Definitions Of Abnormality Flashcards
(11 cards)
Statistical infrequency
-One is considered ‘abnormal’ if their condition is very rare in their population.
-‘Rarity’ of their behaviour is judged statistically.
-Normal distribution shows common human behaviours, mean median and mode of these behaviours will fall at the most common. We find abnormal behaviours by comparing individuals to the population on this curve and if they fall on the edges of the curve they are ‘abormal’
-i.e. intelligence can be studied statistically via IQ scores presented on a graph and will create a bell curve.
-If one is two standard deviations from the ‘mean’ of a behaviour one is considered abnormal.
Failure to function adequately
-If one can’t cope with typical day to day life, they are defined as abnormal, things they may not be able to cope with are things such as making their own food or being on-time to work ecetera.
Deviation from ideal mental health
-Jahoda, a humanist psychologist, came up with a definition for ideal mental health.
-Her definition is focused on how those who are struggling can improve and become a better person then view them as dysfunctional or in a deficit.
-She devised 6 features of ideal mental health, and argues deviation from said features indicates abnormalities.
Deviation from social norms
-When one doesn’t conform to social norms
-A social norm is an unwritten expectation of behaviour, these can be unique in different cultures and may change overtime, expectations can vary depending on context.
-People who deviate from societal expectations may be seen as abnormal.
-An example of deviation from social norms would be modesty in terms of clothing, PDA, the way one eats their food.
The 4 definitions of abnormality:
-Statistical infrequency
-Failure to function adequately
-Deviation from ideal mental health
-Deviation from social norms
Jahoda’s 6 features of ideal mental health
-Environmental mastery, being able to adapt and thrive in new situations
-Autonomy, being an individual
-Coping or resistance to stress, the ability to cope with the stresses of day to day life.
-Self actualisation, the ability to reach ones potential through personal growth.
-Positive self image, high self esteem and self respect.
-Accurate perception of reality, the ability to see the world as it is without it being distorted by ones own bias or other issues.
Features of failure to function adequately
-Maladaptive behaviour:
When one behaves In a manner that goes against their long term interests.
-Observer discomfort:
When one makes those around them uncomfortable/stressed.
-Personal anguish:
When an individual suffers from high levels of anxiety and distress.
-Irrationality:
One’s reasoning and motivations are difficult understand.
-Unconventionality:
Behaviours that don’t match societies expectations.
Statistical infrequency (AO3)
-Not all statistically rare traits are negative.
-Rare things such as extremely high intelligence will not necessarily mean one is ‘abnormal’
-Being defined as abnormal infers that there is something ‘unwell’ about you when sometimes rare behaviours won’t necessarily mean that.
-Alot of issues can also be fairly common, meaning those who may be genuinely mentally unwell may not be defined as ‘abnormal’ statistically.
-This suggests that statistical infrequency can commonly misidentify abnormality.
Failure to function adequately (AO3)
-The way in which you are ‘coping’ is very subjective.
-Different clinicians may give different verdicts on the same patient on whether or not they are coping.
-Defining if someone is ‘coping’ is very subjective making this definition of abnormality very inconsistent.
-Certain people who are psychopaths can also ‘cope’ very well ,i.e psychopaths may be seen as coping very well but still is very mentally unwell, however this definition would miss this.
Deviation from social norms(AO3)
-Inappropriate to define those who have just moved into a new culture as abnormal because they are being compared to the new norms which they haven’t adapted to.
-An example of this issue is that afro Carribbean men are 7 times more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic then white men in the UK, this is due to different understandings/beliefs around what we see as symptoms of schizophrenia, i.e in afro Carribbean communities hearing voices is seen as communication with past generations.
Deviation from ideal mental health(AO3)
-The rules around ideal mental health are too strict.
-Most people wouldn’t be able to follow all 6 rules of ideal mental health at the same time.
COUNTER: this approach is much more holistic than the other definitions. In this diagnosis they consider far more factors that could be causing the abnormality and gives you ideas of steps you could take to improve ones mental health. This definition respects the individual and their own experience, the 6 rules are up for interpretation.
