Unit 2 - PSYA2: Individual Differences Definitions of Abnormality

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Unit 2 - PSYA2 Individual DifferencesDefiniti
ons of Abnormality

• Deviation from Social Norms
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
• Failure to function adequately

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Normal or abnormal?
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Deviation from social norms
Every society sets up rules. They can be
Explicit rules
Implicit rules
Violating explicit rules means breaking the law
e.g. arson, taking drugs
These are unspoken conventional e.g. Standing
too close to someone
People who violate explicit rules are criminal
People who violate implicit rules are deviant
Since rules become established as norms, anyone
who deviates from these can be seen as abnormal
if we accept this definition
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Real life Application ofDeviation from social
norms
Tiger Woods has violated both explicit implicit
rules E.g. he has committed adultery (explicit)
could therefore be considered criminal. He has
also broken unspoken rules about relationships
(implicit) can therefore be seen as
deviant Since he has violated these rules that
have become norms Tiger Woods can be regarded
as abnormal, if we accept this definition.
NAME EXPLAIN APPLY
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Evaluation (Ao2)
In your group, discuss what you think the
strengths limitations are for this definition
of abnormality. One member of your group needs
to list the discussion points on the mini
whiteboard provided. You will feedback your
ideas to the rest of the class.
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AO2 STRENGTHS ofDeviation from Social Norms
Since social norms identify behaviours that are
desirable (ideally) for the individual and
society, this definition allows us to assess the
desirability of a behaviour. Deviance from social
norms is viewed as undesirable. .
This definition also takes into account the
effect that behaviour has on others. Deviance is
defined in terms of breaking social rules
these rules are established to help people live
together. Deviant behaviour is socially
unacceptable as it is damaging to the social
rules that bind society together.
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Deviation can promote social change
Social deviancy is not necessarily a bad thing.
Some people may choose to live an alternative,
non-conformist lifestyle. Others are socially
deviant because their behaviour is motivated by
high principles e.g. opposition to an oppressive
government. Often social deviance is the
catalyst for social change.
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AO2 LIMITATIONS ofDeviation from Social Norms
We cannot accept that deviating from social norms
ALWAYS means being abnormal. There are
limitations/criticisms of this definition
Eccentric or abnormal?
Sometimes, behaviour that deviates away from the
norm is more ECCENTRIC than abnormal. For
example, someone running a marathon dressed as a
giant armadillo we may think is a bit strange or
eccentric, but not psychologically abnormal.
However, eccentricity may be abnormal if it is
severe enough.
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Abnormal or Criminal?
People who violate legal norms are usually
regarded as showing criminal (deviant) behaviour,
but stealing cars is rarely due to underlying
psychological disorder. Other criminals e.g.
serial killers, are more likely to be viewed as
abnormal having an inbuilt fault in their
personality. Normal people couldnt commit such
crimes. The severity/magnitude of the behaviour
is important when defining abnormality using
deviation from the norm.
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The role of context
We must remember that much of our behaviour is
context-specific, and if taken OUT OF CONTEXT
then it might see odd or abnormal. For example,
it might be normal to jump up and down screaming
orders at people (if you are a spectator at a
football match and you are shouting at the
players)but taken out of context, if we did that
at the opera, or in the supermarket then it would
be abnormal
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Change with the times
Societys beliefs about what is abnormal changes
over time. What is thought of as deviant by one
generation, might not be by the next. For
example, before the 20th century, unmarried women
in the UK who had babies were sent to mental
institutions and their babies put up for
adoption. So we cannot just accept that deviating
from social norms means we are abnormal A way of
excluding non conformists from society e.g.
homosexuality susceptible to abuse
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Cultural Issues
We cant make the assumption that what we see as
abnormal in our culture should be classed as
abnormal in others, and vice versa. These are
cultural issues with this definition. For
example, talking out loud to an invisible person
is abnormal in our culture, but often quite
normal in some African and Indian cultures
following a bereavement.
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Summary of Deviation from Social Norms

• This definition suggests that we can be defined
  as abnormal if
• we break either explicit or implicit rules that
  have become norms in the society we live in

AO1

• Strengths of this definition are
• It allows us to assess the DESIRABILITY of a
  behaviour help people live together.
• It can promote SOCIAL CHANGE
• Limitations of this definition are
• Our behaviour might be ECCENTRIC, not abnormal
• It might just seem abnormal if TAKEN OUT OF
  CONTEXT
• Social Norms CHANGE OVER TIME
• Social Norms are different across CULTURES

