Definitions of Abnormality

1. Definitions of Abnormality www.psychlotron.org.uk • Problems exist with all the definitions we have examined. • Subjectivity • Over- and under-inclusivity • Cultural relativity

2. Statistical Infrequency www.psychlotron.org.uk • Does not consider the desirability of behaviours or traits. • Very high intelligence or extremely altruistic behaviour are both statistically rare, but would not generally be classed as ‘abnormal’. • Many rare behaviours or characteristics (e.g. left handedness) have no bearing on normality or abnormality

3. Statistical Infrequency www.psychlotron.org.uk • Some behaviours/characteristics are regarded as abnormal even though they are quite frequent. • Depression may affect 27% of elderly people (NIMH, 2001). This would make it common but that does not mean it isn’t a problem

4. Violation of Social Norms www.psychlotron.org.uk • Social norms change between cultures and over time. Consequently, so do people’s conceptions of abnormality. • Homosexuality was regarded as a mental illness until 1973, but not any more. • Cross-cultural misunderstandings are common, and may contribute to e.g. high diagnosis rate of schizophrenia amongst non-white British people

5. Violation of Social Norms www.psychlotron.org.uk • Classification of abnormality can only based on the context in which behaviour occurs • Same behaviour might be normal or abnormal e.g. undressing in bathroom or classroom • A subjective judgement is usually necessary e.g. there may be situational factors unknown to the observer

6. Failure to Function Adequately www.psychlotron.org.uk • Adequate functioning is defined largely by social norms (see ‘deviation from…’) • Most people fail to function adequately at some time, but are not considered ‘abnormal’ • After a bereavement most people find it difficult to cope normally • Ironically, they might actually be considered more abnormal if they functioned as usual

7. Failure to Function Adequately www.psychlotron.org.uk • Many people engage in behaviour that is maladaptive/harmful or threatening to self, but we don’t class them as abnormal • Adrenaline sports • Smoking, drinking alcohol • Skipping classes

8. Deviation from Ideal Mental Health www.psychlotron.org.uk • What is considered ideal is historically and culturally specific (see ‘deviation from social…’) • Jahoda’s and others’ criteria set the bar too high. • Strictly applied, so few people actually meet these criteria that everyone ends up classed as abnormal and so the concept becomes meaningless