PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Definitions of abnormality
Statistical infrequency Example: Intellectual ability
Behaviours that are statistically rare should be seen as In a representative sample of adults in the UK,
abnormal. about 65% of adults would have an IQ of 85-115.
This would be considered normal as it is what
This depends on the normal distribution; most people will be most people score. Only 2% of the sample would
around the mean for the behaviour in question. About 5% fall have a score at either extreme of the normal
outside of the normal distribution, therefore perceived as distribution, and so would be considered
abnormal.
abnormal.
Individuals need to be 2 standard deviations away from the mean to be statistically rare.
Evaluation
A strength is its usefulness. It is used Infrequent characteristics can be
in clinical practice as a form of positive as well as negative. Someone
diagnosis and a way to assess the with a high IQ would not be viewed as
severity of an individual’s symptoms. abnormal, like someone with a low
For example, it can help diagnose depression score would not be viewed
intellectual disability disorder if a score as abnormal. Being at one end of a
is under 70. The Beck depression psychological spectrum does not
inventory is an assessment tool where necessarily make someone abnormal.
a score of 30+ indicated severe Some benefit from being labelled as
depression. Statistical infrequency abnormal. For example, someone with
criteria is useful in diagnosis and a low IQ can be diagnosed with an
assessment processes. intellectual disability and access
support services, and someone with a
high BDI score can get therapy.
However, some like those with a low IQ
can cope with their chosen lifestyle, so
wouldn’t benefit from a label due to
social stigma.
,Deviation from social norms Example: Antisocial Personality Disorder
An important symptom of antisocial personality
Social norms are implicit rules about how we ought to behave
disorder is absence of prosocial internal
in society. Anything that violates these norms is considered standards associated with failure to conform to
abnormal. lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour.
Psychopaths are considered abnormal because
Social norms may be different for each generation and
they don’t conform to our moral standards.
different in every culture.
Evaluation
A strength is its usefulness. Deviation Variability between social norms in
of social norms is used in clinical different cultures and situations. For
practice. For example, characteristics example, hearing voices as messages
of antisocial personality disorder are all from ancestors is the norm in some
deviations of social norms, such as cultures but would be seen as a sign of
failure to conform to culturally normal abnormality in the UK. In terms of
ethical behaviour (recklessness and situational variability within one culture,
aggression). This shows that the deceitful behaviour in the context of
deviation from social norms criterion family life is more socially
has value in psychiatry. unacceptable than in the context of
corporate deal-making. Therefore, it is
difficult to judge deviation from social
norms across different situations and
cultures.
Carries a risk of leaving those labelled
as abnormal open to human rights
abuses. For example, historically, in
the case of a diagnosis of
nymphomania (women’s excessive
sexual desire), it was used to control
women. However, it can be argued that
we need deviation of social norms to
diagnose conditions such as antisocial
personality disorder.
, Failure to function adequately
An inability to carry out everyday tasks and lead what would be considered a normal life.
Criteria by Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) is used to measure this. Many or all of these
behaviours may be a cause for concern:
I. Suffering themselves or inflicting suffering upon others.
II. Unexpected or unpredictable behaviour.
III. Behaviour makes observers feel uncomfortable.
IV. Behaviour prevents person from reaching desired goals (maladaptiveness).
V. Behaviour seems to defy logical sense (irrational).
VI. Others find the behaviour odd (vividness).
VII. Not behaving in accordance with societies norms (violation of moral codes).
Evaluation
Represents a sensible threshold for It’s easy to label non-standard lifestyle
when people need professional help. choices as abnormal. It can be hard to
Even though most of us have say when someone is failing to function
symptoms of mental disorder to some and when they have chosen to deviate
degree at some time, it helps those in from social norms. For example, not
the face of severe symptoms seek having a job may seem like failure to
professional help or get noticed and function, which may be true for some,
referred for help when they cease to however, people choose to life this
function adequately. This criterion alternative lifestyle. People who make
means that treatment and services can unusual choices are at risk of being
be targeted to those who need them labelled abnormal.
most. There are some circumstances when
most people fail to cope for a time,
e.g., bereavement. It may be unfair to
give someone a label that may cause
them future problems just because
they react to difficult circumstances. On
the other hand, failure to function is no
less real just because the cause is
clear, and some may even need
professional help to adjust to
circumstances like bereavement.
