Definitions of abnormality
- Created by: 070998
- Created on: 27-03-17 11:44
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1. Deviation from social norms
- A norm is an expected form of behaviour.
- Implicit norms - unwritten ones that guide accepted behaviour
- Explicit norms - laws for example, ones that are written
- A way of defining behaviour as abnormal is to consider how it breaks from social norms. This labels people who behave undesirably as social deviants
Strengths of the definition:
- Real-life application: in the diagnosis of anti-social personality disorder. There are other factors which should be considered when thinking about abnormal behaviour - so it shouldn't be the only thing taken into account.
- Protects society - in defining behaviour that is abnormal, that individual can seek help and may become hospitalised
Limitations of the definition:
- Cultural differences - behaviour considered abnormal in Western cultures may be part of tradition in other cultures. This is problematic because it may be difficult to assess someone if they are from a different culture
- Social norms are not constant, but vary over time - using this approach is dependant on the era (lacks temporal validity). Behaviours considered abnormal now may not be abnormal in the future
2. The failure to function adequately
- Individuals are seen as abnormal when they can't cope with everyday life
- Categories devised by Rosenhan and Seligman
Observer discomfort - behaviour causes distress to the observer
Unpredictability - displaying behaviour that other people wouldn't be able to guess would happen
Irrationality - displaying behaviour that can't be explained in a rational way
Strengths of the definition:
- Assesses the degree of abnormality - as GAF is measured on a continuous scale, it allows clinicians to see the degree to which individuals are abnormal and thus decide who needs psychiatric help
- Checklist - it provides a practical checklist that can be used to assess levels of abnormality. This is a strength because it would be straightforward to diagnose someone.
Limitations of the…
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