Statistical Infrequency AO3

Question 1

❌ Why does the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality fail to account for cultural factors?

Answer 1

What is statistically normal in one culture may be abnormal in another. For example, the average height for women in the UK is 162 cm, while in Guatemala it is 150.9 cm. If psychologists use one culture’s standards to judge another, it can lead to unfair or biased conclusions.

Question 2

❌ Why is the statistical infrequency definition criticized for labeling infrequent but desirable traits as ‘abnormal’?

Answer 2

According to this definition, having an IQ over 130 would be classed as ‘abnormal’. However, most people would consider a high IQ desirable. This shows that being classed as ‘abnormal’ does not necessarily mean a trait is undesirable, limiting the definition’s accuracy.

Question 3

✅ What is a key practical application of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality?

Answer 3

It is used in clinical diagnosis and assessment, such as diagnosing intellectual disability disorder (IQ of 69 or below) and using tools like the Beck Depression Inventory, where a score of 30+ indicates severe depression.

Question 4

✅ How does the statistical infrequency definition avoid subjective judgments?

Answer 4

It relies on mathematics and statistical distributions, making it objective. For example, left-handedness is statistically less common but not labelled ‘abnormal,’ avoiding the negative stigmatization seen in some cultures