Individual Differences RE: Statistical Infrequency

Statistical Infrequency

Based on how frequently a behaviour occurs.
Abnormality is defined as behaving in ways the majority do not behave in, or not behaving in ways the majority do behave in.

Abnormal if:

-         Most people do not behave in a certain way but you do behave in that way. (your behaviour is the minority)

e.g.  Homosexual behaviour
        Cannibalistic behaviour

-  Most people behave in a certain way but you do not behave in that way (your behaviour is the minority)

e.g. Wearing clothes to go shopping
        Washing on a regular basis

Limitations:

-         It fails to take into account the social desirability of minority behaviours or characteristics (There are many statistically infrequent behaviours which we value)

-         There are some behaviours which are statistically frequent, but are either socially undesirable, and/or are actually classified as mental disorders

-         The cut-off point for deciding when a behaviour is infrequent enough for us to call it ‘abnormal’ are purely arbitrary (not determined)

-         The statistical frequency of a behaviour can differ between cultures, so this definition is ‘bound by culture’

-         Cultural Relativism – No one culture has the right to tell another culture how they should behave, or what abnormality is

-         The statistical frequency of a behaviour can also differ within cultures, as well as between cultures.