AO2
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Brain Break
Spend 10 minutes with some of the new activities!
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Deviation from social norms
Every society sets up rules. They can be
E______ rules
I______ rules
Violating explicit rules means breaking the law
e.g. arson, taking drugs
These are unspoken conventional e.g. Standing
too close to someone
People who violate explicit rules are _______
People who violate implicit rules are _______
Since rules become established as ________,
anyone who deviates from these can be seen as
abnormal if we accept this definition
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Real life Application ofDeviation from social
norms
Tiger Woods has violated ____________________
rules E.g. he has committed adultery (________)
could therefore be considered criminal. He has
also broken unspoken rules about relationships
(____________) can therefore be seen as
deviant Since he has violated these rules that
have become ________ Tiger Woods can be
regarded as abnormal, if we accept this
definition.
NAME EXPLAIN APPLY
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AO2 STRENGTHS ofDeviation from Social Norms
Since social norms identify behaviours that are
desirable (ideally) for the individual and
society, this approach allows us to assess the
desirability of a behaviour. Deviance from social
norms is viewed as undesirable. .
This model also takes into account the effect
that behaviour has on others. Deviance is defined
in terms of breaking social rules these rules
are established to help___________ ________
________. Deviant behaviour is socially
unacceptable as it is damaging to the social
rules that bind society together.
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Deviation can promote social change
Social deviancy is not necessarily a bad thing.
Some people may choose to live an alternative,
non-conformist lifestyle. Others are socially
deviant because their behaviour is motivated by
high principles e.g. opposition to an oppressive
government. Often social deviance is the
_______ for social ________.
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AO2 LIMITATIONS ofDeviation from Social Norms
We cannot accept that deviating from social norms
ALWAYS means being abnormal. There are
limitations/criticisms of this definition
Sometimes, behaviour that deviates away from the
norm is more ___________ than abnormal. For
example, someone running a marathon dressed as a
giant armadillo we may think is a bit strange or
eccentric, but not psychologically abnormal.
However, eccentricity may be abnormal if it is
severe enough.
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Abnormal or Criminal?
People who violate legal norms are usually
regarded as showing criminal behaviour, but
stealing cars is rarely due to underlying
_______________ disorder. Other criminals e.g.
serial killers, are more likely to be viewed as
abnormal having an inbuilt fault in their
personality. Normal people couldnt commit such
crimes. The severity/magnitude of the behaviour
is important when defining __________ using
deviation from the norm.
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2.We must remember that much of our behaviour is
context-specific, and if taken ___ __ _________
then it might see odd or abnormal. For example,
it might be normal to jump up and down screaming
orders at people (if you are a spectator at a
football match and you are shouting at the
players)but taken out of context, if we did that
at the opera, or in the supermarket then it would
be abnormal
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3. Societys beliefs about what is abnormal
________ _____ ____. What is thought of as
deviant by one generation, might not be by the
next. For example, before the 20th century,
unmarried women in the UK who had babies were
sent to mental institutions and their babies put
up for adoption. So we cannot just accept that
deviating from social norms means we are abnormal
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6. We cant make the assumption that what we see
as abnormal in our culture should be classed as
abnormal in others, and vice versa. These are
_______ _____ with this definition. For example,
talking out loud to an invisible person is
abnormal in our culture, but often quite normal
in some African and Indian cultures following a
bereavement.
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Summary of Deviation from Social Norms

• This definition suggests that we can be defined
  as abnormal if
• we break either explicit or implicit rules that
  have become norms in the society we live in

AO1

• The limitations of this definition are
• Our behaviour might be ECCENTRIC, not abnormal
• It might just seem abnormal if TAKEN OUT OF
  CONTEXT
• Social Norms CHANGE OVER TIME
• Social Norms are different across CULTURES

AO2
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Brain Break
Spend 10 minutes with some of the new activities!
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Quick Quiz!
Matthew works part-time in a very respectable
hotel. After each shift he works, he goes to play
football with his friends at a local park. The
hotel has strict rules about staff wearing the
correct uniform, so Matthew always makes sure
that he wears his freshly ironed shirt and
trousers, along with polished shoes. However,
sometimes he forgets his change of clothes and
goes to play football in what he is wearing. His
friends think he is abnormal. Is he?
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Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

• Considers characteristics of mental health,
  rather than mental illness. According to this
  definition, people should meet certain criteria
  to be considered normal.
• Jahoda - identifies 6 characteristics associated
  with optimal living ideal mental health.
  Therefore, anyone who deviates from this is
  abnormal.

