Definitions of abnormality
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY + Real-world application
When an individual has a less common characteristic Useful in clinical practice to formally diagnose conditions
than the rest of the population – e.g., being less (IDD).
intelligent than the rest of the pop. Also useful in assessment – top 5% of respondents for the
Relatively ‘usual’ behaviours seen as normal and vice Beck Depression Inventory likely to be diagnosed with
versa. depression.
E.g., intellectual disability disorder (IDD) Value in diagnostic and assessment processes.
Majority of people’s scores cluster around avg., and - Infrequent ≠ negative
the further above/below we go, the fewer people For every person with an IQ below 70, there is one with an
attain the score (normal distribution). IQ above 130 – who is not seen as abnormal.
68% score between 85-115. Same for low depression score on BDI– being unusual at
2% score below 70 (diagnosed with IDD) – ‘abnormal’. one end of the spectrum doesn’t make someone abnormal.
Insufficient to be sole basis for defining abnormality.
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS + Real-world application
Behaving in a way that is different to the accepted Useful in clinical practice – key characteristic of APD is
standards of behaviour in a society/how we’d expect failure to conform to culturally normal ethical behaviour
someone to behave. (recklessness, violence etc.)
Specific to cultures – few behaviours seen as Norms also used in diagnosing schizotypal personality
universally abnormal on the basis that they breach disorder.
social norms (e.g., homosexuality was considered Criterion has value in psychiatry.
abnormal in the UK, and still is in some cultures). - Cultural/situational relativism
E.g., antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) Hearing voices seen as the norm in Haiti.
Impulsive/aggressive/irresponsible Differ between situations – aggressive/deceitful behaviour
Don’t conform to moral standards – ‘absence of in family life more unacceptable than in corporate deal-
prosocial moral standards’ – DSM-5. making.
Difficult to judge DFSN across cultures/situations.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY + Represents threshold for when people need help.
Inability to cope with ordinary demands of everyday 25% of people in the UK experience a mental health
life – e.g., maintaining standards of hygiene/nutrition, problem in any given year - most keep going even in the
holding down a job. face of severe symptoms.
Rosenhan and Seligman – At the point we cease to function adequately, we seek/are
No longer conforming to interpersonal rules (e.g., referred for help.
respecting personal space) Treatment can be targeted to those most in need.
Severe personal distress - May wrongly label non-standard life choices as abnormal.
Irrational/dangerous behaviour to themselves/others. People choose to deviate from norms but aren’t failing to
E.g., IDD – for a diagnosis, they would also have to be function.
failing to function adequately. E.g., favouring high-risk leisure activities/unusual spiritual
practices can be seen as irrational/danger to oneself.
People who make unusual lifestyle choices risk being
labelled as abnormal/freedom of choice may be limited.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH + Highly comprehensive list
Not meeting Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health - Range of criteria covers different reasons why we may be
No symptoms of distress referred for help.
Self-actualisation Discuss mental health with professionals who take different
Coping with stress theoretical views – e.g., humanistic counsellor for self-
Good self-esteem, lack guilt. actualisation, psychiatrist for symptoms.
Independent of others Checklist to assess ourselves/others and help identify who
Successfully work, love and enjoy leisure. we need to get help from.
Accurate self-perception - Not applicable to range of cultures.
Located in context of the West – self-actualisation seen as
self-indulgent in rest of the world.
Defining success in love/work lives varies between cultures.
Difficult to apply between cultures.
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY + Real-world application
When an individual has a less common characteristic Useful in clinical practice to formally diagnose conditions
than the rest of the population – e.g., being less (IDD).
intelligent than the rest of the pop. Also useful in assessment – top 5% of respondents for the
Relatively ‘usual’ behaviours seen as normal and vice Beck Depression Inventory likely to be diagnosed with
versa. depression.
E.g., intellectual disability disorder (IDD) Value in diagnostic and assessment processes.
Majority of people’s scores cluster around avg., and - Infrequent ≠ negative
the further above/below we go, the fewer people For every person with an IQ below 70, there is one with an
attain the score (normal distribution). IQ above 130 – who is not seen as abnormal.
68% score between 85-115. Same for low depression score on BDI– being unusual at
2% score below 70 (diagnosed with IDD) – ‘abnormal’. one end of the spectrum doesn’t make someone abnormal.
Insufficient to be sole basis for defining abnormality.
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS + Real-world application
Behaving in a way that is different to the accepted Useful in clinical practice – key characteristic of APD is
standards of behaviour in a society/how we’d expect failure to conform to culturally normal ethical behaviour
someone to behave. (recklessness, violence etc.)
Specific to cultures – few behaviours seen as Norms also used in diagnosing schizotypal personality
universally abnormal on the basis that they breach disorder.
social norms (e.g., homosexuality was considered Criterion has value in psychiatry.
abnormal in the UK, and still is in some cultures). - Cultural/situational relativism
E.g., antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) Hearing voices seen as the norm in Haiti.
Impulsive/aggressive/irresponsible Differ between situations – aggressive/deceitful behaviour
Don’t conform to moral standards – ‘absence of in family life more unacceptable than in corporate deal-
prosocial moral standards’ – DSM-5. making.
Difficult to judge DFSN across cultures/situations.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY + Represents threshold for when people need help.
Inability to cope with ordinary demands of everyday 25% of people in the UK experience a mental health
life – e.g., maintaining standards of hygiene/nutrition, problem in any given year - most keep going even in the
holding down a job. face of severe symptoms.
Rosenhan and Seligman – At the point we cease to function adequately, we seek/are
No longer conforming to interpersonal rules (e.g., referred for help.
respecting personal space) Treatment can be targeted to those most in need.
Severe personal distress - May wrongly label non-standard life choices as abnormal.
Irrational/dangerous behaviour to themselves/others. People choose to deviate from norms but aren’t failing to
E.g., IDD – for a diagnosis, they would also have to be function.
failing to function adequately. E.g., favouring high-risk leisure activities/unusual spiritual
practices can be seen as irrational/danger to oneself.
People who make unusual lifestyle choices risk being
labelled as abnormal/freedom of choice may be limited.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH + Highly comprehensive list
Not meeting Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health - Range of criteria covers different reasons why we may be
No symptoms of distress referred for help.
Self-actualisation Discuss mental health with professionals who take different
Coping with stress theoretical views – e.g., humanistic counsellor for self-
Good self-esteem, lack guilt. actualisation, psychiatrist for symptoms.
Independent of others Checklist to assess ourselves/others and help identify who
Successfully work, love and enjoy leisure. we need to get help from.
Accurate self-perception - Not applicable to range of cultures.
Located in context of the West – self-actualisation seen as
self-indulgent in rest of the world.
Defining success in love/work lives varies between cultures.
Difficult to apply between cultures.
