Definitions of Abnormality PDF

EVALUATION (AO3) Cultural relativism 🞇 Cultural relativism is the idea that one cannot judge behaviour properly unless it is viewed in the cultural context from which it originated. 🞇 A lack of cultural relativism can result in the norms of the home culture being used to assess the behaviou...

EVALUATION (AO3) Cultural relativism 🞇 Cultural relativism is the idea that one cannot judge behaviour properly unless it is viewed in the cultural context from which it originated. 🞇 A lack of cultural relativism can result in the norms of the home culture being used to assess the behaviour of individuals from another culture – this is an example of ethnocentrism. 🞇 When considering abnormality, the cultural context has to be assessed in order to decide whether the behaviour is normal or abnormal. 🞇 Yet, it often isn’t so cultural relativism is our main evaluation point for the definitions of abnormality.  EVALUATION (AO3) Cultural relativism - Examples 🞇 In the 1930s single mothers could be committed to psychiatric units 🞇 In Australia in the early 1970s homosexuals were given electric shocks to cure them of their illness 🞇 In China people fear the wind as it is believed by some to carry negative energy (yin). This seems abnormal to us now. But at the time and in the cultural context these behaviours were considered normal!!  ABNORMAL? Defining abnormality There are a great deal of conflicting views about what constitutes ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ behaviour. No single definition is adequate on its own which is why it is important that we consider aspects from four different definitions: 1. Statistical infrequency 2. Deviation from social norms 3. Failure to function adequately 4. Deviation from ideal mental health Clip of each  DEFINITION 1 Statistical Infrequency The further we go above or below that average the fewer We allOccurs People know whothat when score an of in outside any human individual has characteristic this the a less majority normal distribution of e.g. people will have people’s that scores score. will This cluster is called around the the normal average common the 2% who distribution and characteristic, score you below can 70 see are that for of 95% example considered abnormal people being have and an IQ e.g. areIQlikely =100.toThe be majority (68%) diagnosed withhave an IQ ranging intellectual from 85- disability more of betweendepressed 70 and 130 or less (the 115 normalintelligent distribution than of IQ disorder most of scores) the population  DEFINITION 2 Deviation from social norms Sees any behaviour which differs from that which society expects, as abnormal. 🞇 Society has certain established “norms” of behaviour which are expectations about how “normal” people behave. 🞇 These are passed on through socialisation. Any behaviour which breaks these rules is seen as abnormal.  DEFINITION 3 Failure to function adequately Abnormality judged as inability to deal with the demands of everyday living There are several indicators of this type of failure: 🞇 Own personal distress and anxiety 🞇 Causes distress for others (observer discomfort) 🞇 Stops them from working 🞇 Stops them from keeping hygienic 🞇 Causing themselves or others harm 🞇 Behaviour is maladaptive, irrational or dangerous  DEFINITION 4 Deviation from ideal mental health Absence of signs of good mental health used to judge abnormality Jahoda (1958) developed criteria for these ideals 1. Accurate perception of reality, 2. Positive attitude to him/herself (good self- esteem and of lack guilt) 3. Self actualisation – reach potential 4. Resistance to stress 5. Environmental mastery 6. Be independent of other people (autonomy)