Definitions of abnormality
Statistical infrequency Example: Intellectual ability
Behaviours that are statistically rare should be seen as In a representative sample of adults in the UK,
abnormal. about 65% of adults would have an IQ of 85-115.
This would be considered normal as it is what
This depends on the normal distribution; most people will be most people score. Only 2% of the sample would
around the mean for the behaviour in question. About 5% fall have a score at either extreme of the normal
outside of the normal distribution, therefore perceived as distribution, and so would be considered
abnormal.
abnormal.
Individuals need to be 2 standard deviations away from the mean to be statistically rare.
Evaluation
A strength is its usefulness. It is used Infrequent characteristics can be
in clinical practice as a form of positive as well as negative. Someone
diagnosis and a way to assess the with a high IQ would not be viewed as
severity of an individual’s symptoms. abnormal, like someone with a low
For example, it can help diagnose depression score would not be viewed
intellectual disability disorder if a score as abnormal. Being at one end of a
is under 70. The Beck depression psychological spectrum does not
inventory is an assessment tool where necessarily make someone abnormal.
a score of 30+ indicated severe Some benefit from being labelled as
depression. Statistical infrequency abnormal. For example, someone with
criteria is useful in diagnosis and a low IQ can be diagnosed with an
assessment processes. intellectual disability and access
support services, and someone with a
high BDI score can get therapy.
However, some like those with a low IQ
can cope with their chosen lifestyle, so
wouldn’t benefit from a label due to
social stigma.
,Deviation from social norms Example: Antisocial Personality Disorder
An important symptom of antisocial personality
Social norms are implicit rules about how we ought to behave
disorder is absence of prosocial internal
in society. Anything that violates these norms is considered standards associated with failure to conform to
abnormal. lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour.
Psychopaths are considered abnormal because
Social norms may be different for each generation and
they don’t conform to our moral standards.
different in every culture.
Evaluation
A strength is its usefulness. Deviation Variability between social norms in
of social norms is used in clinical different cultures and situations. For
practice. For example, characteristics example, hearing voices as messages
of antisocial personality disorder are all from ancestors is the norm in some
deviations of social norms, such as cultures but would be seen as a sign of
failure to conform to culturally normal abnormality in the UK. In terms of
ethical behaviour (recklessness and situational variability within one culture,
aggression). This shows that the deceitful behaviour in the context of
deviation from social norms criterion family life is more socially
has value in psychiatry. unacceptable than in the context of
corporate deal-making. Therefore, it is
difficult to judge deviation from social
norms across different situations and
cultures.
Carries a risk of leaving those labelled
as abnormal open to human rights
abuses. For example, historically, in
the case of a diagnosis of
nymphomania (women’s excessive
sexual desire), it was used to control
women. However, it can be argued that
we need deviation of social norms to
diagnose conditions such as antisocial
personality disorder.
, Failure to function adequately
An inability to carry out everyday tasks and lead what would be considered a normal life.
Criteria by Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) is used to measure this. Many or all of these
behaviours may be a cause for concern:
I. Suffering themselves or inflicting suffering upon others.
II. Unexpected or unpredictable behaviour.
III. Behaviour makes observers feel uncomfortable.
IV. Behaviour prevents person from reaching desired goals (maladaptiveness).
V. Behaviour seems to defy logical sense (irrational).
VI. Others find the behaviour odd (vividness).
VII. Not behaving in accordance with societies norms (violation of moral codes).
Evaluation
Represents a sensible threshold for It’s easy to label non-standard lifestyle
when people need professional help. choices as abnormal. It can be hard to
Even though most of us have say when someone is failing to function
symptoms of mental disorder to some and when they have chosen to deviate
degree at some time, it helps those in from social norms. For example, not
the face of severe symptoms seek having a job may seem like failure to
professional help or get noticed and function, which may be true for some,
referred for help when they cease to however, people choose to life this
function adequately. This criterion alternative lifestyle. People who make
means that treatment and services can unusual choices are at risk of being
be targeted to those who need them labelled abnormal.
most. There are some circumstances when
most people fail to cope for a time,
e.g., bereavement. It may be unfair to
give someone a label that may cause
them future problems just because
they react to difficult circumstances. On
the other hand, failure to function is no
less real just because the cause is
clear, and some may even need
professional help to adjust to
circumstances like bereavement.
