defs of abnormality Flashcards
4 definitions of abnormality
Statistical infrequency
Deviation from social normal
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health
Statistical infrequency definition
Abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare
We define many aspects of what is normal by referring to typical values. (use descriptive statistics -mean, median, mode- to represent this)
If we can define what is most common or normal, then we also have an idea of what is not common ie abnormal.
Stat infrequency AO3
lim: desirable
lim: subjective
str: sometimes appropriate
lim: cultural relativism
Stat infrequency lim: desirable
There are many abnormal behaviours that are actually quite desirable.
For example, very few people have an IQ over 150 but this abnormality is desirable not undesirable.
Equally, there are some ‘normal’ behaviours that are undesirable.
eg depression
Therefore, using statistical infrequency to define abnormality means that we are unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours.
Stat infrequency lim: subjective
The cut-off point is subjective
If abnormality is defined in terms of statistical infrequency, we need to decide where to separate normality from abnormality.
For example, one of the symptoms of depression is difficulty sleeping. Some people might think abnormal sleep is less than 6 hours a night on average, others might think the cut-off should be 5 hours.
Such disagreements mean it is difficult to define abnormality in terms of statistical infrequency.
Stat infrequency lim: cultural relativism
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.
What this means in practice is that there are no universal standards or rules for labelling a behaviour as abnormal.
Stat infrequency str: appropriate
In some situations it is appropriate to use a statistical criterion to define abnormality.
For example, intellectual disability is defined in terms of the normal distribution using the concept of standard deviation to establish a cut-off point for abnormality.
Any individual whose IQ is more than two standard deviations below the mean is judged as having a mental disorder - however, such a diagnosis is only made in conjunction with failure to function adequately.
This suggests that statistical infrequency is only one of a number of tools.
Deviation from social norms definition
Abnormal behaviour is seen as a deviation from unstated rules ab how one ought to behave
Anything that violates these rules is considered abnormal.
Some rules ab behaviour are implicit whereas others are policed by laws.
Deviation from social norms AO3
lim: abuse
lim: context and degree
str: desirable/undesirable
lim/str: cultural relativism
deviation from sn lim: abuse
Susceptible to abuse
What is socially acceptable now may not have been socially acceptable 50 years ago.
For example, today homosexuality is acceptable in most countries in the world, but in the past it was included under sexual and gender identity disorders in the DSM. Similarly, 50 years ago in Russia, anyone who disagreed with the state ran the risk of being regarded as insane and placed in a mental institution.
Szasz: claimed that the concept of mental illness was simply a way to exclude nonconformists from society.
Therefore, if we define abnormality in terms of deviation from social norms, there is a real danger of creating definitions based on prevailing social morals and attitudes.
deviation from sn lim: context and degree
Deviance is related to context and degree
- judgements on deviance are often related to the context of a behaviour.
For example, a person on a beach wearing next to nothing is regarded as normal, whereas the same outfit in the classroom or at a formal gathering would be regarded as abnormal and possibly an indication of a mental disorder.
Shouting loudly and persistently is deviant behaviour but not evidence of mental disturbance unless it is excessive - and even then it might not be a mental disorder.
This means that social deviance on its own cannot offer a complete definition of abnormality, because it is inevitably related to both context and degree.
deviation from sn str: desirable/undesirable
Distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour (absent from the statistical infrequency model)
The social deviancy model also takes into account the effect that behaviour has on others. Deviance is defined in terms of transgression of social rules and (ideally) social rules are established in order to help people live together. According to this definition, abnormal behaviour is behaviour that damages others.
This definition, therefore, offers a practical and useful way of identifying undesirable and potentially damaging behaviour, which may alert others to the need to secure help for the person concerned.
deviation from sn lim/str: cultural relativism
Bound by culture because social norms are defined by the culture.
Classification systems, such as the DSM, are almost entirely based on the social norms of the dominant culture in the West (white and middle class), and yet the same criteria are applied to people from different subcultures living in the West.
Cultural relativism is now acknowledged in the most recent revision to the DSM in 2013 (DSM-V), which makes reference to cultural contexts in many areas of diagnosis. For example, in the section on panic attacks a note is made that uncontrollable crying may be a symptom in some cultures, whereas difficulty breathing may be a primary symptom in other cultures.
This shows that it is possible to address this issue by including cultural differences in diagnostic systems.