Resistance to stress Accurate perception of
reality Positive attitude towards the self
Personal autonomy Adapting to the
environment Self-actualization of your potential
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Real life application of Deviation from Ideal
Mental Health
Kerry Katona might be deviating from Ideal
mental health as she is missing some criteria
E.g. she has failed to master her environment
(showbiz), whilst also not having a positive
attitudes towards herself (see MTV). Furthermore,
she seems unable to resist stress (see any of the
arguments she has with Mark). Since Kerry fails
to tick some of the criteria of Ideal mental
health she could be considered abnormal.
NAME EXPLAIN APPLY
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Evaluation (Ao2)
In pairs, brainstorm what you think the strengths
limitations are for this definition of
abnormality. Discuss your ideas with another
pair.
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AO2 LIMITATIONS ofDeviation from Ideal Mental
Health
This approach is refreshing as it focuses on
positive, rather than negative aspects of life.
But to meet all 6 criteria is quite demanding,
and therefore most people will fall short of
ideal mental health

• It is difficult to self-actualize as very few
  people meet their full potential in life.
• There are possible benefits to stress, as some
  people work better under moderate stress.
• There are cultural issues as Jahodas ideas are
  based on Western ideals evident in some cultures
  but not others

You must APPLY these weaknesses with more detail,
explaining why they criticise the definition
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Failure to function adequately

• Based on the idea that everyone should be able
  to make a contribution to society. People with
  psychological disorders often experience
  suffering distress and are unable to cope with
  their everyday activities

• When diagnosing mental disorders, Drs are
  required to take this into account. One measure
  used is the DSM, however the Global Assessment
  of Functioning Scale (GAF) assesses people on
  physical psychological measures.

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Rosenhan Seligman suggest 7 criteria that
indicate a failure to function adequately. The
more criteria a person meets, the more severe
their abnormal behaviour is considered to be
Suffering Maladaptiveness Unpredictability Observe
r discomfort Unconventionality Irrationality Viola
tion of moral standards

• e.g. anxiety disorders

- preventing you getting on with life
- e.g. mood swings
- behaviour making others uncomfortable
- different from others behaviour
- others cant understand why
- going against moral standards
Rosenhan Seligman argued that each might not
be significant on its own but, when several
were present, they are indicative of abnormality.
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Real life application of Failure to Function
Adequately
Michael Jackson might have been failing to
function adequately as he was causing distress
both to himself and others E.g. his behaviour
had become progressively unpredictable, whilst
his behaviour also caused observer discomfort
(e.g. swinging blanket over a balcony).
Furthermore, he sometimes acted unconventionally
(e.g. sleeping in an oxygen tank) and he
sometimes behaved irrationally (e.g. by making
his children wear masks for fear of
contamination) Since Michael achieved some of
the criteria of failure to function adequately
he could have been considered abnormal.
NAME EXPLAIN APPLY
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Evaluation (Ao2)
Discuss what you think the strengths
limitations are for this definition of
abnormality.
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AO2 LIMITATIONS ofFailure to function
adequately

• Not the whole picture It does not really define
  abnormality, it just determines the extent of a
  persons problems and the likelihood of them
  needing professional help
• Who judges? Someone needs to determine if this is
  the case.
• Exceptions to the rule sometimes people behave
  uncharacteristically or inadequately, but this
  does not make them abnormal
• Adaptive or maladaptive? Some dysfunctional
  behaviour can be adaptive/functional for the
  individual e.g. transvestitism is classed as
  mental disorder but the individual may make a
  living out of it.
• Direction of causality the inability to cope
  with life might be the cause of a mental
  disorder, not always a symptom of one

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Evaluation (Ao2)

• The 3 approaches to defining abnormality share
  several strengths limitations.
• Can you identify these strengths limitations?

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Evaluation (Ao2)

• The 3 approaches to defining abnormality share
  strengths limitations e.g.
• ve A gateway to treatment help lay people to
  decide whether to seek professional help if they
  or others are concerned about deviant behaviour,
  failure to function or deviation from ideal
  mental health.
• -ve Relating definitions to changing contexts
  times
• -ve Cultural limitations open to cultural bias

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Deviation from Social Norms
BUT this could be just eccentric behaviour, or
taken out of context to appear abnormal. It could
also be culturally and historically dependent.
Explicit implicit rules of society are
normsbreaking them is abnormal behaviour
Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
Defining Abnormality
Failure to function adequately
Resistance to stress Accurate perception of
reality Positive attitude towards the self
Personal autonomy Adapting to the
environment Self-actualization 6 criteria of
ideal mental health
Being unable to function on an adequate level in
the society we live in is abnormal behaviour

• BUT, failing to function adequately is not
  always the whole picture. There are often
  exceptions to the rule. This definition is both
  Era and Context dependent, and the Direction of
  causality cultural issues

BUT to meet all 6 criteria is quite demanding,
and therefore most people will fall short of
ideal mental health
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Typical examination questions

• Outline two definitions of abnormality (33
  marks)
• Explain one limitation of the ??? definition of
  abnormality (3 marks)
• Using your knowledge of psychology, explain how
  ??? may be considered abnormal (4 marks)
• Outline and evaluate two or more definitions of
  abnormality (8,10 or 12 marks)