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.

Look at the handout ‘What do we mean by abnormal?’

Can you define abnormality?

Definitions of Abnormality www.psychlotron.org.uk 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’

Definitions of Abnormality www.psychlotron.org.uk Four definitions of abnormality are: Deviation from social norms Statistical infrequency --Failure to function adequately Deviation from ideal mental health Make a note of this.

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

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

May not be seen as normal behaviour in a different culture

Or sub-culture

There are cultural issues with this definition

This definition is therefore culturally relative

Social norms vary from one culture or society to another

social norms vary from one time to another Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas in 1893 On 25 May 1895 Wilde was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years' hard labour.

Statistical Infrequency What exactly does ‘Statistical Infrequency’ mean?

Statistical Infrequency www.psychlotron.org.uk 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

Statistical Infrequency www.psychlotron.org.uk Average IQ in the population is 100pts. The further from 100 you look, the fewer people you find frequency 70 100 130 IQ Scores

Statistical Infrequency www.psychlotron.org.uk 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 70 100 130 IQ Scores

STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY A very unusual behaviour or trait will be more than 2 standard deviations from the mean. i.e. over 130 or under 70 IQ score. This statistically ‘rare’ behaviour or trait is likely to be seen as being abnormal.

Failure to function adequately

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.

Failure to Function Adequately www.psychlotron.org.uk 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.

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.

Failure to function may be as a result of economic or social conditions

Some people may appear to function quite well yet still have psychological abnormality. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/1994/nash- autobio.html

What is ‘adequate’ in one culture may not be in another

Failure to Function Adequately www.psychlotron.org.uk 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

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

Deviation from Ideal Mental health www.psychlotron.org.uk 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

What characteristics do you think a person needs to be mentally healthy?

Deviation from ideal mental health Jahoda states that we identified 6 categories that people need in order to be MENTALLY HEALTHY 1/ Self attitudes = 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

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health www.psychlotron.org.uk 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

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!