12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology?

Definition and Examples

Psychology » Clinical Psychology

How Psychologists Search

Define And Study SUBSCRIBE

Abnormal Psychology
By Saul McLeod, PhD Updated on November 9, 2023
Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that studies,

diagnoses, and treats unusual patterns of behavior, emotions,
and thoughts that could signify a mental disorder.

Abnormal psychology studies people who are “abnormal” or

“atypical” compared to the members of a given society.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 1/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Remember, “abnormal” in this context does not necessarily

imply “negative” or “bad.” It is a term used to describe
behaviors and mental processes that significantly deviate from
statistical or societal norms.

Abnormal psychology research is pivotal for understanding and

managing mental health issues, developing treatments, and
promoting mental health awareness.

Defining Abnormality
The definition of the word abnormal is simple enough, but
applying this to psychology poses a complex problem:

What is normal? Whose norm? For what age? For what culture?

The concept of abnormality is imprecise and difficult to define.

Examples of abnormality can take many different forms and
involve different features, so that, what at first sight seem quite
reasonable definitions, turns out to be quite problematic.

There are several different ways in which it is possible to define

‘abnormal’ as opposed to our ideas of what is ‘normal.’

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 2/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

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.

With this definition, it is necessary to be clear about how rare a

trait or behavior needs to be before we class it as abnormal. For
instance, one may say that an individual who has an IQ below
or above the average level of IQ in society is abnormal.

Strength

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 3/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

The statistical approach helps to address what is meant by

normal in a statistical context. It helps us make cut–off points
in terms of diagnosis.

Limitations

However, this definition fails to distinguish between desirable

and undesirable behavior. For example, obesity is statistically
normal but not associated with healthy or desirable.
Conversely, a high IQ is statistically abnormal but may well be
regarded as highly desirable.

Subscribe to Simply
Psychology
Get updates on the latest posts and
more straight to your inbox.

Your Email... SUBSCRIBE

I consent to receiving emails and personalized

ads.

Many rare behaviors or characteristics (e.g., left-handedness)

have no bearing on normality or abnormality. Some
characteristics are regarded as abnormal even though they are
quite frequent.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 4/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Depression may affect 27% of elderly people (NIMH, 2001).

This would make it common, but that does not mean it isn’t a
problem.

The decision of where to start the “abnormal” classification is

arbitrary. Who decides what is statistically rare, and how do
they decide? For example, if an IQ of 70 is the cut-off point,
how can we justify saying someone with 69 is abnormal, and
someone with 70 is normal?

This definition also implies that abnormal behavior in people

should be rare or statistically unusual, which is not the case.

Instead, any specific abnormal behavior may be unusual, but it

is not unusual for people to exhibit some form of prolonged
abnormal behavior at some point in their lives, and mental
disorders such as depression are very statistically common.

Violation of Social Norms

Violation of social norms is a definition of abnormality where a

person’s thinking or behavior is classified as abnormal if it
violates the (unwritten) rules about what is expected or
acceptable behavior in a particular social group. Their behavior

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 5/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

may be incomprehensible to others or make others feel

threatened or uncomfortable.

Every culture has certain standards for acceptable behavior or

socially acceptable norms.

Norms are expected ways of behaving in a society according to

the majority, and those members of a society who do not think
and behave like everyone else break these norms and are often
defined as abnormal.

With this definition, it is necessary to consider the degree to

which a norm is violated, the importance of that norm, and the
value attached by the social group to different sorts of
violations, e.g., is the violation rude, eccentric, abnormal, or
criminal?

There are a number of influences on social norms that need to

be taken into account when considering the definition of the
social norm:

Culture Different cultures and subcultures are going

to have different social norms.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 6/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

For example, it is common in Southern

Europe to stand much closer to strangers than
in the UK. Voice pitch and volume, touching,
the direction of gaze, and acceptable subjects
for discussion have all been found to vary
between cultures.

