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?
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’
www.psychlotron.org.uk
Definitions of Abnormality
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.
www.psychlotron.org.uk
Definitions of 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
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?
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
www.psychlotron.org.uk
Statistical Infrequency
Average IQ in the
population is 100pts.
frequency
The further from 100
you look, the fewer
people you find
70
100
130
IQ Scores
www.psychlotron.org.uk
Statistical Infrequency
frequency
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
70
100
130
IQ Scores
www.psychlotron.org.uk
Statistical Infrequency
L2
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.
20
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.
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.
www.psychlotron.org.uk
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.
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/nashautobio.html
What is ‘adequate’ in one culture may
not be in another
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
www.psychlotron.org.uk
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
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
www.psychlotron.org.uk
Deviation from Ideal 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
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
www.psychlotron.org.uk
Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
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!