Defining Abnormality

Understanding Abnormality At times, understanding normal behavior is difficult enough Tolerance for a developing field Remaining objective

What is Normal? What is Abnormal?

DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

behavior that occurs infrequently DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

behavior that is considered unacceptable within a given culture DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

behavior that is ineffective in meeting a person’s goals DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

Behavior or feelings that are uncomfortable to the person experiencing them DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

PROBLEMS? STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

Common problems?Common problems? Focus on negative?Focus on negative? DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

What about cultural differences?What about cultural differences? Norms change with timeNorms change with time DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

Changes with each person and their goals?Changes with each person and their goals? DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

Too subjective?Too subjective? Who defines distressing?Who defines distressing? DEFINING ABNORMALITY STATISTICALLY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY DISTRESSING BEHAVIOR

The Take Home Message Abnormality is hard to define There is no definition of “normal” Can use several rules (at once) Rules can change with purpose Research Therapy Abnormality/Normality is continuous

The DSM-IV Definition Mental disorder = Clinically significant impairment Associated with current distress Not an expected or sanctioned response Is a manifestation of dysfunction Neither deviant behavior nor societal conflicts qualify alone