Defining Abnormality

Defining Abnormality

One way of defining abnormality is in terms of characteristics or

behaviours that are statistically infrequent (the deviation from

statistical norms definition). However, this does not take into

account the desirability of a characteristic or behaviour. The

definition also fails to recognise that in all cultures large numbers

of people may engage in behaviours that constitute mental disorders. A

further problem is the failure to identify how far a person must

deviate before being ‘abnormal’. Such decisions are difficult to make

and then consequently justify.

The deviation from ideal mental health definition proposes that

abnormal people do not possess characteristics that mental healthy

people do, or possess characteristics that mentally healthy people do

not.

This particular definition relies on value judgements about what

constitutes ideal mental health. It is also bound by culture,

era-dependent, and limited by the context in which behaviour occurs.

Abnormality has also been defined as a failure to function adequately

(by not achieving some sense of personal well-being and making some

contribution to a larger social group). Experiencing personal distress

or discomfort, causing distress to others, and behaving in an

unexpected or bizarre manner are often the reasons why people come to

the attention of psychologists. Many consider the failure to function

adequately definition as being the most useful single approach, and

the one clo...

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...ly rational,

and reflect accurately the unfortunate circumstances in which a person

is living. Attempts to put the blame on to the patient may inhibit

efforts to produce desirable behaviour.

Each of the models explain the origins of abnormality in different

ways. However, these models are not necessarily mutually exclusive,

since each is effectively examining a different aspect of the

individual. The biological model observes that learned behaviour can

be maladaptive whilst the cognitive model claims that thoughts can be

irrational and therefore also maladaptive. The behaviourist model

states that abnormal behaviour is learnt in the same way as other

types of behaviour through stimulus-response mechanisms and operant

conditioning. Each of the models is subject to certain practical and

ethical considerations also.