Definitions of Abnormality

Ever wondered how psychologists decide what's "normal" versus "abnormal"? It's trickier than you might think, and there are four main approaches they use.

Statistical infrequency is the simplest approach - if very few people do something, it's considered abnormal. For instance, having an IQ below 70 affects only about 2% of the population, so it's classified as abnormal and can lead to a diagnosis of intellectual developmental disorder.

This method works well in real-life diagnosis and assessment. The Beck Depression Inventory, for example, uses statistical cut-offs where only 5% of people score high enough to indicate severe depression. However, it has a major flaw: it can't tell the difference between rare but desirable traits (like having an IQ over 130) and genuinely problematic behaviours.

Key Point: Not all statistically rare behaviours are undesirable - some are actually brilliant!

Deviation from Social Norms

Social norms are like unwritten rules that everyone in society follows. When someone breaks these rules, they might be labelled as abnormal - think of someone laughing loudly at a funeral.

This definition proves quite useful for diagnosing certain conditions. Antisocial personality disorder, for instance, involves consistently breaking ethical standards through aggression or recklessness. It's also helpful for identifying schizotypal personality disorder, which involves strange beliefs and behaviours.

Interestingly, deviation from social norms can actually drive positive change. The Suffragettes broke social norms and faced prison sentences, but their "abnormal" behaviour eventually led to women gaining the right to vote.

The major weakness? Social norms change dramatically over time and between cultures. Homosexuality was considered a mental illness in the UK until 1973, whilst hearing voices is perfectly acceptable in some African cultures but seen as abnormal here.

Key Point: What's "normal" in one culture or time period might be completely "abnormal" in another!

Failure to Function Adequately

Sometimes people struggle so much they can't manage basic daily tasks like maintaining hygiene, holding down a job, or interacting with others. This is failure to function adequately, and it's often what brings people to seek help.

Schizophrenia is typically diagnosed this way because symptoms like hallucinations are distressing to others, even if the person experiencing them isn't personally distressed. This approach is brilliant because it considers the person's actual lived experience rather than just making judgements from the outside.

However, there's a risk of discrimination here. It can be hard to distinguish between genuine inability to function and someone making conscious lifestyle choices - like living off-grid or pursuing extreme sports. This could unfairly restrict people's freedom of choice.

Cultural differences also matter hugely. What counts as "functioning adequately" varies between cultures, and this can lead to biased diagnoses where lower-class or non-white patients are more often labelled as having mental disorders.

Key Point: This definition focuses on whether someone can actually cope with life, not just whether they're different!

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Psychologist Jahoda flipped the script in 1958, asking "what does perfect mental health look like?" instead of focusing on abnormality. She identified six characteristics: positive self-attitude, self-actualisation (reaching your potential), autonomy, stress resistance, accurate reality perception, and environmental mastery.

Someone with anxiety would be considered abnormal under this definition because they'd struggle with several criteria, particularly stress resistance and environmental mastery.

This approach is incredibly comprehensive, covering most reasons why people might need mental health support. It gives different professionals - from CBT therapists to psychiatrists - a common language to discuss mental wellbeing.

The problem? Jahoda's criteria are impossibly high. Virtually no one meets all six characteristics all the time, especially during difficult periods like grief. Plus, these criteria reflect Western values - personal autonomy is prized in America but might be seen as selfish in Japan.

Key Point: This definition sets the bar so high that almost everyone would be considered "abnormal" sometimes!

Understanding Phobias

Phobias are irrational fears of specific objects or situations that go way beyond normal caution. They're not just "being scared" - they genuinely interfere with daily life.

Behaviourally, people with phobias show three main patterns. Panic responses involve crying, screaming, or running away when faced with their feared object. Avoidance means going to great lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus, which can seriously disrupt normal activities. Some people show endurance instead, staying with the feared object whilst experiencing intense anxiety.

Emotionally, phobias create constant anxiety that prevents relaxation and blocks positive emotions. The fear response is immediate and overwhelming when encountering the phobic stimulus.

Cognitively, the fear response is completely unreasonable - like having a massive reaction to a tiny, harmless spider. People with phobias often hold irrational beliefs and experience cognitive distortions that make threats seem much worse than they are. They also show selective attention, becoming fixated on their feared object.

Key Point: Phobias aren't just strong dislikes - they're irrational fears that seriously impact someone's ability to function normally!

Understanding Depression

Depression is a mood disorder involving prolonged disturbance of mood and emotion. It's much more than just feeling sad occasionally - it fundamentally changes how someone thinks, feels, and behaves.

Behaviourally, depression causes major changes in activity levels. Most people become lethargic and withdraw from work, education, and social life. However, some experience psychomotor agitation, becoming restless and unable to sit still. Sleep and eating patterns get disrupted too, leading to insomnia or hypersomnia, weight loss or gain.

Emotionally, there's persistent lowered mood with loss of interest in normal activities. Anger can emerge, sometimes leading to aggression or self-harm. Lowered self-esteem makes people feel worthless and hopeless, with some experiencing intense self-loathing.

Cognitively, poor concentration makes it hard to focus or make decisions, seriously affecting work performance. Negative thinking patterns dominate, with people dwelling on bad memories and negative aspects of situations. Absolute thinking turns minor setbacks into complete disasters.

Key Point: Depression affects every aspect of a person's life - their thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical health all change significantly!

Understanding OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has two main components: obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts).

Behaviourally, compulsions are repetitive - the same behaviour gets performed over and over in a ritualistic way, like excessive hand washing. These compulsions reduce anxiety created by obsessive thoughts, though around 10% of people with OCD only have compulsions without clear obsessions. Many sufferers use avoidance to manage their condition, staying away from triggering situations like rubbish bins if they fear contamination.

Emotionally, obsessive thoughts create intense anxiety and distress because they're genuinely frightening to experience. Depression often accompanies OCD, along with guilt and disgust - either towards oneself or external things like dirt.

Cognitively, about 90% of OCD sufferers have obsessive thoughts like fears of contamination or doubts about safety. Some develop cognitive coping strategies like prayer to manage anxiety. Ironically, most people with OCD have insight into their excessive anxiety - they know their thoughts and behaviours are irrational, but they can't stop the catastrophic thinking patterns.

Key Point: People with OCD usually know their thoughts and behaviours are irrational, but they can't control them - that's what makes the condition so distressing!