1. Definitions of abnormality
Psychopathology
Definitions of abnormality

2. Starter Write answers on mini-whiteboards.
What is the difference between the deviation from social norms definition and the deviation from statistical infrequency definition?
What is the difference between the deviation from ideal mental health and the failure to function adequately definition?

3. Describing the definitions of abnormality

4. Deviation from social norms
Answer the following questions in small groups on the big boards:
What is a social norm?
What social norms do we have in this country?
Think of some examples of a deviation from social norms in this country

5. Would you eat a century egg?
A delicacy in Chinese cuisine a duck or chicken’s egg is buried under ground for several months until the yolk is a dark, soft green and white has become a dark brown jelly. The egg smells like ammonia and is eaten with rice or a as side.

6. Would you wear a series of neck rings?
The Kayan people live on the mountain border between Burma and Thailand. From the age of 5 women wear a brass coil that increases in size as they age. Ove the years this coil presses on the clavicle resulting in the appearance of a long neck, a sign held in great esteem by the tribe.

7. Would you fear the evil eye?
Bedouin tribes of the Middle East spend a lot of time and energy in counteracting the effects of the evil eye. The evil eye is seen as dangerous force which explains much misfortune experienced in the harsh desert conditions.

8. Apply
Aisha has had a lucky teddy since primary school. She has always performed well in school assessments and formal examinations and attribues her success to her lucky teddy. Now she is off to university and is taking her teddy with her, to lectures, the library, he’ll sit at her desk when completing essays and hide in her bag during formal exams. She will not do a test without it.
What aspects of Aisha’s behaviour might be considered a deviation from social norms?

9. Analyse
In 1895 Oscar Wilde was jailed for two years for homosexuality, which was illegal at the time. Homosexuality was classified as abnormal and regarded as a mental disorder. In 1967 the sexual offences bill decriminalised homosexual acts in the UK but it wasn’t until 1990 that the US removed it form the mental disorders classification system.
What does this show us about using deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality?

10. Failure to function adequately
When someone’s behaviour suggests that they cannot cope with everyday demands then they run the risk of being labelled as abnormal by this definition- they are failing to function adequately.
Write down 2 examples on a mini-whiteboard.
Behaviour is considered abnormal when it causes distress leading to an inability to function properly. It may also be characterised by an inability to experience a normal range of emotions or behaviours.

11. Rosenhan and Seligman suggested seven features of dysfunction, the more an individual shows the more they are classed as abnormal.
On big boards – mind map as many of these as you can based on your summer homework

12. Features of personal dysfunction
Descriptions of features
Personal distress
A key feature of abnormality. Includes depression and anxiety disorders
Maladaptive behaviour
Behaviour stopping individuals from attaining life goals, both socially and occupationally.
Unpredictability
Displaying unexpected behaviours, characterised by loss of control, like attempted suicide
Irrationality
Displaying behaviour that cannot be explained in a rational way
Observer discomfort
Displaying behaviour that causes discomfort to others
Violation of moral standards
Displaying behaviour that violates society’s moral standards
Unconventionality
Unconventional behaviour

13. In your groups pick a psychological disorder and using as many of the categories as you can below, explain why it might lead to a failure to function.
Features of personal dysfunction
Descriptions of features
Personal distress
A key feature of abnormality. Includes depression and anxiety disorders
Maladaptive behaviour
Behaviour stopping individuals from attaining life goals, both socially and occupationally.
Unpredictability
Displaying unexpected behaviours, characterised by loss of control, like attempted suicide
Irrationality
Displaying behaviour that cannot be explained in a rational way
Observer discomfort
Displaying behaviour that causes discomfort to others
Violation of moral standards
Displaying behaviour that violates society’s moral standards
Unconventionality
Unconventional behaviour

14. Deviation from statistical infrequency
Choose 5 key words/phrases from the description of the definition and bullet point these. Also, draw the normal distribution curve.
Now using only these words/phrases, describe the definition to your partner (you can also try this with someone who doesn’t study Psychology e.g. parent, siblings)

15. Skewed distributions
Sometimes distributions can be skewed – you need to know what these are as part of the research methods topics

16. Deviation from ideal mental health (Jahoda)
Complete the worksheet to see how much you can remember from your flipped homework!

