How do we define

abnormality? Description and

Evaluation of two methods

On the sheets in front of you; What is abnormality?

What are some examples of abnormal behaviour

What are the characteristics of a normal person?

YOU HAVE 10 MINS BEFORE FEEDING BACK YOUR IDEAS

Ritual Ashura bloodletting is one of several ceremonies at Shi'ite sites across the world marking the death of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein at the 7th century battle of Kerbala, in which Shi'ite men hit the heads of boys with daggers, spilling blood onto Muslim streets.

From the research that I have engaged in for some time ever since we were assigned, I have discovered that there is no gene that is said to produce [homosexuality] as claimed by some people," he said..."In one study [it is] revealed that actually 50 per cent of the homosexuals revert to heterosexuality if rehabilitated in time. This, in itself, reveals a behavioural aspect," he told us.

The Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, allowed local authorities to certify and institutionalise unmarried, pregnant women who were deemed ‘defective’. ‘Mental defect’ was believed by some to have caused the women’s ‘immorality’

The Aghori Babas, who live in the city of Varanasi, India, are famous for eating the dead. They believe that the greatest fear human beings have is the fear of their own deaths, and that this fear is a barrier to spiritual enlightenment. So by confronting it, one can achieve enlightenment.

The legal age of consent in Japan is 13

Social norms

• What are social norms?• How do we feel when

people break social norms?

The social norms definition of abnormality

• A person's thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the (unwritten) rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group.

• Their behaviour may be incomprehensible to others or make others feel threatened or uncomfortable. Social behaviour varies markedly when different cultures are compared. For example, it is common in Southern Europe to stand much closer to strangers than in the UK. 

• With this definition, it is necessary to consider: (i) The degree to which a norm is violated, the importance of that norm and the value attached by the social group to different sorts of violation. (ii) E.g. is the violation rude, eccentric, abnormal or criminal?

Statistical Infrequency• Under this definition of abnormality, a person's trait,

thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual.

• With this definition it is necessary to be clear about how rare a trait or behaviour needs to be before we class it as abnormal

• For instance one may say that an individual who has an IQ below or above the average level of IQ in society is abnormal.

• However this definition obviously has limitations, it fails to recognize the desirability of the particular behaviour as well as behaviours that would be classed within the normal range

A curve of normal distribution

How should we define abnormality

• Create a pro’s and con’s list for both definitions. Based upon this what do you think is the best way to define abnormality and why?

• You will be asked for your responses.