Definitions of abnormality

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

The scientific study of psychological disorders (mental illnesses)

Question 2

What are social norms?

Answer 2

Rules that a society has about what are acceptable behaviours, values and beliefs. These are adhered to by those socialised into that group.
Some rules are explicit (e.g. breaking the law by causing a public disturbance), some are implicit (e.g. laughing at a funeral)
People who deviate from these norms are classes as abnormal

Question 3

What does the definition of abnormality do?

Answer 3

draws a line between desirable and undesirable behaviours and labels individuals behaving undesirably as social deviants. This allows interference into their lives in order to help them e.g. putting them into a mental hospital.

Question 4

Strength of deviation from social norms (desirability)

Answer 4

One strength of the definition is that it factors in the desirability of behaviour, which is ignored by other definitions of abnormality.

This means that behaviours that are numerically rare (and so abnormal according to the statistical infrequency definition) can be socially acceptable and therefore not abnormal. For instance, being a genius is statistically abnormal but we wouldn’t want to suggest that is an abnormal behaviour in terms of psychopathology.

This suggests that social norms can be a more useful definition of abnormality than using statistical norms (statistical infrequency).

Question 5

Limitation of deviation from social norms (variation)

Answer 5

One limitation of the definition is that social norms vary as times change.

What is socially acceptable now may not have been 50 years ago. For example, homosexuality is acceptable today but in the past it was included under the sexual and gender identity disorders in the DSM.

This suggests that the definition may lack temporal validity unless changing social norms are taken into account. Thus, the definition should be used with caution, and in combination with a more objective definition of abnormality to prevent defining people as abnormal simply because the definition has taken into account changing social norms.

Question 6

Limitation of the deviation from social norms (human rights)

Answer 6

Additionally, a limitation of the definition is that it over-reliance on using social norms to define abnormality can lead to violations of human rights.

Historical examples of deviation from social norms, such as drapetomania (black slaves running away) - a clear diagnosis that was used to maintain control over minority ethnic groups. It appears as ridiculous today, but this is because our social norms have changed. Some radical psychologists argue that even today’s definitions of deviation from social norms are abuses of people’s rights to be different.

This suggest that the definition can be used unethically and so should be used to define abnormality with caution or in combination with other definitions to prevent such violations.

Question 7

Limitation of deviation from social norms (cultural relativism)

Answer 7

A further issue of the definition is that it suffers from cultural relativism (the idea that a concept only applies in the culture it was created in).

Question 8

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 8

When someone deviates from behaviour that is expected in society e.g. laughing at a funeral (implicit rule)
This would be an example of a symptom of schizophrenia as is showing an inappropriate emotion
So person is considered abnormal when they break the societal norms

Question 9

What is cultural relativism?

Answer 9

The idea that a concept only applies in the culture it was created in

Question 10

What is a normal distribution?

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

What is a positive skew?

Answer 11

This is when most of the scores are bunched towards the left. The fact that there are a few high scores has a strong effect on the mean, which is always higher than the median and mode in a positive skew

Question 12

What is a negative skew?

Answer 12

This is when most of the scores are bunched towards the right. The mode is to the right of the mean because the mean is affected by the extreme scores tailing off to the left.

Question 13

When is behaviour considered abnormal from statistical infrequency? So what does this definition rely on?

Answer 13

When behaviour is numerically rare as it is 2 or more deviations from the mean - relies on stats being up to date

Question 14

What mental illnesses fit the definition of statistical infrequency? (as are numerically rare)

Answer 14

Schizophrenia
OCD
PTSD
BPD

Question 15

What mental illnesses do not fit the definition of statistical infrequency (as are too common)

Answer 15

Depression
Anxiety

Question 16

Conditions that don’t fit the definition - they are numerically rare, but they are desirable

Answer 16

**High IQ (savant syndrome)
Synaesthesia
Photographic memory

Question 17

Weakness of statistical infrequency (desirability)

Answer 17

There are many statistically rare behaviours that are desirable. E.g. very few people have such a high IQ that it is over 150, but we would not want to suggest that having a high IQ is undesirable or abnormal. Equally, there are some statistically frequent behaviours that are undesirable. E.g. about 10% of people will be chronically depressed at some point in their lives, which suggests that depression is so common that it is not seen as abnormal according to this definition.