At any one time, a type of behavior might be

considered normal, whereas, at another time,
the same behavior could be abnormal,
depending on both context and situation.
Context
For example, wearing a chicken suit in the
and
street for a charity event would seem normal,
Situation
but wearing a chicken suit for everyday
activities, such as shopping or going to
church, would be socially abnormal.

Historical Time must also be taken into account, as what

Context is considered abnormal at one time in one
culture may be normal at another time, even
in the same culture.
For example, one hundred years ago, a
pregnancy outside of marriage was

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 7/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

considered a sign of mental illness, and some

women were institutionalized, whereas now
this is not the case

Different people can behave in the same way,

and some will be normal and others
abnormal, depending on age and gender (and
sometimes other factors).
Age and
For example, a man wearing a dress and high
Gender
heels may be considered socially abnormal as
society would not expect it, whereas this is
expected of women

With this definition, it is necessary to consider the

following:

1. The degree to which a norm is violated,

2. The importance of that norm,

3. The value attached by the social group to different sorts of

violations, e.g., is the violation rude, eccentric, abnormal, or

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 8/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

criminal?

Limitations

The most obvious problem with defining abnormality using

social norms is that there is no universal agreement
over social norms.

Social norms are culturally specific – they can differ

significantly from one generation to the next and between
different ethnic, regional, and socio-economic groups.

In some societies, such as the Zulu, for example, hallucinations

and screaming in the street are regarded as normal behavior.

Social norms also exist within a time frame and therefore

change over time. Behavior that was once seen as abnormal
may, given time, become acceptable and vice versa.

For example, drunk driving was once considered acceptable but

is now seen as socially unacceptable, whereas homosexuality
has gone the other way.

Until 1980 homosexuality was considered a psychological

disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO), but today is

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 9/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

socially acceptable.

Social norms can also depend on the situation or context we

find ourselves in. Is it normal to eat parts of a dead body?

In 1972 a rugby team who survived a plane crash in the snow-

capped Andes of South America found themselves without food
and in sub-freezing temperatures for 72 days. To survive, they
ate the bodies of those who had died in the crash.

Failure to Function Adequately

Failure to function adequately is a definition of abnormality

where a person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope
with the demands of everyday life, or experience personal
distress.

They may be unable to perform the behaviors necessary for

day-to-day living, e.g., self-care, holding down a job, interacting
meaningfully with others, making themselves understood, etc.

Rosenhan & Seligman (1989) suggest the following

characteristics that define failure to function adequately:

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 10/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Suffering

Maladaptiveness (danger to self)

Vividness & unconventionality (stands out)

Unpredictably & a loss of control

Irrationality/incomprehensibility

Causes observer discomfort

Violates moral/social standards

Limitations

One limitation of this definition is that apparently abnormal

behavior may actually be helpful, functional, and adaptive for
the individual.

For example, a person who has the obsessive-compulsive

disorder of hand-washing may find that the behavior makes
him cheerful, happy, and better able to cope with his day.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 11/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Many people engage in behavior that is maladaptive/harmful or

threatening to self, but we don’t class them as abnormal:

Adrenaline sports

Smoking, drinking alcohol

Skipping classes

Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Abnormality can be defined as a deviation from ideal mental

health.

This means that rather than defining what is abnormal,

psychologists define what normal/ideal mental health is, and
anything that deviates from this is regarded as abnormal.

This requires us to decide on the characteristics we consider

necessary for mental health. Jahoda (1958) defined six criteria
by which mental health could be measured:

A positive view of the self

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 12/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Capability for growth and development

Autonomy and independence

Accurate perception of reality

Positive friendships and relationships

Environmental mastery – able to meet the varying demands

of day-to-day situations

Subscribe to Simply
Psychology
Get updates on the latest posts and
more straight to your inbox.

Your Email... SUBSCRIBE

I consent to receiving emails and personalized

ads.

According to this approach, the more satisfied these criteria are,

the healthier the individual is.

Limitations

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 13/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

It is practically impossible for any individual to achieve all of

the ideal characteristics all of the time. For example, a person
might not be the ‘master of his environment’ but be happy with
his situation.

The absence of this criterion of ideal mental health hardly

indicates he is suffering from a mental disorder.

