Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality (16)
AO1:
-FFS: -the inability to cope with everyday living / abnormality that prevents person from carrying out
range of behaviours that society would expect from them
- E.g getting out of bed everyday, holding down a job, personal hygiene, not conforming to standard
interpersonal rules, causing distress to oneself or others, maladaptive/ irrational/ dangerous behaviour
-deviation from ideal mental health: -absence of signs of good mental health used to judge
abnormality
-ideal mental health shown by Jahoda's criteria: accurate perception of reality; self-actualisation;
resistance to stress; positive attitude towards self; autonomy; environmental mastery
-self actualisation - ability to fulfil one’s potential to be the best they can be
-resistance to stress - carry out daily living without being overwhelmed by stress, and being able to
bounce back from stressful events
-less of these criteria someone meets, the more abnormal they are
AO3:
-both suffer from cultural relativism as they’re both based on values and expectations that vary
between cultures.
What is considered as failing to function adequately varies from culture to culture, so what is
considered as abnormal in one culture may be normal in another.
Jahoda’s criteria are primarily based on western values such as self actualisation and autonomy,
which may not apply to collectivist cultures that value community.
These definitions are therefore not universal, and could lead to misdiagnosis or discrimination if the
same criteria are used for all cultures, limiting their use as definitions for abnormality
-deviation from ideal mental health = unrealistic standards
Most people wouldn't meet all the criteria, yet most people aren't abnormal. This in turn may lead to
the notion that mental health conditions aren't as severe as they are as 'everyone has anxiety' to
some extent. - limited definition, can't be used on its own
-FFA: Focuses on the behaviour of individuals which may not reflect the mental struggle that someone
is experiencing. Someone can experience depression and anxiety, and still appear to function
adequately, like holding down a job and maintaining good hygiene. This definition therefore ignores
mental illnesses that are hidden or masked, leading the individual to go undiagnosed or unsupported,
and could make them feel like their struggles aren’t valid.
Discuss statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality (8)
AO1:
-behaviour/ characteristics that are rare/ uncommon
-occupies extreme end of normal distribution curve e.g low IQ
-relies on up to date statistics. focuses on quantity not quality of data
AO3:
-Practical application: used in clinical diagnoses of mental illnesses in comparison to a baseline to
assess the severity of the disorder. It provides a clear, objective criterion to identify deviations from
the norm = increases validity
E.g Schizophrenia only affects 1% of the population, but subtypes are even less
AO1:
-FFS: -the inability to cope with everyday living / abnormality that prevents person from carrying out
range of behaviours that society would expect from them
- E.g getting out of bed everyday, holding down a job, personal hygiene, not conforming to standard
interpersonal rules, causing distress to oneself or others, maladaptive/ irrational/ dangerous behaviour
-deviation from ideal mental health: -absence of signs of good mental health used to judge
abnormality
-ideal mental health shown by Jahoda's criteria: accurate perception of reality; self-actualisation;
resistance to stress; positive attitude towards self; autonomy; environmental mastery
-self actualisation - ability to fulfil one’s potential to be the best they can be
-resistance to stress - carry out daily living without being overwhelmed by stress, and being able to
bounce back from stressful events
-less of these criteria someone meets, the more abnormal they are
AO3:
-both suffer from cultural relativism as they’re both based on values and expectations that vary
between cultures.
What is considered as failing to function adequately varies from culture to culture, so what is
considered as abnormal in one culture may be normal in another.
Jahoda’s criteria are primarily based on western values such as self actualisation and autonomy,
which may not apply to collectivist cultures that value community.
These definitions are therefore not universal, and could lead to misdiagnosis or discrimination if the
same criteria are used for all cultures, limiting their use as definitions for abnormality
-deviation from ideal mental health = unrealistic standards
Most people wouldn't meet all the criteria, yet most people aren't abnormal. This in turn may lead to
the notion that mental health conditions aren't as severe as they are as 'everyone has anxiety' to
some extent. - limited definition, can't be used on its own
-FFA: Focuses on the behaviour of individuals which may not reflect the mental struggle that someone
is experiencing. Someone can experience depression and anxiety, and still appear to function
adequately, like holding down a job and maintaining good hygiene. This definition therefore ignores
mental illnesses that are hidden or masked, leading the individual to go undiagnosed or unsupported,
and could make them feel like their struggles aren’t valid.
Discuss statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality (8)
AO1:
-behaviour/ characteristics that are rare/ uncommon
-occupies extreme end of normal distribution curve e.g low IQ
-relies on up to date statistics. focuses on quantity not quality of data
AO3:
-Practical application: used in clinical diagnoses of mental illnesses in comparison to a baseline to
assess the severity of the disorder. It provides a clear, objective criterion to identify deviations from
the norm = increases validity
E.g Schizophrenia only affects 1% of the population, but subtypes are even less
