Discuss concepts of normality and abnormality.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review that includes various concepts of normality and abnormality.

Concepts of normality and abnormality may include, but are not limited to:

• the mental health criterion/model
• the statistical criterion/model
• abnormality as mental illness (medical model)
• the psychoanalytic explanation of the concept of abnormality
• the cognitive explanation of the concept of abnormality.

Discussion may include, but is not limited to:

• cross-cultural issues
• gender biases
• supporting or contradicting evidence
• the issue of labelling
• historical perspectives on changing norms on normality (for example, changing views on homosexuality or political dissent)
• difficulties in defining normality/abnormality
• difficulties in diagnosing normality/abnormality.

Relevant research may include, but is not limited to:

• Rosenhan and Seligman (1984) – seven criteria of abnormality
• Jahoda (1958) – six characteristics of mental health
• Szasz (1962) – mental disorders as “problems in living”.

Candidates may discuss a small number of explanations of normality and abnormality in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss a larger number of explanations of normality and abnormality in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.