Psychopathology
Definitions of Abnormality- behaving in a way that is rare, deviates from social
norms and ideal mental health and often means the person is unable to function.
Definition Explanation Strengths Weakness
Statistical Abnormal behaviour is rare. Many mental disorders are Misdiagnosis- some
Infrequency They are outside the population statistically rare- 1% of behaviours are statistically
(SI) average so are abnormal. population have common- EG: 264 million
The infrequency of behaviour is schizophrenia. Ergo, it is an suffer with depression.
determined by a normal accurate tool for diagnosis. Labelling can be unhelpful-
distribution curve, with someone with low IQ may
behaviours at either end being experience distress and
considered abnormal. create a poor body image if
told they have a low IQ.
Fails to distinguish between
desirable and undesirable
behaviour- for example,
obesity is statistically normal
but not healthy or desirable.
Examples of statistical
High IQ are uncommon, so
infrequency is low/high IQ and
it’s abnormal, despite their
schizophrenia.
desirable nature.
Cultural relativism-
behaviours that are rare in
one culture may be common
in another (e.g.: hearing
voices is sometimes believed
to be connected to hearing
God).
Deviation A social norm is an unwritten Many mental disorders go Cultural relativism- DSM is
from social rule about what is acceptable against socially acceptable almost entirely based on
norms within a particular society. behaviour- it is not normal social norms of the west
Abnormality. Ergo, abnormality for those with OCD to wash (white and middle class).
is socially unacceptable their hands until they Lacks temporal validity as
behaviour which goes against bleed. norms change overtime- for
moral standards. example, recycling would
They can be implicit/unspoken have been seen as abnormal
norms (laughing at a funeral) or in the 1960s but now it is
explicit/spoken norms (being abnormal to not recycle.
late for school). Behaviour must be
considered in context to be
correctly identified as
abnormal, so it takes more
time.
Abnormality may not be
classed as abnormal until it
reaches a certain point,
although the difficulty lies in
where the border between
normal and abnormal is.
Failure to Abnormal behaviour is where The GAF and WHOODAS Subjective- if a patient is
, Function people are unable to cope with scale provide an objective, experiencing difficulties day-
Adequately demands of everyday life (self- quantitative analysis of to-day then they ay
(FFA) care, having a job, etc). symptoms, thus reducing determine that this
FFA may cause distress for the impact of subjectivity. behaviour is undesirable.
others (observer discomfort) as Socially sensitive as it takes Alternatively, an individual
well as the suffer. patients perspective into may be unaware that they
FFA is measured via GAF (Global account. aren’t coping, especially in
assessment of functioning) Face validity as it makes disorders like schizophrenia.
scale. A high score means that sense one should address Some dysfunctional
they are normal. behaviour or thoughts that behaviour can be functional
Alternatively, the WHODAS negatively impact a for the individual- for
scale may be used, which has 6 person’s life. example, eating disorders for
areas of functioning adequately models can be beneficial.
including: understanding and Cultural relativism- in
communicating, getting around, western society, it may entail
self-care, getting along with not having good personal
people, life activities, and hygiene or failing at school,
participation in society. but this may not be the case
Individuals rate each item 1-5. in other cultures.
Deviation Mental health is viewed in the Face validity as it makes Jahoda’s criteria is too
from ideal same way as physical health. sense that people who broad as if one follows
mental Ergo, abnormality is when a don’t have accurate Jahoda’s criteria, we would
health person lacks optimal living perceptions of reality are all be listed as abnormal.
which promotes psychological abnormal. The approach is too vague
health and wellbeing. It covers a broad range of as there’s no clarity in how
To determine this, Jahoda concepts, both unusual many of these or to what
identified 6 criteria: resistance behaviours and those that degree you must be lacking
to stress, personal autonomy, cause distress to the suffer. before you’re vulnerable for
positive attitudes towards the It provides useful a mental disorder.
self, accurate perception of guidelines for diagnosing Reductionist- trying to treat
reality, mastery of the abnormality. These is a mental illness and physical
environment and self- clear and relatively health in the same way is
actualisation of one’s potential. standardised set of trying to reduce the
guidelines to be able to complexity of mental illness
identify abnormal and could risk medicalising
behaviour in people. it.
Cultural relativism- self-
actualisation has roots in
individualist cultures and
therefore would not make
up ideal mental health in a
collectivist culture.