17. Checking on knowledge and understanding - AO1
Briefly outline the deviation from IMH as a definition of abnormality.
Spend one minute thinking about this before you attempt the question above

18. Padraig is a psychology undergraduate
Padraig is a psychology undergraduate. He suffers from gynophobia- a phobia of women. This is an unusual condition and one which Padraig finds causes offence to many people he meets. Others don’t take it seriously and laugh at Padraig. He finds his studies very difficult because most of the students on his course are women. His social life is very limited because the people he likes best at the University all hang out in mixed-sex groups. This causes him severe distress and he feels guilty-he does not dislike women, he is just very anxious around them. His self-esteem is low and this is made worse by the fact that Padraig has no idea where his phobia comes from.
Consider each of the 4 definitions of abnormality you have studied. For each one explain in what way Padraig would be judged as abnormal Work in groups and write up on wallboards.

19. Evaluating the definitions of abnormality

20. Evaluation – P.E.S
How to write a good evaluation. The ‘PES’ structure: Point, Explain/Evidence, So what? E.G. P: One limitation of the deviation from social norms definition is that social norms change over time. E: For example, it used to be the norm for people to smoke in public places however this has now changed. S: This means using deviation from social norms as a way of defining abnormality is problematic as it may lead to inaccurate labelling of abnormality.

21. Evaluation of deviation from social norms
Realises behaviour does change depending on context
Norms differ between cultures
Some behaviour that differs form social norms is not abnormal or dangerous just eccentric.
Above are 3 other evaluation points (The ‘P’ from PES).
Have a go at expanding on these points further (The ‘E’ ‘S’ bits)

22. Evaluating Failure to Function adequately
Strength The Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) can be used by clinicians to rate the level of social, occupational and psychological functioning of an individual. Expanding on this: Why is this a strength?

23. Evaluating Failure to Function adequately
Limitations:
Abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction. For example psychopaths can cause great harm yet still appear to function normally e.g. Harold Shipman was a English doctor who murdered at least 215 patients, thus was abnormal. However, he was considered to be a respectable doctor and did not display any features of dysfunction.
Normal abnormality- there are times in people’s lives when it is normal to suffer distress and not be able to cope with everyday demands.
Expanding on this: Give an example of normal abnormality and say
why this is a limitation.
Cultural differences- what is considered ‘normal functioning’ varies from culture to culture and so abnormal functioning of one culture should not be used to judge people’s behaviour from other cultures and subcultures.

24. Evaluating statistical infrequency
Discuss the following questions in pairs.
This definition is objective.
Why is that? Why is this important?
Professor Stephen Hawking has an IQ of over 160. This would be defined as abnormal by this definition.
Would you consider this abnormal? Why/why not?
Bob has rated his fear of heights as 7 out of 10. Juliet rated her fear as 8 out of 10.
What problems does this cause for using this definition of abnormality?
Cultural differences are also a problem for this definition.
Why do you think this is?
Can you think of any other strengths of using this definition of abnormality?

25. Evaluation of Ideal mental health worksheet: Act like an examiner
If your not sure how to apply the mark scheme then ask yourself these questions:
Are 2 separate limitations easily identified in the answer?
How did the candidate introduce each limitation (point)?
Was there a development of the limitation initially identified (evidence)?
Did the candidate include an example to develop the limitation they identified (expansion)?

26. ANSWERS Candidate A- not a strong response, identifies one limitation but does not develop the concept much, their questions hint at development but are not elaborated upon and do not receive credit. The second comment doesn’t receive credit as this is a strength (also brief). 1/4 Candidate B- performs better. Paragraphing and sentence wording makes it easy to identify 2 separate limitations. Both are structured using PES structure, developed evaluations. 4/4

27. Your turn
Write one more evaluation paragraph using the structure from candidate B (PES) to describe a strength of the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality.

28. Exam practice

29. ‘Outlining’ Definitions of Abnormality
a) Outline one definition of abnormality (2 marks)
What does outline mean?
Which definition of abnormality are you going to write about?
How much should you write for 2 marks?

30. 2.
This is an application (AO2) question – this means you must apply your knowledge to a scenario or piece of information you are not familiar with.

31. Exam practice
Discuss statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality (6 marks)
In small groups - plan an answer to the question above.
Exam ‘command’ words – ‘Discuss’ = outline and evaluate
Exam info – you will always get more marks for evaluation/application. Consider this when planning your answer
Remember to use the P.E.S structure for evaluation.