others. Deviance is defined in terms of transgressions of social rules and social norms, and these rules are established to help people live together.
Es: Suggests that abnormal behaviours are only those which harm or damage others = can clearly distinguish desirable behaviours and undesirable behaviours (have a negative impact on others)
L: Useful in our everyday lives to understand abnormal behaviour as something that simply causes harm to others, and allows us to better stray from this

Question 8

Outline a strength and a limitation of the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality

Answer 8

Limitation:
P: ‘Adequate functioning’ is based on cultural ideas of how one’s life should be lived
Ev: Different diagnoses for different cultures because the standards of one culture are being used to judge different cultures. Lower-class and non-white patients are more often diagnosed with mental health issues than those who are higher-class because their lifestyles are different to the dominant culture = incorrect judgement of ‘failing to function adequately’
Ex: Suggests that the ‘failure to function adequately’ definition is not universal = should not be applied to people from different cultures around the world
L: Only useful to explain poor mental health in people from the same culture that the definition originates from

Strength:
P: Recognises the subjective experience of each individual patient
Ev: View mental health from POV of the person experiencing it. Easy to judge objectively because we can list behaviour criteria (can dress self, can maintain good personal hygiene) = judge abnormality objectively (when treatment is required)
Ex: Better insight into mental health. More personal and tailored approach to providing care for patients whilst remaining scientifically impartial in our diagnosis
L: Increases validity because the specific experience can be treated and their ‘abnormal’ behaviour is not just based on the average person’s symptoms

Question 9

Outline a strength and a limitation of Jahoda’s deviation from ideal mental healthdefinition of abnormality

Answer 9

Limitation:
P: Most people would be classified as abnormal
Ev: The criteria present an idealistic/perfect and extremely optimistic view of mental health which critics argue is unrealistic.
The criteria are also difficult to accurately measure.
Ex: Cannot necessarily help us to actually diagnose patients.
L: Lacks practical real-world application = less valid.

Strength:
P: Offers an entirely different view to mental health disorders which other psychiatrists overlook.
Ev: It focuses on the positive aspects of mental health rather than the negatives; behaviour that is desirable rather than undesirable.
Ex: Even though Jahoda’s ideas were never really used by mental health professionals, her concepts had some influence in the ‘positive psychology’ movement (the Humanistic approach).
L: More idealistic for people and help people to strive towards good mental health and to not be ashamed of having poor mental health, unlike the other definitions of abnormality.