Ethnocentric

Ethnocentrism, in the context of psychology, refers to the

tendency to view one’s own culture or ethnic group as the
standard or norm, and to judge other cultures, values,
behaviors, and beliefs based on those norms. I

White, middle-class men devise most definitions of

psychological abnormality. It has been suggested that this may
lead to disproportionate numbers of people from certain groups
being diagnosed as “abnormal.”

For example, in the UK, depression is more commonly

identified in women, and black people are more likely than
their white counterparts to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 14/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Similarly, working-class people are more likely to be diagnosed

with a mental illness than those from non-manual
backgrounds.

Models Of Abnormality

Behavioral Model of Abnormality

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 15/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Behaviorists believe that our actions are determined largely by

the experiences we have in life rather than by the underlying
pathology of unconscious forces.

Abnormality is therefore seen as the development of behavior

patterns that are considered maladaptive (i.e., harmful) for the
individual.

Behaviorism states that all behavior (including abnormal) is

learned from the environment (nurture) and that all behavior
that has been learned can also be ‘unlearnt’ (which is how
abnormal behavior is treated).

The behavioral approach emphasizes the environment and how

abnormal behavior is acquired through classical conditioning,
operant conditioning, and social learning.

Classical conditioning has been said to account for the

development of phobias. The feared object (e.g., spider or rat) is
associated with fear or anxiety sometime in the past. The
conditioned stimulus subsequently evokes a powerful fear
response characterized by avoidance of the feared object and
the emotion of fear whenever the object is encountered.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 16/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Learning environments can reinforce (re: operant conditioning)

problematic behaviors. E.g., an individual may be rewarded for
having panic attacks by receiving attention from family and
friends – this would lead to the behavior being reinforced and
increasing in later life.

Our society can also provide deviant maladaptive models that

children identify with and imitate (re: social learning theory).

Cognitive Perspective of Mental Health Behavior

The cognitive approach assumes that a person’s thoughts are

responsible for their behavior. The model deals with how
information is processed in the brain and the impact of this on
behavior.

The basic assumptions are:

Maladaptive behavior is caused by faulty and irrational

cognitions.

It is the way you think about a problem rather than the

problem itself that causes mental disorders.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 17/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Individuals can overcome mental disorders by learning to use

more appropriate cognitions.

The individual is an active processor of information.

How a person perceives, anticipates, and evaluates events

rather than the events themselves, which will have an impact on
behavior.

This is generally believed to be an automatic process; in other

words, we do not think about it.

In people with psychological problems, these thought processes

tend to be negative, and the cognitions (i.e., attributions,
cognitive errors) made will be inaccurate:

These cognitions cause distortions in how we see things; Ellis

suggested it is through irrational thinking, while Beck proposed
the cognitive triad.

Medical / Biological Perspective of Mental Health

Behavior

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 18/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

The medical model of psychopathology believes that disorders

have an organic or physical cause. The focus of this approach is
on genetics, neurotransmitters, neurophysiology,
neuroanatomy, biochemistry, etc.

For example, in terms of biochemistry – the dopamine

hypothesis argues that elevated levels of dopamine are related
to symptoms of schizophrenia.

The approach argues that mental disorders are related to the

physical structure and functioning of the brain.

For example, differences in brain structure (abnormalities in

the frontal and pre-frontal cortex, enlarged ventricles) have
been identified in people with schizophrenia.

The Diathesis-Stress Model

According to the diathesis-stress model, the emergence of a

psychological disorder requires first the existence of a diathesis,
or an innate predisposition to that disorder in an individual,
and second, stress, or a set of challenging life circumstances
which then trigger the development of the disorder.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 19/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Subscribe to Simply
Psychology
Get updates on the latest posts and
more straight to your inbox.

Your Email... SUBSCRIBE

I consent to receiving emails and personalized

ads.

In the diathesis-stress model, these challenging life events are

thought to interact with individuals’ innate dispositions to bring
psychological disorders to the surface.

