Define Abnormality Definitions

The poster is going to outline the definition of abnormality and describe two diagnostic classification systems whilst referencing the diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia and an overlook of its subtype catatonic schizophrenia.

“Abnormality is very difficult to define. It can be hard to decide where normal behaviour ends and abnormal behaviour begins”

“A psychological disorder is a condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, defining what is "normal" and "abnormal" is a subject of much debate.”

Abnormality can be hard to define as different people see it in a variety of ways. In this essay, we are going to be focusing on 2 main aspects of the definition towards the topic, “Failure to function adequately” and “Deviation from social norms”.

Abnormal is something deviating from what is normal or usual, typical in a way that is uncommon or irregular.

From my perspective, it is hard to define being abnormal. Above all, the judgments of whether an individual is abnormal or normal depend on the specific culture. What seems to be unusual in one culture might be normal in another culture. Therefore, the first criterion of abnormality is that an individual’s behavior or thinking pattern is against the social norms and the values of the culture he/she belongs to. The second criterion of abnormality is that one’s daily functioning may be disrupted and it puts one at the risk of self-harming and harming others. Personally, the concept of abnormality is based on the comparison with the majority of the society. If a person is very different from most of the people and behave not aligned with the social

A way psychology and science have developed a term on what is considered to be normal and not normal is due to observing occurring behavior. Another way is to see an act that is not seen as part of society’s standards, also known as against the norms. There are many known disorders, one being Dissociative Disorders to be exact. Dissociative disorders “involve a break, or dissociation, in consciousness, memory, or a person’s sense of identity” (Ciccarelli & White, 2012, p.553). It’s a “split” in your life that happens, like whenever someone goes to the kitchen to get something and then forgets what they were going to get. The only difference is that these associations are involuntary.

There are several models of abnormality in use today (Comer, 2009) lists “The Biological Model…”, “The Psychodynamic Model…”, The Behavioral Model…”, The Cognitive Model…”, The Humanistic-Existential Model…”, The Sociocultural Model…” (p.33). The biggest contrasts would be the Biological model, and the other models. Comparing the biological model, and the cognitive model will highlight those differences.

Abnormal behavior is defined as a psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and response that is not typical or culturally expected (Durand, 2005). There are

At best, objective determination of normal/abnormal behavior is through diagnostic systems, one of which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also called DSM. Published

In all aspects of the lives we live, normal can not ever be defined as a single idea. If normal is such a thing at all, it is a subjective opinion and can only be defined on an individual level. Everything we interpret is relative to our upbringing and our environment. Not one person had the same upbringing or lived in the same environment as another person for even siblings who have lived together their whole lives have different nurturing experiences. The differentiation between normal and abnormal is a topic of much debate. The meaning of normality varies in many ways such as by person, time, place, situation, culture and set of values. Normality is usually seen as good and desirable by society and what society thinks while abnormality may be seen as bad or undesirable (Boundless).

Chapter 3 During the Middle Ages some “authorities” classified abnormal behaviors into two groups, those that resulted from demonic possession and those due to natural causes. The 19th-century German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin was the first modern theorist to develop a comprehensive model of classification based on the distinctive features, or symptoms, associated with abnormal behavior patterns (see Chapter 1). The most commonly used classification system today is largely an outgrowth and extension of Kraepelin’s work: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Why is it important to classify abnormal behavior? For one thing, classification is the core of science. Without labeling and organizing patterns of abnormal behavior, researchers could not communicate their findings to one another, and progress toward understanding these disorders would come to a halt. Moreover, important decisions are made on the basis of classification. Certain psychological disorders respond better to one therapy than another or to one drug than another.

Psychologists have tried to define abnormality in several different ways by using the following definitions:

Abnormal behavior relates to the influence of psychological factors, biological factors as well as the social factors referring to inadequate relationships. In the face of diverse definition, abnormal behavior refers to the deviating from norm, which norm is the typical behavior or characteristic of the population. As such, Jim behavior is abnormal because it violates moral and conventional mores of the society (Violates societal standards), as such causing social discomfort to others. For instance, Jim fails to recognize the social cues in conversation thereby annoying other interlocutors. Jim is this case is behaving in a manner counterproductive to his own well being by

Abnormal behavior in one society appears normal in the other society (Nairne, 426). Deviance is weighed by the society’s reactions to the particular behavior, also it is measured by the society’s way of life so that it defines the unwelcoming behavior. It ignores the social order and some organizations believe, the reality in society.