Definitions of abnormality
Psychopathology = study of psychological disorders
1. Statistical infrequency
• Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic
• Any usual behaviour or characteristics are ‘normal’, so any unusual
behaviours or characteristics are ‘abnormal’
• How often we come across these unusual behaviours
Examples:
• Using Normal distribution we can see whether the characteristic is
‘normal’ For example , the average IQ is 100 and 2% of people
have a score below 70 = ‘abnormal’ likely to have intellectual
disability disorder
• Being more depressed than most of the population
Evaluation:
Pros Cons
PReal world application
Used in clinical practice
p Unusual characteristics can be positive
Whilst people have an IQ of below 70 there
•Formal diagnosis - intellectual Ev are also people who have an IQ over the
disability disorder requires an IQ average (100) yet we don’t consider them
of below 70 abnormal
• Assessing the severity of
symptoms - A score of over 30 Shows that being unusual or at the other
in the Beck depression end of the spectrum doesn’t make
inventory (BDI) indicates severe EX someone abnormal. Therefore, statistical
depression
EX Statistical infrequency is very useful in
infrequency shouldn’t be the sole basis of
abnormality
diagnostic and assessment processes
People can benefit from being
PEX Eu
People may face problems with being labelled as abnormal
classified as abnormal Someone with a low IQ can still cope in life and so labels
Being diagnosed from having a low IQ are unnecessary . There is a negative social stigma
will provide access to support services EX attached to these labels.
, Definitions of abnormality
2. Deviation from social norms
• Behaviour that is different from the accepted standards in society are
classified as abnormal.
• Bases abnormality on whether the norm / what is accepted is being
followed
• Social norms vary between generations and cultures
Examples:
• Homosexuality was considered abnormal in the UK and still is in
some cultures
• Antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) is classed as
abnormal because there’s an absence of acting ethically and
conforming to moral standards
Evaluation:
Pros Cons
P Real world application P Cultural and situational relativism
Used in clinical practice - for Hearing voices in some cultures is normal
Ev however in the uk this would be seen as
Ev example the characteristics of
antisocial personality disorder abnormal.
include recklessness and
aggression Ex Shows that different cultures have different
norms and standards and therefore it’s
difficult to judge deviation from social
Shows that disorders are norms across culture and situations
diagnosed based on he extent
EX to which they deviate from social P Human rights abuses
norms and so this has heavy Diagnoses like nymphomania (women’s
value in psychiatry Ev uncontrollable sexual desire) has been
used to control women
Defining someone as abnormal risks
EXunfair treatment and leaves them
open to human rights abuse
, Definitions of abnormality
3. Failure to function adequately
• Occurs when someone is unable to cope with the ordinary demands
of everyday life
• Includes not maintaining basic standards of nutrition and hygiene
• Rosenhan and Seligman say people fail to function adequately when:
• They no longer conform to standard interpersonal rules eg eye contact
• They experience severe personal distress
• Their behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous
Examples:
Failing to function addequately may assist in the diagnosis of
intellectual disability disorder
Evaluation:
Pros Cons
P Represents a threshold for help P Discrimination and social control
Not having a permanent address may
Around 25% of people in the Ev seem like failure to function but it may
Ev UK will experience a mental
health problem
just be someone who is travelling or
living of grid
Ex This shows how easy it is to label unusual
lifestyle choices as abnormal and restrict
Most will continue their everyday freedom of choice
life without seeking support. Its
EX only when they fail to function
adequately that they’re noticed
P Failure to function isn’t abnormal
All of us fail to cope sometimes for
and provided with appropriate Ev example in times of grief
treatment and services
It’s unfair to label someone as
EX abnormal just because the react in
difficult situations
Psychopathology = study of psychological disorders
1. Statistical infrequency
• Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic
• Any usual behaviour or characteristics are ‘normal’, so any unusual
behaviours or characteristics are ‘abnormal’
• How often we come across these unusual behaviours
Examples:
• Using Normal distribution we can see whether the characteristic is
‘normal’ For example , the average IQ is 100 and 2% of people
have a score below 70 = ‘abnormal’ likely to have intellectual
disability disorder
• Being more depressed than most of the population
Evaluation:
Pros Cons
PReal world application
Used in clinical practice
p Unusual characteristics can be positive
Whilst people have an IQ of below 70 there
•Formal diagnosis - intellectual Ev are also people who have an IQ over the
disability disorder requires an IQ average (100) yet we don’t consider them
of below 70 abnormal
• Assessing the severity of
symptoms - A score of over 30 Shows that being unusual or at the other
in the Beck depression end of the spectrum doesn’t make
inventory (BDI) indicates severe EX someone abnormal. Therefore, statistical
depression
EX Statistical infrequency is very useful in
infrequency shouldn’t be the sole basis of
abnormality
diagnostic and assessment processes
People can benefit from being
PEX Eu
People may face problems with being labelled as abnormal
classified as abnormal Someone with a low IQ can still cope in life and so labels
Being diagnosed from having a low IQ are unnecessary . There is a negative social stigma
will provide access to support services EX attached to these labels.
, Definitions of abnormality
2. Deviation from social norms
• Behaviour that is different from the accepted standards in society are
classified as abnormal.
• Bases abnormality on whether the norm / what is accepted is being
followed
• Social norms vary between generations and cultures
Examples:
• Homosexuality was considered abnormal in the UK and still is in
some cultures
• Antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy) is classed as
abnormal because there’s an absence of acting ethically and
conforming to moral standards
Evaluation:
Pros Cons
P Real world application P Cultural and situational relativism
Used in clinical practice - for Hearing voices in some cultures is normal
Ev however in the uk this would be seen as
Ev example the characteristics of
antisocial personality disorder abnormal.
include recklessness and
aggression Ex Shows that different cultures have different
norms and standards and therefore it’s
difficult to judge deviation from social
Shows that disorders are norms across culture and situations
diagnosed based on he extent
EX to which they deviate from social P Human rights abuses
norms and so this has heavy Diagnoses like nymphomania (women’s
value in psychiatry Ev uncontrollable sexual desire) has been
used to control women
Defining someone as abnormal risks
EXunfair treatment and leaves them
open to human rights abuse
, Definitions of abnormality
3. Failure to function adequately
• Occurs when someone is unable to cope with the ordinary demands
of everyday life
• Includes not maintaining basic standards of nutrition and hygiene
• Rosenhan and Seligman say people fail to function adequately when:
• They no longer conform to standard interpersonal rules eg eye contact
• They experience severe personal distress
• Their behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous
Examples:
Failing to function addequately may assist in the diagnosis of
intellectual disability disorder
Evaluation:
Pros Cons
P Represents a threshold for help P Discrimination and social control
Not having a permanent address may
Around 25% of people in the Ev seem like failure to function but it may
Ev UK will experience a mental
health problem
just be someone who is travelling or
living of grid
Ex This shows how easy it is to label unusual
lifestyle choices as abnormal and restrict
Most will continue their everyday freedom of choice
life without seeking support. Its
EX only when they fail to function
adequately that they’re noticed
P Failure to function isn’t abnormal
All of us fail to cope sometimes for
and provided with appropriate Ev example in times of grief
treatment and services
It’s unfair to label someone as
EX abnormal just because the react in
difficult situations
