Psychopathology - Abnormality Defined

Abnormality can be defined as a failure to function adequately. This means that anyone who is suffering and unable to function on a daily basis is labelled as abnormal.”

Psychologists will assess individuals using the DSM-IV and will also assess the different levels of functioning as indicated by the Global Assessment of Functioning. It is apparent that individuals can function at different levels within society, if a person is identified as ‘abnormal’ to others but it not at risk of harming themselves or others and is able to function within society then no intervention is required.

However, psychological research conducted by Rosenman & Seligman suggests that there are 7 characteristics indicating abnormality as a failure to function adequately. They are: Suffering, Maladaptiveness, Unconventionality of behaviour, Unpredictability, Irrationality and incomprehensibility, Observer discomfort, and Violation of moral standards.

​Limitations:

• Definition is not the whole picture: It does not really define abnormality, it just determines the extent of a persons problems and the likelihood of them needing professional help.
• There are exceptions to the rule: sometimes people behave uncharacteristically or inadequately, but this does not make them abnormal. Therefore this definition cannot be accurately applied to all individuals.
• The direction of causality may be different: the inability to cope with life might be the cause of a mental disorder, not always a symptom of one.

Abnormality can be defined as a deviation from ideal mental health. This means that psychologists consider the characteristics of mental health, rather than mentalillness. According to this definition, people should ‘meet’ certain criteria to be considered normal'.

Marie Jahoda proposed six characteristics that are associated with optimal living & ‘ideal mental health’. Therefore, anyone who deviates from this is ‘abnormal’.

This definition of abnormality included the following criteria;

• self-actualisation,
• positive attitude towards the self,
• resistance to stress,
• personal autonomy,
• accurate perception of reality,
• adapting to (& mastery of) the environment.

Any individual who does not meet these criteria of ideal mental health is considered abnormal under this definition of abnormality.
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Limitations:

• To meet all 6 criteria is quite demanding, and therefore most people will fall short of ‘ideal mental health’. For example, it is difficult to ‘self-actualize’ as very few people meet their full potential in life. This is a problem because the majority of people in society would be inaccurately identified as abnormal if this definition is applied.
• Also, the definition suggests that with Ideal mental health, a person should be able to resist stress, but there are possible benefits to stress, as some people work better under moderate stress. Therefore people may be wrongly labelled as abnormal due to the way they manage their sources of stress.
• There are cultural issues with this definition as Jahoda’s ideas are based on Western ideals evident in some cultures but not others. This is a problem because it means that the definition cannot be applied to all cultures as people may be incorrecty labelled as abnormal.