1. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality

2. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
What is normal behaviour?
In pairs or small groups discuss examples of behaviour that is normal, and behaviour that is abnormal.

3. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Can you define abnormality?

4. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Definitions of Abnormality
Defining a person or behaviour as ‘abnormal’ implies something undesirable and requiring change
Therefore, we must be careful how we use the term
Psychologists need methods for distinguishing ‘normal’ from ‘abnormal’

5. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Four definitions of abnormality are:
Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health

6. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
Social norms are a set of rules for behaviour based on a set of moral and conventional standards within society.
They are judged by the dominant culture

7. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
What is seen as normal behaviour in the dominant culture?
John Maguire and Laurence Scott-Mackay were the first couple to exchange vows in a civil partnership ceremony in Scotland, with a ceremony in Edinburgh

8. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
May not be seen as normal behaviour in a different culture

9. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Or sub-culture

10. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
This definition is therefore culturally relative

11. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Social norms vary from one culture or society to another

12. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
social norms vary from one time to another
Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas in 1893 They are judged by the dominant culture…
On 25 May 1895 Wilde was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years' hard labour.

13. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Four definitions of abnormality are:
Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health

14. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Statistical Infrequency
What exactly does ‘Statistical Infrequency’ mean?

15. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Statistical Infrequency
Under this definition, a person’s trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual.
With this definition it is necessary to be clear about how rare a trait or behaviour needs to be before we class it as abnormal

16. Statistical Infrequency
Average IQ in the population is 100pts.
The further from 100 you look, the fewer people you find
frequency
IQ Scores

17. Statistical Infrequency
A very small subset of the population (<2.2%) have an IQ below 70pts. Such people are statistically rare. We regard them as having abnormally low IQs
frequency
IQ Scores

18. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Four definitions of abnormality are:
Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health

19. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
From an individual’s point of view abnormality can be judged in terms of not being able to cope with day to day living.

20. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
Under this definition, a person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life.
They may be unable to perform the behaviours necessary for day-to-day living e.g. self-care, hold down a job, interact meaningfully with others, make themselves understood etc.

21. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
It may be the case that apparently dysfunctional behaviour is actually adaptive and functional for the specific individual.
This definition may be biased by who judges ‘failure to function adequately’ as in the opinion of the individual they may believe that they are functioning adequately even if others do not agree.

22. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
Failure to function may be as a result of economic or social conditions

23. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
Some people may appear to function quite well yet still have psychological abnormality.
John F. Nash Jr.
Now I must arrive at the time of my change from scientific rationality of thinking into the delusional thinking characteristic of persons who are psychiatrically diagnosed as "schizophrenic" or "paranoid schizophrenic". But I will not really attempt to describe this long period of time but rather avoid embarrassment by simply omitting to give the details of truly personal type.
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 1994

24. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
What is ‘adequate’ in one culture may not be in another

25. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
Rosenhan & Seligman (1989) suggest the following characteristics:
Suffering
Maladaptiveness (danger to self)
Vividness & unconventionality (stands out)
Unpredictability & loss of control
Irrationality/incomprehensibility
Causes observer discomfort
Violates moral/social standards

26. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
Can you think of 1 example of behaviour for each of these catagories
Suffering
Maladaptiveness (danger to self)
Vividness & unconventionality (stands out)
Unpredictability & loss of control
Irrationality/incomprehensibility
Causes observer discomfort
Violates moral/social standards
See course companion p137

27. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Four definitions of abnormality are:
Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health

28. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
Deviation from ideal mental health
Under this definition, rather than defining what is abnormal, we define what is normal/ideal and anything that deviates from this is regarded as abnormal
This requires us to decide on the characteristics we consider necessary to mental health

29. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
What characteristics do you think a person needs to be mentally healthy?

30. Deviation from ideal mental health
Examine the concepts of normality
and abnormality
Deviation from ideal mental health
Jahoda states that we identified 6 categories that people need in order to be MENTALLY HEALTHY
1/ Self attitude = high self esteem
2/ Personal growth (Self actualization) = achieve their full potential
3/ Integration = being able to cope with stressful situations
4/ Autonomy = making own decisions, being in control
5/ Accurate perception of reality
6/ Adaptation to environment = ability to love and solve problems

31. Deviation from ideal mental health
Examine the concepts of normality
and abnormality
Deviation from ideal mental health
Psychologists vary, but usual characteristics include:
Positive view of the self
Capability for growth and development
Autonomy and independence
Accurate perception of reality
Positive friendships and relationships
Environmental mastery – able to meet the varying demands of day-to-day situations

32. Deviation from ideal mental health
Examine the concepts of normality
and abnormality
Deviation from ideal mental health
Marie Jahoda (1958) states that we define physical illness by looking at what is different from ideal physical health. I.e. correct temperature, correct blood pressure
SO WHY NOT DO THE SAME FOR MENTAL ILLNESS
SEE IT AS A DOCTOR APPROACH TO DEFINING ABNORMALITY!