PSYC 3550 Chapter Notes -Abnormal Psychology, Biogenic Substance, Social Forces
Document Summary
Abnormal (p4) behavior defined by norm violation, statistical rarity, personal. Norm violation (p4) going against a set of norms" that society has set. Disadvantage it enthrones conformity as the ideal pattern of behavior and thereby stigmatizes the nonconformist. Statistical rarity (p5) abnormality is any substantial deviation from a statistically calculated average. One has only to measure the person"s performance against the average performance if it falls outside of the average range, it is abnormal. It lacks any system for differentiating between desirable and undesirable behaviors. Personal discomfort (p6) if a person is distressed over their thoughts or behaviors, then they may require treatment. It makes people judges of their own normality, rather than subjecting them to the judgment of the society or the diagnostician. Disadvantage it gives us no standard for evaluating the behavior itself. Deviation from an ideal (p6) behavior deviating from the ideal". Disadvantage a person who falls short of an ideal does not necessarily merit the label.