Psychopathology
scientific study of psychological disorders
Four definitons of Abnormality:
-statistical infrequency
-deviation from social norms
-deviation from ideal mental health
-failure to function adequately
Statistical infrequency definition
-abnormality defined by statistic
-any rare behaviour is abnormal
Statistical infrequency example
Characteristics that can be measured- IQ, those with significantly low
diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder
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, Strengths of statistical infrequency definitions
+real life application, diagnosis of intellectual disability, assesment of many
mental illness usually involved numerical severity
Limitations of statistical infrequency definition
- unusual characteristics can be positive, super intelligance doesn't require
treatment, cant be used to diagnose alone
- label may not be beneficial, can damage view from others
Deviation of social norms
concerns behaviour that is different from accepted standards of society
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, Strength/limitation for Deviation of Social Norms
+ real life app, diagnosing anti-social disorders
-cultural relativism, no real definition of what is normal, subjective to culture
Failure to function adequately
Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day
living.
Strengths/limitations of Failure to function adequately
+acknowledges individual experience
-treats abnormal behaviour as failure of adequate functioning, limits freedom
Deviation from ideal mental health
Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health
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scientific study of psychological disorders
Four definitons of Abnormality:
-statistical infrequency
-deviation from social norms
-deviation from ideal mental health
-failure to function adequately
Statistical infrequency definition
-abnormality defined by statistic
-any rare behaviour is abnormal
Statistical infrequency example
Characteristics that can be measured- IQ, those with significantly low
diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder
https://quizlet.com/gb/561405559/flash-cards/?funnelUUID=979b2f43-1afa-41f2-af4f-f28caf70f9e8 03/03/2026, 8 47 pm
Page 3 of 29
:
, Strengths of statistical infrequency definitions
+real life application, diagnosis of intellectual disability, assesment of many
mental illness usually involved numerical severity
Limitations of statistical infrequency definition
- unusual characteristics can be positive, super intelligance doesn't require
treatment, cant be used to diagnose alone
- label may not be beneficial, can damage view from others
Deviation of social norms
concerns behaviour that is different from accepted standards of society
https://quizlet.com/gb/561405559/flash-cards/?funnelUUID=979b2f43-1afa-41f2-af4f-f28caf70f9e8 03/03/2026, 8 47 pm
Page 4 of 29
:
, Strength/limitation for Deviation of Social Norms
+ real life app, diagnosing anti-social disorders
-cultural relativism, no real definition of what is normal, subjective to culture
Failure to function adequately
Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day
living.
Strengths/limitations of Failure to function adequately
+acknowledges individual experience
-treats abnormal behaviour as failure of adequate functioning, limits freedom
Deviation from ideal mental health
Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health
https://quizlet.com/gb/561405559/flash-cards/?funnelUUID=979b2f43-1afa-41f2-af4f-f28caf70f9e8 03/03/2026, 8 47 pm
Page 5 of 29
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