DEFINING ABNORMALITY

DEFINE STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY

FEAR

3 MARK DEFINITION

• Refers to conditions that are rare compared to the norm.
• Many human characteristics fall into normal frequency distributions. This can tell us what is common or normal what is uncommon or abnormal.
• Eg facing every day challenges - rare to be excessively fearless or excessively fearful and normal to experience some anxiety

EVALUATE STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY

EVALUATING STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY

• Some abnormal behaviour is desirable think IQ
• The cut-off point is subjectively determined
• Statistical infrequency is sometimes not enough in some situations a statistical criterion like a low IQ may not be a mental disorder depending on the level of functioning

DEFINE DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS

ECCENTRIC

THREE MARKS WORTH

• Social norms created by social groups of people about what comprises acceptable standards of behaviour
• Deviation from social norms is classed as abnormal
• Some rules are implicit whereas others are policed by laws
• An example would be laughing at a funeral

EVALUATE DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS

EVALUATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS

• The deviance is related to context and degree
• There is the risk of abuse
• Cultural relativism

DEFINE FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY

Untitled Slide

Can you name all 7

• Unp___________ Mal_____________ behaviour Pe____________ D____________ Ir___________________ O_____________ D____________ V___________ of ______ S_____ V_____________and _____________

FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY

• Failing to cope with every day living
• It may cause distress for the individual and or others around them
• It must affect the individual not just the others

EVALUATE FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY

EVALUATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION

• Who judges
• The behaviour may be functional
• Easy to measure objectively

DEFINE DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH

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CRITERIA

• Self attitude
• Personal growth or self actualisation
• Autonomy
• Accurate perception of reality
• Integration stress management
• Mastery of the environment

EVALUATE DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH

EVALUATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH

• Unrealistic criteria
• Mental health is not the same as physical health
• It is a positive approach
• Cultural relativism

APPLY

• Pete spends up to 60 hours every week video-gaming his parents complain that this is so extreme that he must be addicted.
• Using statistical infrequency explain whether Pete's behaviour could be considered abnormal (4)

APPLY

• Mike's flatmate never cleans his room it is so bad that visitors to the flat remark on the bad smell it causes Mike's flatmate holds down a good job and is clean and well presented when he goes to work
• Using the failure to function adequately definition explain whether Mike's flatmate could be considered abnormal (4 marks)