Comprehensive study notes on AQA Psychology topic of definitions of abnormality. Can easily be turned into flashcards for effective revision. Includes practice questions at the end of the document.
Definitions of abnormality
Statistical infrequency
- Occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic, e.g.
being more depressed or less intelligent than most of the
population.
- Example- IQ and intellectual disability disorder-
→ Intellectual disability disorder requires an IQ in the bottom 2%
of the population, scoring below 70 in an IQ test.
Evaluation- Real life application
- Strength- Statistical infrequency has a real life application in the
diagnosis of intellectual disability disorder.
→ Means we can statistically diagnose normal and abnormal
behaviours and characteristics.
- All assessment of mental disorders are measured against social
norms.
- Thus statistical infrequency is a useful part of clinical assessment.
Evaluation- Unusual characteristics can be positive
- Limitation- High IQ scores are just as unusual as those that are too
low, but we wouldn’t think of being intelligent as an undesirable
characteristic that needs treatment.
- Certain behaviours do make behaviour statistically abnormal but it
doesn’t mean it requires treatment to go back to normal.
- Serious limitation- concept of statistical infrequency would not be
used alone to make a diagnosis.
Evaluation- Not everyone unusual benefits from a label
- Limitation- No benefit from being labelled abnormal regardless of
how unusual.
- E.g. if someone with a low IQ wasn’t distressed and was capable of
working & leading a normal life, they wouldn’t need a diagnosis.
- If this person was labelled as abnormal, this could have a negative
effect on the way others view them and the way they view
themselves.
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