Difficulties in defining abnormal behaviour
There many definitions which have been put forward to define abnormal behaviour but none of them is satisfactory. Generally, norm is the typical characteristics of a population and therefore every population has its own ways of defining norm. There are four ways that the psychological theorists define abnormal behaviour; statistically, culturally, psychological adequacy and in categorising symptoms. Definition of abnormal behaviour varies with different scholars, fields, communities and the challenge is finding a single common definition.
Statistical abnormality
This includes any act that is distinctively different from the norm. Given that there two extreme ends that is very high and very low, the average scores is considered whereas significantly high and low scores are considered abnormal statistically.
Cultural abnormality
Every culture has its own norms which dictate how an individual should dress in public, socialising, raising up children among other personal responsibilities. Behaviour is therefore considered abnormal if it deviates from what the culture of a particular community dictates. In certain cultures certain code of dressing are not accepted whereas in other cultures such dressing codes are unacceptable making it further difficult to define abnormal behaviour.
Psychological Inadequacy
While defining abnormal behaviour in terms of psychological inadequacies there are two points of views that is adequacy as a value and practical adequacy. First a person’s behaviour is considered abnormal if it is unhealthy according to adequacy as a value. This poses another challenge given that different professionals, theorists and scientists have different definitions of health. What is believed to be healthy in one area or field may be considered healthy in another. Secondly, according to practical adequacy, a person’s behaviour is considered abnormal if that person is able to set and achieve his or her own goals. In conclusion it is evident that defining abnormal behaviour is a difficult task basing on the above raised different points of view.
Reference
Hansell, James, and Lisa Damour. Abnormal Psychology Core Concepts. Princeton, N.J: Films for the Humanities, 2005.
Butcher, James N, Susan Mineka, and Jim M. Hooley. Psychology: The Pearson Custom Library. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2011. Print.