Failure to function adequately definition
Judged on their ability to go about their daily life. If they cnnot do this and are also experiencing distress or cause distress to others then it is considered abnormality
The functioning’ refers to just going about day-to-day life, eg eating regularly, washing clothes, getting up to go out to a job or some activity, being able to communicate with others, having some control over your life and so on.
Importance of distress to others: ppl with sz generally lack awareness that anything is wrong but their behaviour (hallucinations, believing that they are being persecuted) may well be distressing to others.
There may be situations where a person is not coping with everyday life in a’normal’ way - eg a person may be content living in unwashed clothes and not having a regular job. If this doesn’t cause distress to self or others then a judgement of abnormality is inappropriate.
WHODAS: assessment of ability to function
6 areas:
*understanding and communicating
*getting around
*self-care
*getting along w people
*life activities
*participation in society
Individuals rate each item on sclae 1-5 and are given an overal score out of 180
ftfa AO3
lim: subjective
lim: may be functional
str: recognises subjective experience
lim:cultural relativism
ftfa lim: subjective judgement
If a person is experiencing personal distress, eg is unable to get to work or eat regular meals, they may recognise that this is undesirable and may feel distressed and seek help.
But the individual may be content with the situation and/or unaware they are not coping
Eg: Some sz believe they are defending others from evil when behaving violently ie functioning adequately (such as Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper)
The judgement is subjective and depends on who is making the decision
ftfa lim: behaviour may be functional
Some apparently dysfunctional behaviour can actually be adaptive and functional for the individual.
Eg: some mental disorders, such as eating disorders or depression, may lead to extra attention for the individual.
Such attention is rewarding and thus quite functional rather than dysfunctional.
This failure to distinguish between functional and dysfunctional means that the definition is incomplete
ftfa str: subjective experiences
Does recognise the subjective experience of the patient.
It allows us to view mental disorder from the point of view of the person experiencing it.
In addition, ‘failure to function’ is also relatively easy to judge objectively because we can list behaviours (can dress self, can prepare meals - as in WHODAS) and thus judge abnormality objectively.
This definition of abnormality therefore has a certain sensitivity and practicality.
ftfa lim: cultural relativism
Definitions of adequate functioning are related to cultural ideas of how one’s life should be lived.
The ‘failure to function’ criterion is likely to result in different diagnoses when applied to people from different cultures, because the standard of one culture is being used to measure another.
This may explain, for example, why lower-class and non-white patients (whose lifestyles differ from the dominant culture) are more often diagnosed with mental disorders.
This means that the use of this model is limited by its cultural relativism.
Deviation from ideal mental health definition
Abnormality is defined in terms of mental health, behaviours taht are associated with competence and happiness
Ideal mental health would include a positive attitude towards the self, resistance to stress and an accurate perception of reality
According to Jahoda, catergories that enable an individual to feel hapy and behave competently:
*Self-attitudes: having high self-esteem and a strong sense of identity.
* Personal growth and self-actualisation: the extent to which an individual develops their full capabilities.
* Integration, such as being able to cope with stressful situations.
* Autonomy: being independent and self-regulating.
* Having an accurate perception of reality.
* Mastery of the environment: including the ability to love, function at work and in interpersonal relationships, adjust to new situations and solve problems.
AO3 dfimh
lim: unrealistic criteria
lim: mental and physical health
str: positive approach
lim: cultural relativism
dfimh lim: unrealistic criteria
According to Jahoda’s mental health criteria, most people are abnormal
We also have to ask how many need to be lacking before a person would be judged as abnormal.
Furthermore, 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.
dfimh lim: mental and physical health
Tries to apply the principles of physical health to mental health.
In general, physical illnesses have physical causes such as a virus or bacterial infection, and as a result this makes them relatively easy to detect and diagnose.
It is possible that some mental disorders also have physical causes (e.g. brain injury or drug abuse) but many do not. They are the consequence of life experiences.
Therefore, it is unlikely that we could diagnose mental abnormality in the same way that we can diagnose physical abnormality.
dfimh str: positive approach
Focuses on the positives rather than the negatives.
It offers an alternative perspective on mental disorder that focuses on the ideal’ - what is desirable rather than what is undesirable.
Even though Jahoda’s ideas were never really taken up by mental health professionals, the ideas have had some influence and are in accord with the ‘positive psychology’ movement.
A strength of this approach, therefore, lies in its positive outlook and its influence on humanistic approaches.
