Psychopathology:
Abnormality
• Individual differences: study of how
individuals differ in psychological
characteristics
– intelligence, aggressiveness, obedience, etc.
• Important difference: degree of mental
health
– Psychopathology
– Abnormality equated with abnormal
psychopathology
• How to define someone as being
abnormal?
• Write a list of things you would look for as
an indication of abnormal behaviour
1
What makes someone abnormal?
Do your ideas fit into one of the four following categories?
Statistically rare,
Going against social norms,
Mentally ill
Or
Inability to function safely
(danger to self or others)
2
Can you define the
following behaviour as
abnormal using all four
definitions?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDDJMdWAC8
3
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.
4
Statistical Infrequency ~
Is all rare behaviour abnormal?
If not, how do we decide what is?
Is this?
5
Why is context so important when
defining behaviour as abnormal?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byPJ22JDFjI
6
Statistical Infrequency: Limitations/Criticisms
Mental Health
Depression and anxiety are not rare, but clinical depression is
Gender Issues
Females wear makeup and skirts without seeming abnormal
What about males?
Cultural Issues
Jewish people mourn by tearing clothes and wailing in public.
In China mental illness carries a stigma so is rarely diagnosed.
Some cultures walk around naked.
In the USA 48% of people were treated for psychological
disorders – by this definition that would make them normal!
Age
Thumb sucking and bed wetting may be considered statistically
normal at 2 years old but not at 20!
Desirability of behaviour
Many behaviours are rare but considered highly desirable (High
IQ, Great athletic ability).
How far must you deviate from average to be considered
abnormal?
7
Advantages of statistical approach
• Obvious, quick, easy way to define abnormality.
• Has face validity
• Relatively easy to determine abnormality using
statistical, psychometric tests
e.g. for O.C.D.
• Try the test; could you be a potential sufferer?
– http://psychcentral.com/ocdquiz.htm
• Now watch an O.C.D. sufferer in action!
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOami82xKec
8
• Society’s rules based on moral standards that
become norms
– Deviations seen as abnormal (Szasz 1972)
– Suggests madness is a label for non-conformists
• Social norms are culturally relative
– i.e. must judge behaviour only in cultural context (which evolves)
– Otherwise risk of ethnocentrism
• Example
– Homosexuality illegal and considered a mental disorder
– Now campaigns for gay marriage
• So definition of abnormality as deviation is subject to
change
9
AO2: Deviation from Social Norms Limitations / Issues
Historical Issues:
Until early 1900s, pregnant unmarried women
were interred in mental institutions.
Until 1960s homosexual acts were criminal
offences in UK
Until 1973 homosexuality was a mental disorder
in USA.
Cultural Issues:
Diagnosis of insanity was used to detain
political dissidents in Russia.
In Japan you are deemed insane if you do not
want to work!
In Western societies you can plead insanity as a
defence - Lorena Bobbit cut off her husband's
penis and pleaded temporary insanity!
Hello!
Expected Behaviour:
African/Indian cultures consider it normal
to talk to the dead.
Nakedness is normal in some cultures.
Context:
Singing in the park is understood if you see the
10
film crew!
Conformance to Social Norms:
Summary
• A subjective measurement of abnormality
– norms change over time and differ between
cultures
• Has been used as a form of social control
• Social norms are necessary
– enable members of each society to know the
‘rules’ in order to get along together!
• Anti-social behaviour can be viewed as
abnormal under this definition e.g.
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2fntzGquZE
11
Short Answer Exam Questions
(SAQs)
Deviation from social norms is one definition of
abnormality: You may use your textbook to help
you with this.
a) What is a ‘social norm’?
b) Give one example of how breaking a social
norm might lead to the behaviour being defined
as abnormal.
c) Outline one other way of defining abnormality
12
Deviation from Ideal Mental
Health: PRAISE
• Marie Jahoda (1958)
• Six categories that clinicians typically relate
to mental health
–
–
–
–
–
–
Personal growth
Reality perception
Autonomy
Integration
Self-attitudes
Environmental mastery
13
Limitations/Criticisms of PRAISE
• Are the following evidence of abnormality?
– Negative self-image from bullying, persecution, etc.
– Failure to reach full potential due to family commitments, money,
social/ peer pressure, gender, culture, etc.
– Difficulty in coping with high levels of stress
– Inability to make own decisions due to disability, illness, age,
culture, etc.
– Distorted perception of reality due to alcohol, drugs, illness, etc.
– Difficulty adapting to the environment because of circumstances
e.g. if poor, black, female, disabled, etc.
• Jahoda’s criteria are so demanding that almost everyone is
bound to fall into the category of mental ill-health!
14
Failure to function adequately
• A definition of abnormality based on
– an inability to cope with day-to-day life
– caused by psychological distress or discomfort
– which may lead to harm of self or others.
15
Failure to Function Adequately
• Seen as a humane way of addressing psychological problems
– allows individual to decide if they need/wish to seek help.
• However, some limitations
–
–
–
–
Labelling
Gender issues (Bennett 1995 masculine stereotypes)
Enforced detaining in mental institutions
Even if behaviour is abnormal, no institutionalisation provided
individual can function adequately and is not harming self/others
• Summary
– Leaves power with the individual
– Not seen as serious in mental disorder terms
– Individual may be aware or unaware of own dysfunction
• So how can psychiatrist be sure of diagnosis or when patient is ‘cured’?
16
We are now going to watch two videos
about people with abnormal behaviour.
Cases 1 and 2 at
http://www.aquinassocsci.co.uk/psychopathology.html
As you are watching the videos decide if
they fit all 4 definitions of Abnormality.
Then write down any issues that the
program raises regarding difficulties in
defining abnormality and any ethical issues
you notice, for discussion afterwards.
17
Rosenhan Experiment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j
6bmZ8cVB4o
18
Summary Activity
• Use notes and handouts to complete a
summary mind map / poster entitled DEFINING
ABNORMALITY. Include a concise definition,
explanation, and example of each method and
then list as many as possible but at least two
limitations associated with each method of
definition – e.g. – can be era dependent – can
be ethnocentric (cultural relativism) – labelling &
stereotyping – desirable behaviour…. etc.
• Try also to include one Strength
• Then: Say how each of these definitions would
define Anorexia as being abnormal, and what the
problems defining Anorexia using each definition
19
would be.