Definitions of abnormality
Statistical infrequency
- Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, e.g.
being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the
population.
- Example- IQ and intellectual disability disorder-
→ Intellectual disability disorder requires an IQ in the bottom 2%
of the population, scoring below 70 in an IQ test.
Evaluation- Real life application
- Strength- Statistical infrequency has a real life application in the
diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder.
→ Means we can statistically diagnose normal and abnormal
behaviours and characteristics.
- All assessment of mental disorders are measured against social
norms.
- Thus statistical infrequency is a useful part of clinical assessment.
Evaluation- Unusual characteristics can be positive
- Limitation- High IQ scores are just as unusual as those that are too
low, but we wouldn’t think of being intelligent as an undesirable
characteristic that needs treatment.
- Certain behaviours do make behaviour statistically abnormal but it
doesn’t mean it requires treatment to go back to normal.
- Serious limitation- concept of statistical infrequency would not be
used alone to make a diagnosis.
Evaluation- Not everyone unusual benefits from a label
- Limitation- No benefit from being labelled abnormal regardless of
how unusual.
- E.g. if someone with a low IQ wasn’t distressed and was capable of
working & leading a normal life, they wouldn’t need a diagnosis.
- If this person was labelled as abnormal, this could have a negative
effect on the way others view them and the way they view
themselves.
Statistical infrequency
- Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, e.g.
being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the
population.
- Example- IQ and intellectual disability disorder-
→ Intellectual disability disorder requires an IQ in the bottom 2%
of the population, scoring below 70 in an IQ test.
Evaluation- Real life application
- Strength- Statistical infrequency has a real life application in the
diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder.
→ Means we can statistically diagnose normal and abnormal
behaviours and characteristics.
- All assessment of mental disorders are measured against social
norms.
- Thus statistical infrequency is a useful part of clinical assessment.
Evaluation- Unusual characteristics can be positive
- Limitation- High IQ scores are just as unusual as those that are too
low, but we wouldn’t think of being intelligent as an undesirable
characteristic that needs treatment.
- Certain behaviours do make behaviour statistically abnormal but it
doesn’t mean it requires treatment to go back to normal.
- Serious limitation- concept of statistical infrequency would not be
used alone to make a diagnosis.
Evaluation- Not everyone unusual benefits from a label
- Limitation- No benefit from being labelled abnormal regardless of
how unusual.
- E.g. if someone with a low IQ wasn’t distressed and was capable of
working & leading a normal life, they wouldn’t need a diagnosis.
- If this person was labelled as abnormal, this could have a negative
effect on the way others view them and the way they view
themselves.