For example, traumatic early life experiences, such as the loss

of a parent, can act as longstanding predispositions to a
psychological disorder. In addition, personality traits like high
neuroticism are sometimes also referred to as diatheses.

Furthermore, individuals with greater innate predispositions to

a disorder may require less stress for that disorder to be
triggered, and vice versa.

In this way, the diathesis-stress model explains how

psychological disorders might be related to both nature and

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 20/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

nurture and how those two components might interact with one
another (Broerman, 2017).

Psychodynamic Perspective of Mental Health

Behavior

The main assumptions include Freud’s belief that abnormality

came from psychological causes rather than physical causes,
that unresolved conflicts between the id, ego, and superego can
all contribute to abnormality, for example:

Weak ego: Well-adjusted people have a strong ego that can

cope with the demands of both the id and the superego by
allowing each to express itself at appropriate times. If the ego
is weakened, then either the id or the superego, whichever is
stronger, may dominate the personality.

Unchecked id impulses: If id impulses are unchecked,

they may be expressed in self-destructive and immoral
behavior. This may lead to disorders such as conduct
disorders in childhood and psychopathic [dangerously
abnormal] behavior in adulthood.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 21/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Too powerful superego: A superego that is too powerful,

and therefore too harsh and inflexible in its moral values, will
restrict the id to such an extent that the person will be
deprived of even socially acceptable pleasures. According to
Freud, this would create neurosis, which could be expressed
in the symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as phobias and
obsessions.

Freud also believed that early childhood experiences and

unconscious motivation were responsible for disorders.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 22/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

An Alternative View: Mental Illness is a Social

Construction

Since the 1960s, it has been argued by anti-psychiatrists that

the entire notion of abnormality or mental disorder is merely a
social construction used by society.

Notable anti-psychiatrists were Michel Foucault, R.D. Laing,

Thomas Szasz, and Franco Basaglia. Some observations made
are:

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 23/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Mental illness is a social construct created by doctors. An

illness must be an objectively demonstrable biological
pathology, but psychiatric disorders are not.

The criteria for mental illness are vague, subjective, and open
to misinterpretation criteria.

The medical profession uses various labels, e.g., depressed

and schizophrenic, to exclude those whose behavior fails to
conform to society’s norms.

Labels and treatment can be used as a form of social control

and represent an abuse of power.

Diagnosis raises issues of medical and ethical integrity

because of financial and professional links with
pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies.

References
Jahoda, M. (1958). Current concepts of positive mental health.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 24/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Rosenhan, D. L., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1989). Abnormal

Psychology Second Edition. New York: W.W. Norton.

Further Reading

The Hidden Links Between Mental Disorders

What Is It Like To Experience Mental Health Problems?

List of Support Groups

Campaign against Living Miserably

Men do cry: one man’s experience of depression

NHS Self-Help Guides

Kessler, R. C., McLaughlin, K. A., Green, J. G., Gruber, M. J.,

Sampson, N. A., Zaslavsky, A. M., … & Williams, D. R. (2010).
Childhood adversities and adult psychopathology in the
WHO World Mental Health Surveys. The British journal of
psychiatry, 197(5), 378-385.

PDF Downloads
https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 25/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Fundamental Facts About Mental Health 2016

A Blood Test for PTSD?

DSM-IV Classification of Mental Disorders

Culture and Abnormality

What has Neuroscience Ever Done for Us?

PowerPoint Downloads

Abnormal Psychology Therapies

Audio Broadcasts

David Rosenhan’s Pseudo-Patient Study

FAQs

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 26/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Subscribe to Simply
Psychology
Get updates on the latest posts and
more straight to your inbox.
Why is abnormal psychology important?
Your Email... SUBSCRIBE

Abnormal psychology is a crucial field that focuses on

I consent to receiving emails and personalized
ads.
understanding, diagnosing, and treating atypical behaviors,
emotions, and thought processes, which can lead to mental
disorders.

Its importance lies in enhancing our comprehension of mental

health disorders, developing effective treatment strategies, and
promoting mental health awareness to reduce stigma.

