Abnormal psychology

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
• deviation from social and cultural norms.

Discussion may include, but is not limited to:
• cross-cultural issues
• gender biases
• supporting or contradicting evidence
• the issue of labelling
• changing norms on perceptions of 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”
• Bolton (1999) – cultural issues in overdiagnosis.

Although studies illustrating difficulty in diagnosis (eg Rosenhan) may be marginally relevant to the question, the response must be focused on the broader issue of normality versus abnormality in order to be awarded the full range of marks.

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.