MANY DEFINITIONS of abnormality,

CRITERIA OFTEN ARE VAGUE AND SUBJECTIVE

What Is Psychological Abnormality?

No one definition is the "correct" or the "best" definition

NONE ARE UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED.

When is a pattern of behavior “enough” to be considered abnormal?

Most definitions share some common features – “The Four Ds”:

a. Statistical Deviance/ infrequency,

– DIFFERENT, EXTREME, UNUSUAL

b. Cultural Deviance – norms

– UNPLEASANT & UPSETTING

- CAUSES INTERFERENCE WITH LIFE

POSES RISK OF HARM

Causes distress to individual or those around the individual

2. Distress

3. Deviance

1. Dysfunction

4. Danger

- Causes disruption in social, occupational, day to day functioning

WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER?

Defining Psychological Disorders• DSM-IV-TR Definition: 1. Behavioral, emotional, or cognitive dysfunctions that are:

3. unexpected/ not typical in their cultural context

AND

2. associated with personal distress

substantial impairment in functioningOr

This definition also excludes deviant behavior that is not a symptom of dysfunctional behavior

DSM-IV definition of mental disorder

• A mental disorder is “conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress or disability or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom.”

IN ADDITION,THE BEHAVIOR IS NOT TYPICAL OR CULTURALY EXPECTED.

DSM-IV definition of mental disorder

• “The syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for example, the death of a loved one.”

• “It must currently be considered a manifestation of a behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual.”

1. Psychological Dysfunction

Breakdown of one’s cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning

Sometimes, this is not “abnormal”

Depression over a death

1. DYSFUNCTION/MALADAPTIVENESSbehaviors that:

or indicate that the individual has: lost touch with reality or cannot control behavior or thoughts.

are physically damaging to the individual;

cause emotional suffering or harm;

interfere with the ability to function in daily life

1) MALADAPTIVE TO ONE'S SELF

and

2) MALADAPTIVE TO SOCIETY –.

- interferes with / disrupts social group functioning

1. MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR:

- inability to reach goals,

or

to adapt to the demands of life.

Abnormality/Psychopathology• What are behaviors that are maladaptive but not

deviant?• Over eating/obesity; smoking

• What are deviant behaviors that are not maladaptive?

• MTV (Tom Green); M. Manson (theatrical deviance)

• Behaviors that combine deviance and maladaptation = abnormality/psychopathology– C. Manson

1. DYSFUNCTION/MALADAPTIVENESSbehaviors that:

or indicate that the individual has: lost touch with reality or cannot control behavior or thoughts.

are physically damaging to the individual;

cause emotional suffering or harm;

interfere with the ability to function in daily life

1) MALADAPTIVE TO ONE'S SELF

and

2) MALADAPTIVE TO SOCIETY –.

- interferes with / disrupts social group functioning

1. MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR:

- inability to reach goals,

or

to adapt to the demands of life.

Abnormality/Psychopathology• What are behaviors that are maladaptive but not

deviant?• Over eating/obesity; smoking

• What are deviant behaviors that are not maladaptive?

• MTV (Tom Green); M. Manson (theatrical deviance)

• Behaviors that combine deviance and maladaptation = abnormality/psychopathology– C. Manson

2. DISTRESS

Some people argue that behavior is only abnormal if 1. the individual as a result of the behavior and 2.

Problems with the “subjective discomfort” criterion : people are not always aware of severe problems that their behavior may create for themselves or others . . .

Ex. a psychotic patient who hears voices from his dead mother that make him happy

Ex. sociopath – no guilt

DSM-IV - HOMOSEXUALITY – is a disorder only if person has subjective discomfort/distress

SUBJECTIVE DISCOMFORT

sufferswishes to change/eliminate it

2. DISTRESS

Some people argue that behavior is only abnormal if the individual suffers as a result of the

behavior and wishes to change/eliminate it.

Problems with the subjective discomfort criterion : people are not always aware of severe problems that their behavior may create for themselves or others . . .