Therefore, using statistical infrequency to define abnormality means that we are unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours. In order to identify behaviours that need treatment, there needs to be a way of identifying infrequent and undesirable behaviours. This suggests that the definition should never be used in isolation to make a diagnosis.

Question 18

Weakness of statistical infrequency (cultural relativism)

Answer 18

An issue for the definition is that it is culturally relative. Behaviours that are statistically infrequent in one culture may be statistically more frequent in another. For example, one of the symptoms of schizophrenia is claiming to hear voices. However, this is an experience that is common in some cultures, especially immediately after a loved one has died.

This suggests that the definition may not be externally valid and so shouldn’t be applied outside the culture it was created in without caution. Therefore, psychologists must be sensitive to such cultural differences when defining abnormality.

Question 19

Strength of statistical infrequency

Answer 19

It has real-life application in the diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder. There is therefore a place for statistical infrequency in thinking about normal and abnormal behavioural characteristics. One of the assessments of patients with mental disorders includes some kind of measurement of the severity of symptoms compared to statistical norms.

This suggests that the definition is externally valid as it can be applied to usefully applied to different situations to aid in clinical assessments.

Question 20

Weakness of statistical infrequency (

Answer 20

When someone is living a happy and fulfilled life, there is no benefit in them being labelled as abnormal, regardless of how unusual they are. E.g. someone with a very low IQ but who is not distressed, quite capable of working etc, would not need a diagnosis of intellectual disability. A label of abnormality could have a negative effect on the way others view them and how they view themselves.

This suggests that the definition could cause unnecessary psychological harm and so a cost-benefit analysis should be applied before using it to define someone as abnormal.

Question 21

What is failure to function adequately?

Answer 21

When someone:
- Cannot cope with the demands of everyday living
- Has behaviour that is maladaptive (unhealthy), irrational or dangerous
- And their behaviour causes distress to themselves or others e.g. people with schizophrenia generally lack awareness that anything is wrong, but their behaviour (hallucinations, believing that they are being persecuted) may be distressing to others.

Question 22

Example of how to apply the definition of failure to function adequately

Answer 22

One definition to function adequately. Liam touching and counting every lamp post is an irrational behaviour and it makes him late for work. If he does this repeatedly, he may get fired, and so he can’t maintain a job and therefore can’t cope with everyday living. Thus he would be classed as abnormal. Additionally, if Liam doesn’t touch and count every lamp post that he passes, he becomes worried, suggesting his behaviour is distressing to him and so he would be classed as abnormal.

Question 23

Weakness of failure to function adequately (features of abnormality)

Answer 23

Psychopaths can cause great harm and yet still appear normal. Harold Shipman, the English doctor who murdered at least 215 of his patients over a 23 year period, seemed to be a respectable doctor. He maintained a job, personal hygiene, relationships etc. He was abnormal, but didn’t display features of functioning inadequately and so would be classed as normal according to this definition.

This suggests that the definition lacks validity because it is not able to measure what it intends to measure i.e. it doesn’t always lead to a definition of abnormality (decide someone is mentally ill) when it should.

Question 24

Weakness of failure to function adequately (cultural relativism)

Answer 24

The definition suffers from cultural relativism. In some cultures, women are not expected to maintain a job. Using the definition, such women would be classified as abnormal simply because their cultural norms differ from our own. This may explain why lower-class and non-white patients are more often classified as abnormal; their lifestyles are different from the dominant culture and this may lead to a judgement of failing to function adequately.

This suggests that the definition may not be externally valid and so shouldn’t be applied outside the culture it was created in without caution. Therefore, psychologists must be sensitive to such cultural differences when defining abnormality.

Question 25

Weakness of failure to function adequately (subjective)

Answer 25

When deciding whether someone is failing to function adequately, someone has to judge whether a patient is distressed or distressing others. Some patients may say that they are distressed but may not be judged as suffering. There are methods for making such assessments as objective as possible, such as the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. However, the principle remains that someone has the right to make this judgement. The judgements are subjective and so mean that people who would benefit from help may not get it as they are not classed as abnormal and vice versa. This means the definition's use may lack reliability and so it should only be used in combination with other definitions.

