How do we define what is considered abnormal behavior?
In short: In clinical psychology, there is no single rule for identifying mental health issues. This video explores the four primary frameworks used to distinguish abnormal behavior from the norm.
Psychologists use different lenses to define abnormality, starting with social norms and statistical infrequency. The first looks at whether a behavior deviates from what a specific society considers acceptable. The second uses data to identify behaviors that occur rarely within a population.
The video also examines functional and idealistic perspectives. This includes 'failure to function,' where an individual cannot perform daily tasks, and 'deviation from ideal mental health,' which measures how far a person falls from a state of optimal psychological well-being.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Definitions of Abnormality - Clinical Psychology and Mental Health [A-Level Psychology]
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