Psychopathology
Essay plans
AQA
, Describe and evaluate statistical infrequency and deviation from social norms as definitions of abnormality
16 marks
A01:
Statistical infrequency
Normal behaviour is defined as looking at ‘typical’ values
When a trait is statistically uncommon, they’re considered abnormal
This is shown through the majority of people scores clustering and peaking around the average, which is called the normal distribution
Ltos of mental health assessments measure symptom severity in comparison to the general population
Deviation from social norms
This is when someone behaves in a way which is different from how we expect people to behave
Society has social norms which are accepted standards of behaviour and are used to regulate normal behaviour in society
E.g. psychopathotic behaviour would be considered abnormal in a wide range of cultures
A03:
+One strength of statistical infrequency is its real world application. Statistical infrequency is used in clinical practice, both as a part of
formal diagnosis and as a way to assess the severity of an individuals symptoms. E.g. a diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder requires
an IQ of below 70 which is the bottom 2%. This shows that the value of the statistical infrequency criteria is useful in diagnostic and
assessment processes.
-One limitation of statistical infrequency is that infrequent characteristics can be psotiive as well as negative. For every person with an IQ
below 70, there is another with an IQ above 130. However, we would not think of someone as abnormal for having a high IQ. This example
shows that being unusual or at one end of a psychological spectrum does not necessarily make someone abnormal. This means that,
although statistical infrequency can form part of an assessment and diagnostic procedures, it is never sufficient as the sole basis for
defining abnormality.
(Another point is that some people benefit from being classed as abnormal because this can allow them to access support services/therapy.
On the other hand, not all statistically unusual people benefit from labels, due a social stigma/stereotype being attached to a label. )
+One strength of deviation from social norms is that it has real world application. Deviaiton from social norms is used in clinical practice eg.
The key defining characteristic of antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally normal ethical behaviour. For example,
aggressive behaviour, recklessness etc. These signs of the disorder are all deviations from social norms. This shows that the deviation from
social norms criteria has value in psychiatry.
-One limitation of deviation from social norms is that it lacks cultural relativism. A person from one cultural group may label someone from
another group as abnormal using their standards rather than the person’s standards. E.g. the experience of hearing voices is the norm in
cultures as a message from ancestors, whilst this would be seen as abnormal in the UK. Also, even within one cultural context, social norms
differ from one situation to another. This means that it is difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations and
cultures.
Essay plans
AQA
, Describe and evaluate statistical infrequency and deviation from social norms as definitions of abnormality
16 marks
A01:
Statistical infrequency
Normal behaviour is defined as looking at ‘typical’ values
When a trait is statistically uncommon, they’re considered abnormal
This is shown through the majority of people scores clustering and peaking around the average, which is called the normal distribution
Ltos of mental health assessments measure symptom severity in comparison to the general population
Deviation from social norms
This is when someone behaves in a way which is different from how we expect people to behave
Society has social norms which are accepted standards of behaviour and are used to regulate normal behaviour in society
E.g. psychopathotic behaviour would be considered abnormal in a wide range of cultures
A03:
+One strength of statistical infrequency is its real world application. Statistical infrequency is used in clinical practice, both as a part of
formal diagnosis and as a way to assess the severity of an individuals symptoms. E.g. a diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder requires
an IQ of below 70 which is the bottom 2%. This shows that the value of the statistical infrequency criteria is useful in diagnostic and
assessment processes.
-One limitation of statistical infrequency is that infrequent characteristics can be psotiive as well as negative. For every person with an IQ
below 70, there is another with an IQ above 130. However, we would not think of someone as abnormal for having a high IQ. This example
shows that being unusual or at one end of a psychological spectrum does not necessarily make someone abnormal. This means that,
although statistical infrequency can form part of an assessment and diagnostic procedures, it is never sufficient as the sole basis for
defining abnormality.
(Another point is that some people benefit from being classed as abnormal because this can allow them to access support services/therapy.
On the other hand, not all statistically unusual people benefit from labels, due a social stigma/stereotype being attached to a label. )
+One strength of deviation from social norms is that it has real world application. Deviaiton from social norms is used in clinical practice eg.
The key defining characteristic of antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally normal ethical behaviour. For example,
aggressive behaviour, recklessness etc. These signs of the disorder are all deviations from social norms. This shows that the deviation from
social norms criteria has value in psychiatry.
-One limitation of deviation from social norms is that it lacks cultural relativism. A person from one cultural group may label someone from
another group as abnormal using their standards rather than the person’s standards. E.g. the experience of hearing voices is the norm in
cultures as a message from ancestors, whilst this would be seen as abnormal in the UK. Also, even within one cultural context, social norms
differ from one situation to another. This means that it is difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations and
cultures.