Question 26

Strength of failure to function adequately (experience)

Answer 26

It attempts to include the subjective experience of the individual. It may not be an entirely satisfactory approach because it is difficult to assess distress, but the definition acknowledges that the experience of the patient is important. Therefore, the definition captures the experience of many who need help. Therefore it seems to be a useful way of assessing abnormality by taking into account the person's subjective experiences.

Question 27

How to write about statistical infrequency

Answer 27

- Behaviour/characteristic/trait is abnormal if it is numerically rare - 2 standard deviations away from the mean for any characteristic. Typically top 2.5% and bottom 2.5% of the population approximately for any characteristic. Relies on up-to-date statistics. - Example of a mental illness that would be abnormal according to this definition and how it would be classed as abnormal

Question 28

How to write about deviation from social norms

Answer 28

* Behaviour is abnormal if it breaks a rule of what is an acceptable behaviour in a society (social norm) * Definitions of implicit and explicit social norms * Example of a mental illness that would be abnormal according to this definition and how it would be classed as abnormal

Question 29

Who was deviation from ideal mental health proposed by?

Answer 29

Jahoda - the definition looks at the positives rather than the negatives (mental health not mental illness)

Question 30

What are the 6 major criteria?

Answer 30

1. Self-attitudes – having high self-esteem and a strong sense of identity, high self-respect and a positive self-concept 2. Personal growth and self-actualisation – the extent to which an individual develops their full capabilities i.e. fulfilling their potential 3. Integration – being able to cope with stressful situations 4. Autonomy – being independent and self-reliant and able to make personal decisions 5. Having an accurate perception of reality – perceiving the world in a non-distorted fashion. Having an objective and realistic view of the world. 6. Mastery of the environment – being competent in all aspects of life and being able to meet the demands of any situation e.g. the ability to love, function at work and in interpersonal relationships, adjust to new situations and solve problems.

Question 31

What does it mean if anyone is lacking any of the 6 qualities of ideal mental health?

Answer 31

The person would would be vulnerable to mental disorder, and therefore ‘abnormal’ (i.e. lacking any of the criteria for good mental health). The more characteristics they fail to meet and the further they are from realising them, the more abnormal they are.

Question 32

Weakness of deviation from ideal mental health (cultural relativism)

Answer 32

Most of the criteria are culture bound to Western European and North American cultures. For example, *in terms of self-actualisation**, seeking to fulfil your own potential is a prime goal in individualistic cultures but not in collectivist cultures. E.g. in some cultures, the Elders plan the young person’s future for them (career paths, arranged marriages etc.), so it may be regarded as abnormal for them to pursue individual goals. This suggests that the definition may not be­­ externally valid and so shouldn’t be applied outside the culture it was created in without caution. Therefore, psychologists must be sensitive to such cultural differences when defining abnormality.

Question 33

Strength/weakness of deviation from ideal mental health (almost everyone is abnormal)

Answer 33

According to these criteria, most of us are abnormal. Jahoda presented them as ideal criteria. For example, few people experience personal growth all of the time. Therefore, the criteria may be ideals (how you would like to be) rather than actualities (how you actually are). This could be a positive, as it makes it clear how everyone could improve their mental health, and therefore could be used to identify who might benefit from seeking treatment (e.g. counselling) in order to improve their mental health. However, it’s also a weakness as it means that the definition is probably of no value in thinking about who might benefit from treatment against their will.

Question 34

Weakness of deviation from social norms (time)

Answer 34

Perceptions of reality change over time. Once seeing visions was a positive sign of religious commitment, whilst now it would be perceived as a sign of schizophrenia. This suggests that the definition may not be a valid way (lacks temporal validity) of identifying abnormality unless such changes are taken into account.

Question 35

Weakness of deviation from social norms (measure)

Answer 35

The criteria are quite difficult to measure. For example, how easy is it to assess capacity for personal growth or environmental mastery? This means that this approach may be an interesting concept but not really useable when it comes to identifying abnormality because the criteria are too subjective to be applied consistently by psychologists. This could pose problems for psychologists using the definition as one may identify abnormality where another doesn’t i.e. it isn’t a reliable means of identifying abnormality. As such, patients who may benefit from treatment may not be given the opportunity to access it.