AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1

STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY Abnormality is defined as those behaviors that are extremely rare, i.e. any behavior that is found in very few people is regarded as abnormal. E.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. Diagnosed w/ intellectual disability disorder DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS Behavior that is different from the accepted standards of behavior in a community or society Abnormality based on social context Example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to conform to lawful and culturally normal behavior. Psychopaths are abnormal because they deviate from social norms/standards. STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION All assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical norms. Thus a useful part of clinical assessment. LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD IQ scores of 130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not diagnosed w/ a disorder like those who have IQ70. Limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A LABEL If someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from being labelled as abnormal - could cause a negative view of self and others. LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE Different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from one culture living w/i another culture Creates cultural bias in assessment LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic abuse of human rights, for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape slavery or being attracted to working-class people - diagnoses used for control. FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living. No longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave irrationally or dangerously. DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. Can overlap w/ failure to function adequately