Abnormality Essay Discuss Two or More Definitions free essay sample

Abnormality is very difficult to define. It can be hard to decide where normal behavior ends and abnormal behavior begins Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality AI = 6 marks Knowledge and understanding of definitions of abnormality. AAA = 6 marks Commentary on definitions of abnormality. The term abnormal means deviating from the average. Therefore, If we were to adopt a literal approach to defining abnormality, we would conclude that any rare behavior or ability was abnormal.This, however, is not a useful way of defining abnormality as it doesnt take Into account whether or not the behavior is desirable. There are three ways of defining abnormality; deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately and deviation from ideal mental health. Deviation from Ideal Mental Health focuses on what is normal as opposed to what is abnormal by deciding what normality is, anything that doesnt satisfy this idea of normal must therefore be abnormality, Jihad 1958 spoke about normality as being a positive state of mental health. According to Jihad several conditions should be met in order to satisfy what she calls optimal living. The conditions for optimal living are as follows; a positive view of self (meaning the person must have a feeling of self worth and a reasonable extent of self esteems actualization (meaning the person must become the best they can, autonomy (the person must show a level of Independence), accurate view of reality (their view must not be distorted e. G. They must not think that everyones untrustworthy and everyone is watching them), environmental adaptability (the arson must be able to adapt their behavior to different environments e. . Certain behavior Is appropriate for weddings but not for funerals) and finally resistance to stress (the person must be able to deal with the stresses of everyday life. ) Strengths of this explanation include the fact that it is a positive explanation of the definition of abnormality, focusing on whats desirable rather than undesirable. All thats required to see If a person Is mentally healthy is if they fulfill the defined criteria, making It easier to define mental health as there is a set of conditions to be satisfied.However, this definition assumes that the absence of one of these conditions implies abnormality. In reality a number of the criteria are quite difficult to achieve e. G. actualization Is reached by only a few people In life. If this definition Is applied most people would be deemed as abnormal. Also It Is not always clear what some of the conditions mean in practice e. G. Accurate view of reality. Its not certain what this refers to given that reality is a product of each individuals mind. For example, a soldier In Afghanistan would have a different reality to that of an accountant in London.The definition of what Is mentally healthy varies across cultures. The categories of ideal mental health cannot be generalized to all cultures. Some of the 1 OFF for example theres an emphasis on autonomy which is a particularly western idea. Some cultures place a great deal of emphasis on collective responsibility. Deviation from social norms is behavior that violates implicit and explicit rules and moral standards of a given society. For example; pedophilia and sexual exhibitionism violates moral standards concerning sexual behavior in British society.Norms are unwritten rules created by society to guide behavior. They tell us which behaviors are expected and acceptable and they provide us with some sense of order in society. They are learnt through solicitation, that is, we pick them up from others around us during childhood. Deviation from social norms can be a useful way to identify mental problems. We learn what to expect from individuals, and if heir behavior drastically deviates from this we become concerned on their behalf.For example, people with clinical depression are often unable to motivate themselves to seek assistance and therefore depend on others to summon help. The strengths of this explanation are that the model distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behavior. The social deviancy model also takes into account the effect behavior has on others. Deviances is defined in transgression of social rules and ideally social rules are established in order to help people live together. Behavior that is deviant is socially unacceptable for the rest of us.This way of defining the abnormality takes account of the greater good of society. According to this definition abnormal behavior is behavior that damages others. On the other hand, the weaknesses are that societies change over time and so therefore do their norms; because of this we cannot use opinions held in the past to Judge a behavior as deviant. It must be based on present day thinking. For example; in the sass homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder in the diagnostic and statistical annual (the ADSM is the main classification and diagnosis system for mental illness used in the USA.Homosexuality between consenting adults over 18 is now legal and would not be considered abnormal. Also norms must be considered in context, dress codes give us a good example of this. In the eighteenth century it would have been considered normal for men to wear elaborate wigs, by the twentieth century the habit had completely gone. Furthermore breaking social norms s not necessarily a bad thing, it can stimulate positive social change such as the abolition of slavery.