Additionally, this field helps in implementing preventive

measures, guiding mental health legislation and policies,
improving the quality of life for those with mental health issues,
and serving as an educational tool for professionals and the
public.

Through these various contributions, abnormal psychology

helps foster a better understanding and handling of mental
health matters in society.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 27/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

How did the study of abnormal psychology

originate?

The study of abnormal psychology originated in ancient times,

with early explanations attributing abnormal behaviors to
supernatural forces. The Greeks later proposed naturalistic
explanations, such as Hippocrates’ theory of bodily humors.

After regression during the Middle Ages, the field progressed in

the 19th and 20th centuries, with figures like Philippe Pinel and
Sigmund Freud advocating humane treatment and developing
therapeutic approaches, respectively.

The 20th century also saw the creation of the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Currently, the
field draws from various disciplines, including psychology,
psychiatry, neuroscience, and genetics.

What are the 4 key objectives of the field of

abnormal psychology?

The field of abnormal psychology has four primary objectives:

Description: This involves accurately describing, defining,

and classifying different psychological disorders. This is
https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 28/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

important for practitioners and researchers to communicate

effectively about each disorder.

Explanation: This involves determining the causes or etiology

of different disorders. Researchers aim to understand the
biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to
the development and maintenance of abnormal behaviors or
mental health disorders.

Prediction: By understanding the course of different

disorders, psychologists can predict how they might develop or
change over time. This can help forecast the likely course of a
disorder in an individual, given certain characteristics or
conditions.

Change: Ultimately, the goal of abnormal psychology is to

develop effective interventions and treatments that can alleviate
the suffering caused by mental health disorders. This objective
seeks to change maladaptive behaviors, thoughts, and
emotions, promoting mental well-being and functional life
skills.

What makes defining abnormality difficult?

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 29/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Defining abnormality in psychology is challenging due to

cultural variations, subjectivity, context-dependent norms,
societal changes over time, and difficulty discerning when
behaviors or emotions become clinically significant. Cultural
norms heavily influence perceptions of normality and
abnormality.

Additionally, what’s considered abnormal in one context may

be normal in another. Definitions also evolve with societal and
scientific progress. Furthermore, distinguishing when feelings
like sadness or anxiety become severe or prolonged enough to
be deemed abnormal is complex.

These factors highlight the need for a nuanced, culturally

sensitive, and individualized approach to abnormal psychology.

Why are correlational research designs often used

in abnormal psychology?

Correlational research designs are often used in abnormal

psychology because they allow researchers to examine the
relationship between different variables without manipulating
them, which can provide valuable insights into mental health
conditions. These designs are particularly useful in cases where

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 30/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

variables cannot be manipulated for ethical or practical

reasons.

For example, it would be unethical and impractical to

manipulate a factor such as childhood trauma to observe its
effects on mental health in adulthood. However, a correlational
design would allow researchers to examine the relationship
between these variables as they naturally occur.

Additionally, correlational designs can help identify risk factors

for various mental health conditions. For instance, researchers
might find that high-stress levels correlate with an increased
risk of depression. Such findings can provide a foundation for
preventive measures and guide future research.

However, a key limitation of correlational research is that it

cannot establish causality. Just because two variables are
correlated does not mean one causes the other. Therefore,
correlational findings often need to be followed up by
experimental or longitudinal studies to explore potential causal
relationships.

Reviewer Author

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 31/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of
Education
Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology.

She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

Search

CONTACT CATEGORIES OUR STAFF

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 32/33
12/5/24, 1:14 PM What Is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Examples

We are committed to engaging with you Psychology Saul McLeod Olivia Guy-
and taking action based on your
suggestions, complaints, and other Evans
feedback. Self-Care Florence Yeung
Julia Simkus
Simply Scholar Ltd. 20-22 Wenlock Relationships Ioanna Stavraki
Road, London N1 7GU
Anna Drescher
+447438296273 Haddi Browne
Karina González
[email protected]

PINTEREST LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US ABOUT US PRIVACY POLICY

© 2024 Simply Psychology — All rights reserved

https://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html 33/33