Discuss statistical infrequency as a defnititn tf abntrmality. (8 marks)
The statstial infrequeniy defnittn assumes that statstially itmmtn behaviturs are ntrmaly
and thereftre unitmmtn behaviturs are abntrmal. Many human behaviturs and iharaiteristis suih
as amtunt tf sleep and mttd ian be pltted tn a ntrmal distributtn iurve. Individuals that fall within
the thirdy and ptssibly seitndy standard deviattns whtse sitres are thereftre further frtm than the
average than usual are identfed as abntrmal. Ftr exampley the DSM5 ilassifes individuals with an IQ
beltw 70 whiih is abtut 2% tf the ptpulattn as having intelleitual disability distrder.
A strength tf the defnittn is that it ian be useful in iliniial diagntsis. Assessing mental health
distrders in this way alltws dtittrs tt measure the severity tf sympttms against tbjeitve datay
highlightng the mtst suitable treatments available. rtwevery stme distrders suih as depressitn are
statstially itmmtn st wtuld be unreitgnised. Furthermtrey the defnittn wtuld initrreitly ilassify
rare but desirable iharaiteristisy suih as partiularly high IQy as abntrmal. This demtnstrates inabilites
tf the defnittn tt itrreitly identfy abntrmality tn its twny weakening its value as a diagntsti tttl.
Antther limitattn is that stme grtups tf petple may be inaiiurately represented. Firstlyy
wtmen are mtre likely tt itnsult dtittrs abtut mental health than men. Seitndlyy in stme iultures
dtittrs are ntt itnsulted ftr mental health due tt the stgma tf psyihtltgiial distrders. Ctnsequentlyy
the ntrmal distributtn iurves ftr iharaiteristis in wtmen and iertain iultures may ntt refeit their
tiiurrenies in real lifey questtning the appliiattns tf the defnittn.
Wtrd itunt: 86 + 157
The statstial infrequeniy defnittn assumes that statstially itmmtn behaviturs are ntrmaly
and thereftre unitmmtn behaviturs are abntrmal. Many human behaviturs and iharaiteristis suih
as amtunt tf sleep and mttd ian be pltted tn a ntrmal distributtn iurve. Individuals that fall within
the thirdy and ptssibly seitndy standard deviattns whtse sitres are thereftre further frtm than the
average than usual are identfed as abntrmal. Ftr exampley the DSM5 ilassifes individuals with an IQ
beltw 70 whiih is abtut 2% tf the ptpulattn as having intelleitual disability distrder.
A strength tf the defnittn is that it ian be useful in iliniial diagntsis. Assessing mental health
distrders in this way alltws dtittrs tt measure the severity tf sympttms against tbjeitve datay
highlightng the mtst suitable treatments available. rtwevery stme distrders suih as depressitn are
statstially itmmtn st wtuld be unreitgnised. Furthermtrey the defnittn wtuld initrreitly ilassify
rare but desirable iharaiteristisy suih as partiularly high IQy as abntrmal. This demtnstrates inabilites
tf the defnittn tt itrreitly identfy abntrmality tn its twny weakening its value as a diagntsti tttl.
Antther limitattn is that stme grtups tf petple may be inaiiurately represented. Firstlyy
wtmen are mtre likely tt itnsult dtittrs abtut mental health than men. Seitndlyy in stme iultures
dtittrs are ntt itnsulted ftr mental health due tt the stgma tf psyihtltgiial distrders. Ctnsequentlyy
the ntrmal distributtn iurves ftr iharaiteristis in wtmen and iertain iultures may ntt refeit their
tiiurrenies in real lifey questtning the appliiattns tf the defnittn.
Wtrd itunt: 86 + 157
