STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
Statistical Infrequency is a way to define what's considered not normal based on how common or rare behaviour is in society. If very few people do something, it's seen as abnormal according to this definition.
Statistical infrequency is approached from the premise that behaviours or characteristics significantly rare within a population are considered abnormal. Initially, this concept might be understood by envisioning a scenario where, in a group setting, an action or trait exhibited by only a few individuals stands out from the norm. For example, in a gathering where the majority are dressed casually, an individual wearing formal attire could be seen as statistically infrequent, thus deviating from the common pattern.
Expanding this into a more academic explanation, statistical infrequency employs quantitative measures to define abnormality. By collecting data on various human behaviours and characteristics, statisticians can depict how these are distributed across a general population. Compiling this data creates a normal distribution curve, visually encapsulating various behaviours' frequency.
The curve highlights that while most individuals' behaviours cluster around the central, most common range, there are outliers. These outliers, positioned more than two standard deviations from the mean on either end of the distribution curve, are categorized as statistically infrequent. Consequently, their behaviours or traits are marked as abnormal. This method quantifies abnormality, distinguishing it through statistical rarity rather than a qualitative behaviour assessment.
EVALUATION
*For AQA psychology students, mastering the four definitions of abnormality is essential. However, it's important to recognize that none alone would constitute a complete essay, particularly those worth 16 marks; it's unlikely that a question would focus exclusively on one definition. Instead, broader essay prompts such as “Discuss definitions of abnormality” are designed to encourage students to explore multiple definitions. This approach allows for a fuller essay response and enables students to compare and contrast the different perspectives on abnormality, providing a comprehensive overview. Preparing for these kinds of questions by understanding the strengths and limitations of each definition can help students develop well-rounded and detailed answers.
ADVANTAGES
The statistical infrequency definition of abnormality offers a clear, objective criterion for identifying abnormality by establishing a norm based on collected data and a predefined threshold. This method allows for a straightforward determination of who falls outside what is considered normal.
Statistical infrequency offers several advantages as a measure of abnormality:
Objective Criteria: It provides an objective and quantitative method for identifying what is abnormal by setting clear numerical thresholds. This can help create standardized diagnoses and treatments.
Easy Identification: Professionals can easily identify outliers by comparing an individual's behaviour or characteristic against a statistically normal range. This can be particularly useful in clinical settings for diagnosing conditions that deviate significantly from the norm.
Facilitates Research: Statistical measures enable researchers to study the prevalence and distribution of psychological conditions within populations, aiding in identifying risk factors and developing interventions.
Helps in Resource Allocation: By understanding the frequency of certain behaviours or conditions, policymakers and healthcare providers can better allocate resources to those needing support and intervention.
Foundation for Further Assessment: While statistical infrequency may not provide a complete picture, it can be a valuable starting point for further, more detailed assessments using other abnormality measures.
These advantages highlight the usefulness of statistical infrequency in understanding and managing psychological abnormalities, particularly in providing a clear initial benchmark for identifying when further evaluation and intervention may be necessary.
Moreover, statistical measures to define abnormality are particularly effective in contexts such as assessing intellectual capabilities. For instance, intellectual disability is often identified by comparing an individual's IQ score to the normative data. If a person's IQ falls more than two standard deviations below the mean average of the population, it might indicate a mental disorder. However, it's important to note that relying solely on statistical infrequency could be limiting. A more comprehensive understanding of abnormality often involves integrating statistical criteria with other considerations, such as the individual's ability to function adequately. Combining these approaches helps to provide a more nuanced view of what constitutes abnormal behaviour.
DISADVANTAGES
Using statistical infrequency as a measure of abnormality has several disadvantages:.
Ignores Subjective Distress: This approach does not account for the individual's subjective experience or distress. A person could function at a statistically abnormal level but not experience any personal problems or distress.
Stigmatisation: Labeling someone as abnormal based solely on statistical rarity can contribute to stigma and discrimination, especially if the behaviour or characteristic is not harmful or distressing to the individual or others
Arbitrary Cut-offs: Statistical infrequency provides an objective measure of abnormality. Once a way of collecting data on behaviour/characteristics and a cut-off point is agreed upon, this provides an objective way of deciding who is abnormal. However, a weakness here is that Deciding where behaviour or characteristic becomes abnormal is subjective and arbitrary. This can lead to disagreements among professionals about what constitutes abnormality. Is that the cut-off point is subjectively determined as we need to decide where to separate normal behaviour from abnormal behaviour, and again, this blurs the line in some cases. For example, one trait for diagnosing depression may be sleep difficulty, but sleep patterns may vary considerably, and someone who functions perfectly adequately may be classed as depressed. Elderly people generally sleep less due to changing sleep cycles and could technically fall under this label incorrectly.
Lacks Context: Statistical infrequency does not consider the behaviour's context or quality. For example, being a genius is statistically rare but not considered undesirable or a disorder. For instance, while individuals with exceptionally high IQs fall outside the average range, labelling such statistical outliers as having a mental disorder seems impractical and misleading. This raises the question of consistency and the arbitrary nature of determining when statistical rarity constitutes abnormality. Critics argue that while individuals with high IQs, or geniuses, typically don't face difficulties in daily functioning, those significantly below the norm might struggle with everyday tasks, highlighting a need for nuanced criteria. Therefore, it suggests that statistical infrequency should not be the sole method for defining abnormality but rather be used with other measures, such as the ability to function adequately. This combination allows for a more comprehensive and fair assessment of what constitutes abnormal behaviour, taking into account both statistical deviation and the impact on an individual's life.
Cultural Bias: What is considered statistically normal can vary greatly between cultures. It primarily reflects the norms of Western cultures, where much behavioural research is conducted, leading to potential misdiagnosis or cultural insensitivity. This method overlooks the diversity of cultural norms and values, potentially mislabeling behaviours in one culture as abnormal in another simply due to their rarity in the assessing culture.
Changes Over Time: Societal norms and what is considered statistically normal can change. Behaviors once considered abnormal may become more accepted, making the measure potentially outdated. Societal norms and behaviours evolve; once deemed rare or abnormal, practices can become commonplace, and vice versa. Thus, reliance on statistical norms to define abnormality could inadvertently anchor these assessments to a specific era, making them potentially obsolete as societal behaviours shift. This highlights the critical need for cultural sensitivity and the acknowledgement of temporal changes in defining what constitutes abnormal behaviour.
