What are the limitations of statistical infrequency?

Problems with the statistical infrequency approach First of all, this definition fails to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour. It is only concerned with the frequency of it. For example, a high IQ is just as statistically abnormal as a very low one, but may well be regarded as highly desirable.

What is an example of statistical infrequency?

Statistical Infrequency Under this definition of abnormality, a person’s trait, thinking or behavior is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual. For instance, one may say that an individual who has an IQ below or above the average level of IQ in society is abnormal.

What is the limitation of statistical abnormality definitions?

Limitations of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality. This definition fails to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour. For example, obesity is a statistically normal but not associated with healthy or desirable.

What is a criticism of statistical deviation?

Disadvantages. Unusual characteristics can be positive – someone who has a higher IQ than average is not seen to be abnormal and in need of treatment.

What is failure to function?

‘Failure to function’ refers to a person who is unable to cope with the demands of everyday life. It involves them being unable to perform necessary day-to-day tasks such as: self-care, holding down a job, interacting meaningfully with others, and making themselves understood.

What is subjective discomfort?

Subjective Discomfort: Feelings of discomfort, unhappiness, or emotional distress. Statistical Abnormality: Having extreme scores on some dimension, such as intelligence, anxiety, or depression.

What is a strength of statistical infrequency?

Strengths: (1) POINT: A strength of the Statistical Infrequency definition of abnormality is that offers the prospect of clear guidelines for identifying behaviours as normal and abnormal. EVIDENCE: For example, cultures differ in terms of what they consider normal behaviour.

What does statistical infrequency suggest?

Statistical Infrequency is a definition of abnormality. According to this definition, a behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is statistically uncommon, or not seen very often in society.

Is statistical infrequency an objective?

Objective: The mathematical nature of this definition means that it is clear what is defined as abnormal and what is not. There is no opinion involved which means there is no bias.

What are the problems with failure to function adequately?

Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) have suggested the following characteristics that define failure to function adequately: Suffering. Maladaptiveness (danger to self) Vividness and unconventionality (stands out)

What is statistically deviant?

Statistical deviance is behavior that does not follow the norms upheld by a majority of people in a given situation. For example, if 90 percent of high school students approve of drinking beer at parties, then the few students who abstain from drinking would be regarded as deviants by their peers.

What is the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality?

(1) POINT: A strength of the Statistical Infrequency definition of abnormality is that offers the prospect of clear guidelines for identifying behaviours as normal and abnormal.

What are the limitations of statistical frequency?

Statistical Infrequency Outline (A01) Weaknesses (Limitations) By definition abnormality means deviating from the norm or average. Statistically infrequent behaviour is regarded as abnormal, whereas frequent behaviour is normal.

How do you judge whether the behaviour is statistically frequent of infrequent?

The judgement of whether the behaviour is statistically frequent of infrequent is based on the mathematical principal of the normal distribution. It so happens that when measured and plotted on a graph, most human characteristics fall within normal distribution. The majority of characteristics would cluster around the middle of the graph.

What are the strengths of the definition of abnormality?

Strengths of the definition. Intuitive: The idea that abnormality is when something does not occur, as stated by this definition, often is an accepted definition for the word and makes sense. Objective: The mathematical nature of this definition means that it is clear what is defined as abnormal and what is not.