1. Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality

2. Statistical Infrequency
Abnormality can be defined as deviation from the average, where statistically common behaviour is normal and statistically rare behaviour is abnormal.
Any measurable human characteristic can be placed on a continuum that will reveal how common their standardized score is in comparison to everybody else’s. These comparisons can be standardized by using a normal distribution curves.

3. Normal Distribution

4. Evaluation
Some mental disorders are not rare enough to be defined as abnormal (phobias, depression).
Gives no indication of desirability- both mental retardation and genius are rare but only the former is regarded as abnormal.
Problems in deciding how statistically rare (2 or 3 SD).

5. Deviation from social norms
Norms are expected ways of behaving in a society according to the majority. If you break these norms you are abnormal. This is reflected in the diagnosis of anti-social personality disorder. The psychopath is impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible. They “fail to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviours (DSM-IV-TR)”.

6. Evaluation
Too much reliance on deviation from norms can lead to the abuse of people’s rights.
Examples from the past: Drapetomania- slaves experienced an irrational desire to run away. Nymphomania- middle class women who were sexually attracted to working class men.

7. Social norms are culturally specific (they differ between generations, ethnic groups, socio-economic groups etc).

8. Maladaptiveness/Failure to function adequately
Maladaptive behaviours are those that cause difficulties, or are counter-productive for the individual or for others.
Examples: Repetitive hand washing in OCD, self starvation in severe anorexia nervosa.

9. Evaluation
May not be recognized by the individual and the definition may have to be applied by others. Social judgments can be subjective.
Do we consider people who take part in high risk sports such as boxing to be abnormal?

10. Deviation from ideal mental health
Jahoda (1958) described several characteristics that mentally healthy people should possess such as:
The ability to introspect
Integration and balance of personality
Self actualization
Autonomy
Ability to cope with stress and see the world as it really is
Environmental mastery

11. Evaluation Far too idealistic! Very few people would be normal.
Culturally biased (individualistic).

12. Conclusion
In practice we use a combination of criteria to decide who will benefit from being classified as abnormal.
Abnormality is an elusive concept. It does not always conform to statistical or normative criteria for abnormality, and varies between cultures. Researchers such as Szasz (1960) have argued that abnormality is a socially constructed concept that allows people who show different, unusual or disturbing behaviour (to the rest of society), to be labeled and treated differently from others (confined, controlled and persecuted).