Statistical infrequency is used in clinical
practise, as part of formal diagnosis and a
way to assess the severity of an individual's
symptoms. .An example of statistical
infrequency used in an assessment tool is
the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
DEFINITION SUMMARY
Occurs when an individual has a less
UNUSUAL
common characteristic, for example CHARACTERISTICS CAN
being more depressed or less BE POSITIVE
intelligent than most of the STATISTICAL For every person with an IQ below 70
population
According to the statistical definition,
any usual behaviour can be thought
INFREQUENCY there is another with an IQ above
130. Yet we would not think of
of as 'normal' and any behaviour that someone as abnormal for having an
is unusual is 'abnormal' e.g. when IQ. In fact, this actually conveys an
looking at IQ, people outside the advantage to that individual
normal distribution are 'abnormal'
BENEFITS VS PROBLEMS
Some unusual people benefit from being
classed as abnormal e.g. being diagnosed
with an intellectual disability and then
accessing support services. However, not all
statistically unusual people benefit from labels
as there is a social stigma attached to them