Ex. a psychotic patient who hears voices from his dead mother that make him happy

Ex. sociopath – no guilt

DSM-IV - HOMOSEXUALITY – is a disorder only if person has subjective discomfort/distress

SUBJECTIVE DISCOMFORT

3. DEVIANCE

A. STATISTICAL DEVIANCE

B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE

3. DEVIANCE

A. Statistical Deviance

Rare/ infrequent behavior that deviates from the average/majority = ABNORMAL

Is the average the ideal?

TYPICAL OR USUAL = NORMAL

THE MORE INFREQUENTLY A BEHAVIOR OCCURS, THE MORE ABNORMAL IT IS CONSIDERED.

3. DEVIANCE

A. Statistical Deviance

Problem: not all deviant/uncommon behavior is abnormal

Ex. (genius/ talented)

3. DEVIANCE

B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE – DEVIANCE FROM

• Examples “abnormal behavior” – violating social norms:

Most of our behavior is shaped by norms = cultural expectations about the right and wrong way to do things.

Examples of norms: proper dress, how/what to eat, behavior on the first date, eye contact with strangers, student/instructor behavior Someone who frequently violates these unwritten rules is seen as abnormal.

NORMS

– Behavior that is harmful to oneself or others

– Inappropriate emotional reactions

– Erratic behavior

A. Statistical Deviance

3. DEVIANCE

B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE – DEVIANCE FROM

Deviance defined:a.behavior that violates important norms of the group (or society)

NORMS

b. the behavior must occur frequently e.g., if I show up at work once a year or drunk only once, chances are no one will call that deviant, but if I show up in that condition every day, then it is deviant

A. Sta Deviance tistical

• What's abnormal in one society may be perfectly normal ("norm consistent") in another.

--------------------------------------------------------------

1. Arapesh: Both males and females are mild, parental, and nurturing.

2. Mundugumar: Males and females are fierce, oppressive and cannibalistic.

3. Tchumbuli: Males are catty, wear curls and pretty clothes, love to go shopping. Females are energetic, managerial, unadorned.

eg: Sex and Temperament in New Guinea tribes Margaret Mead (1963):

Three tribes, each with very different norms

• 1. there are many streams. • even in a single society such as the U.S., there are a myriad of

subcultures.

• WHO SETS THE STANDARDS?

ex. Victorian era dress – exposure of flesh = abnormal

We are left with a single society where there are no clear norms that apply across all individuals. The term abnormality thus loses any firm referent

2. NORMS CHANGE through the years so what's normative in one generation, may not be in another.

B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE 3. DEVIANCE

Problems with this definition

3. WHO ADHERES TO ALL NORMS?

normality is the same as conformity to the mainstream,

B. SOCIAL DEVIANCE

4. labels all social reformers as abnormalProblems with this definition (cont.):

3. DEVIANCE

normality is the same as conformity to the mainstream,

The Elusive Nature of Abnormality

• In sum, while abnormality is generally defined as behavior that is (4 D’s):

3. DEVIANT

2. DISTRESSFUL

1. DYSFUNCTIONAL

4. DANGEROUS,

WHEN IS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR “ENOUGH” TO BE CONSIDERED ABNORMAL?

THESE CRITERIA OFTEN ARE VAGUE AND SUBJECTIVE

THOMAS SZASZ

• He argues that, because of the influence of• culture, the whole concept of mental illness is• Invalid.• Deviations called “abnormal” are only

“problems of living”

• Societies use the concept of mental illness to control those who threaten social order

MENTAL ILLNESS IS A MYTH

SHOULD WE LABEL BEHAVIOR AS ABNORMAL ?

POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES:

1. “EXPLANATION” PROVIDES RELIEF

2. IDENTIFIES EXISTENCE OF A PROBLEM FOR SOCIETY, INCREASING LIKELIHOOD OF RESEARCH

3. IDENTIFIES EXISTENCE OF PROBLEM FOR INDIVIDUAL, INCREASING PROBABILITY OF RECEIVING TREATMENT

SHOULD WE LABEL BEHAVIOR AS ABNORMAL?

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES:

1. STIGMATIZED WITH STEREOTYPES OF THE LABEL (BY OTHERS AND SELF )

2. INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF ISOLATION – SOCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY

3. POSSIBILITY OF ENFORCED TREATMENT

4. DISCOURAGES NOVEL OR UNCONVENTIONAL BEHAVIOR