Definitions of Abnormality
Psychopathology: The scientific study of psychological disorders.
Deviation from Social Norms
Deviation from social norms is a definition of abnormality where a behaviour is seen as
abnormal if it violates the unwritten rules about what is acceptable within a particular
society. These unwritten rules can be implicit and explicit. Implicit social rules are legal
but frowned upon, whereas explicit social rules are illegal and frowned upon.
Point Evidence Conclusion
A strength of using Deviation from social Therefore, using ‘deviation
‘deviation from social norms is still used in from social norms’ to define
norms’ as a definition for clinical practice today. For abnormality has real world
abnormality is that it is example, the key defining application and a positive
used today to diagnose characteristic of antisocial societal impact as it can
those with disorders. personality disorder is the be used to diagnose
failure to conform to individuals with disorders,
culturally normal and increasing its credibility
ethical behaviour, i.e. and value.
recklessness and
aggression.
A limitation of using Historically, definitions of Therefore, using ‘deviation
‘deviation from social abnormality based on from social norms’ as a
norms’ as a definition for deviation from social norms definition for abnormality
abnormality is that it could have been used to maintain can have a negative
lead to human right social control. For societal impact if used
abuses. example, black slaves who inappropriately, as it could
attempted to escape were be used to discriminate
diagnosed as abnormal and against those not
said to suffer from the maintaining the status quo.
mental illness
‘Drapetomania,’ caused by
masters who were too
kind to their slaves.
A limitation of using A person wearing little Therefore, using ‘deviation
‘deviation from social clothing at a beach is from social norms’ as a
norms’ as a definition for regarded as normal, definition for abnormality
abnormality is that whereas wearing the same lacks comprehensiveness
deviance is related to the outfit to class would be as it disregards the
degree and the context it is regarded as abnormal context of a situation.
in. when using ‘deviation from Furthermore, it is also hard
social norms’ to define to decide if someone who is
abnormality. However, not breaking a social norm is
, all acts of deviance would simply being eccentric or in
be considered an indication need of a diagnosis for a
of a mental disorder. mental disorder.
Statistical Infrequency
Statistical infrequency is a definition of abnormality where behaviour is seen as abnormal
if it is statistically uncommon. For example, a person that falls more than 2 standard
deviations from the mean on a bell curve (to show normal distribution), they would be
considered abnormal.
Standard deviation as a measure informs us how far scores fall on either side away from
the mean.
Point Evidence Conclusion
A strength of using All assessments of Whilst there are a number
‘statistical infrequency’ as a patients with mental of limitations with using
definition of abnormality is disorders include some statistics to determine
that it has real world comparisons to statistical abnormality, it is important
application. norms. For example, the we do not completely
diagnosis of Intellectual disregard them in society
Disability Disorder relies
as we use statistics to
on statistical
determine whether
infrequencies in IQ scores
to determine abnormality in someone should be
intellectual ability and diagnosed with mental
requires an IQ less than illness. Therefore, it is
70%. invaluable to clinicians and
As well as this, Beck’s has successfully
depression inventory contributed to the field of
(BDI), a score of 30+ (top psychiatry.
5%) is interpreted as
indicating severe
depression.
A limitation of using If few people display a Therefore, using ‘statistical
‘statistical infrequency’ as a behaviour, it is considered infrequency’ to define
definition of abnormality is abnormal, but this doesn’t abnormality could be said
that some unusual and necessarily mean a person to lack predictive validity,
statistically rare needs treatment or that as even though an
characteristics are not their ‘abnormal’ behaviour individual is statistically
undesirable. is undesirable. rare, they might not have a
mental health condition.
Psychopathology: The scientific study of psychological disorders.
Deviation from Social Norms
Deviation from social norms is a definition of abnormality where a behaviour is seen as
abnormal if it violates the unwritten rules about what is acceptable within a particular
society. These unwritten rules can be implicit and explicit. Implicit social rules are legal
but frowned upon, whereas explicit social rules are illegal and frowned upon.
Point Evidence Conclusion
A strength of using Deviation from social Therefore, using ‘deviation
‘deviation from social norms is still used in from social norms’ to define
norms’ as a definition for clinical practice today. For abnormality has real world
abnormality is that it is example, the key defining application and a positive
used today to diagnose characteristic of antisocial societal impact as it can
those with disorders. personality disorder is the be used to diagnose
failure to conform to individuals with disorders,
culturally normal and increasing its credibility
ethical behaviour, i.e. and value.
recklessness and
aggression.
A limitation of using Historically, definitions of Therefore, using ‘deviation
‘deviation from social abnormality based on from social norms’ as a
norms’ as a definition for deviation from social norms definition for abnormality
abnormality is that it could have been used to maintain can have a negative
lead to human right social control. For societal impact if used
abuses. example, black slaves who inappropriately, as it could
attempted to escape were be used to discriminate
diagnosed as abnormal and against those not
said to suffer from the maintaining the status quo.
mental illness
‘Drapetomania,’ caused by
masters who were too
kind to their slaves.
A limitation of using A person wearing little Therefore, using ‘deviation
‘deviation from social clothing at a beach is from social norms’ as a
norms’ as a definition for regarded as normal, definition for abnormality
abnormality is that whereas wearing the same lacks comprehensiveness
deviance is related to the outfit to class would be as it disregards the
degree and the context it is regarded as abnormal context of a situation.
in. when using ‘deviation from Furthermore, it is also hard
social norms’ to define to decide if someone who is
abnormality. However, not breaking a social norm is
, all acts of deviance would simply being eccentric or in
be considered an indication need of a diagnosis for a
of a mental disorder. mental disorder.
Statistical Infrequency
Statistical infrequency is a definition of abnormality where behaviour is seen as abnormal
if it is statistically uncommon. For example, a person that falls more than 2 standard
deviations from the mean on a bell curve (to show normal distribution), they would be
considered abnormal.
Standard deviation as a measure informs us how far scores fall on either side away from
the mean.
Point Evidence Conclusion
A strength of using All assessments of Whilst there are a number
‘statistical infrequency’ as a patients with mental of limitations with using
definition of abnormality is disorders include some statistics to determine
that it has real world comparisons to statistical abnormality, it is important
application. norms. For example, the we do not completely
diagnosis of Intellectual disregard them in society
Disability Disorder relies
as we use statistics to
on statistical
determine whether
infrequencies in IQ scores
to determine abnormality in someone should be
intellectual ability and diagnosed with mental
requires an IQ less than illness. Therefore, it is
70%. invaluable to clinicians and
As well as this, Beck’s has successfully
depression inventory contributed to the field of
(BDI), a score of 30+ (top psychiatry.
5%) is interpreted as
indicating severe
depression.
A limitation of using If few people display a Therefore, using ‘statistical
‘statistical infrequency’ as a behaviour, it is considered infrequency’ to define
definition of abnormality is abnormal, but this doesn’t abnormality could be said
that some unusual and necessarily mean a person to lack predictive validity,
statistically rare needs treatment or that as even though an
characteristics are not their ‘abnormal’ behaviour individual is statistically
undesirable. is undesirable. rare, they might not have a
mental health condition.
