Statistical Infrequency:
Objective:
- A strength of this definition is that it is objective
- This means it is unbiased, and fact based
- This means that those defined as abnormal under this definition are likely
to be diagnosed accurately due to there being no bias in diagnosis, and
based on factual data
- This therefore increases the validity and reliability of this definition due to
its’ objectivity, which would increase the validity/reliability of diagnosis
under this definition
Rare behaviour not all bad:
- However, there is a limitation of this definition
- Some behaviour under this definition would be classified as abnormal even
when it is positive
- For example, high IQ is rare, so would be abnormal under this definition,
however it isn’t negative and is quite a desirable behaviour to possess
- Therefore, this definition may incorrectly define abnormality, reducing the
validity of this definition, as it may say a behaviour is abnormal/negative,
even when it is not
Common behaviours not abnormal:
- There is another limitation of this definition as it may not pick up disorders
that are abnormal/require help
- For example, anxiety and depression are common disorders that many
people experience
- This means that because it is common, these disorders wouldn’t be
classified as abnormal under this definition, however people with these
disorders still may require help/treatment
- Therefore, this definition lacks validity because it may not identify when
certain disorders are abnormal, which could stop someone from seeking
out help/treatment
, Deviation from social norms:
Useful in clinical psychology:
- A strength of this definition is that it has good value in psychology and has
been very useful
- For example, a key characteristic of APD is failure to conform to culturally
normal ethical behaviour, e.g. being aggressive
- Under this definition, someone with APD would be correctly identified as
abnormal as behaviour, like aggression, would be a sign of disorder under
this definition
- Therefore, this definition has good validity at correctly diagnosing
someone with an abnormality, and has therefore had value in real world
psychology
Culture to Culture variations:
- However, a limitation of this definition is that abnormality varies from
culture to culture
- For example, in the UK it is abnormal to hear voices but is a good sign in
other countries
- This means that this definition isn’t constant across cultures because
abnormal behaviours are different in all
- Therefore, this definition lacks validity as it may define some as normal in
one culture but abnormal in another country, meaning it also lacks
reliability as it isn’t consistent
Not all different/eccentric behaviour bad:
- There is another limitation to this definition
- For example, it may incorrectly define someone as abnormal if their
behaviour isn’t what most of society does
- They may just be different from others or have more eccentric behaviour;
this doesn’t mean they are abnormal or that they need treatment
- Therefore, this definition may incorrectly define some as abnormal, just
because their behaviour may be different to societies but is still
good/different behaviour
Objective:
- A strength of this definition is that it is objective
- This means it is unbiased, and fact based
- This means that those defined as abnormal under this definition are likely
to be diagnosed accurately due to there being no bias in diagnosis, and
based on factual data
- This therefore increases the validity and reliability of this definition due to
its’ objectivity, which would increase the validity/reliability of diagnosis
under this definition
Rare behaviour not all bad:
- However, there is a limitation of this definition
- Some behaviour under this definition would be classified as abnormal even
when it is positive
- For example, high IQ is rare, so would be abnormal under this definition,
however it isn’t negative and is quite a desirable behaviour to possess
- Therefore, this definition may incorrectly define abnormality, reducing the
validity of this definition, as it may say a behaviour is abnormal/negative,
even when it is not
Common behaviours not abnormal:
- There is another limitation of this definition as it may not pick up disorders
that are abnormal/require help
- For example, anxiety and depression are common disorders that many
people experience
- This means that because it is common, these disorders wouldn’t be
classified as abnormal under this definition, however people with these
disorders still may require help/treatment
- Therefore, this definition lacks validity because it may not identify when
certain disorders are abnormal, which could stop someone from seeking
out help/treatment
, Deviation from social norms:
Useful in clinical psychology:
- A strength of this definition is that it has good value in psychology and has
been very useful
- For example, a key characteristic of APD is failure to conform to culturally
normal ethical behaviour, e.g. being aggressive
- Under this definition, someone with APD would be correctly identified as
abnormal as behaviour, like aggression, would be a sign of disorder under
this definition
- Therefore, this definition has good validity at correctly diagnosing
someone with an abnormality, and has therefore had value in real world
psychology
Culture to Culture variations:
- However, a limitation of this definition is that abnormality varies from
culture to culture
- For example, in the UK it is abnormal to hear voices but is a good sign in
other countries
- This means that this definition isn’t constant across cultures because
abnormal behaviours are different in all
- Therefore, this definition lacks validity as it may define some as normal in
one culture but abnormal in another country, meaning it also lacks
reliability as it isn’t consistent
Not all different/eccentric behaviour bad:
- There is another limitation to this definition
- For example, it may incorrectly define someone as abnormal if their
behaviour isn’t what most of society does
- They may just be different from others or have more eccentric behaviour;
this doesn’t mean they are abnormal or that they need treatment
- Therefore, this definition may incorrectly define some as abnormal, just
because their behaviour may be different to societies but is still
good/different behaviour
