Nature of Nature of Deviancy Deviancy Nature of Nature of Deviancy Deviancy

Ma. Martha Manette A. Madrid, Ma. Martha Manette A. Madrid, Ed.D.Ed.D.

ProfessorProfessorGraduate Studies, Master in Education, Graduate Studies, Master in Education,

Major in Special EducationMajor in Special Education

Panpacific University North PhilippinesPanpacific University North Philippines

Urdaneta City, PangasinanUrdaneta City, Pangasinan

martzmonette@yahoo.commartzmonette@yahoo.com

Abnormality (behavior)• in the sense of something

deviating from the normal or differing from the typical (such as an aberration), is a subjectively defined behavioral characteristic, assigned to those with rare or dysfunctional conditions.

Several conventional criteria• One criterion for "abnormality" that may

appear to apply in the case of abnormal behavior is statistical infrequency. This has an obvious flaw — the extremely intelligent, are just as abnormal as their opposites. Therefore, individual abnormal behaviors are considered to be statistically unusual as well as undesirable

• A more discerning criterion is distress. A person who is displaying a great deal of depression, anxiety, unhappiness, etc. would be thought of as exhibiting abnormal behavior because their own behavior distresses them.

• Another criterion is morality. This presents many difficulties, because it would be impossible to agree on a single set of morals for the purposes of diagnosis.

• One criterion commonly referenced is maladaptivity. If a person is behaving in ways counter-productive to their own well-being, it is considered maladaptive.

• Another criterion that has been suggested is that abnormal behavior violates the standards of society. When people do not follow the conventional social and moral rules of their society, the behavior is considered abnormal.

• Another element of abnormality is that abnormal behavior will cause social discomfort to those who witness such behavior.

• Statistical Infrequency: In this definition of abnormality behaviors which are seen as statistically rare are said to be abnormal. For instance, one may say that an individual of above or below average IQ is abnormal. This definition, however, fails to recognize the desirability of the particular incidence. This definition also implies that the presence of 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

• Deviation from Social Norms defines the departure or deviation of an individual, from society's unwritten rules (norms). For example if one was to witness a man jumping around, nude, on the streets, the man would be perceived as abnormal, as he has broken society's norms about wearing clothing, not to mention one's self dignity

• FF: The Failure to Function Adequately definition of abnormality defines whether or not a behavior is abnormal if it is counter-productive to the individual. The main problem with this definition however is that psychologists cannot agree on the boundaries that define what is 'functioning' and what is 'adequately', as some behaviors that can cause 'failure to function' are not seen as bad i.e. firemen risking their lives to save people in a blazing fire.

DIM: Deviation from Ideal Mental health defines abnormality by determining if the behavior the individual is displaying is affecting their mental well-being. As with the Failure to Function definition, the boundaries that stipulate what 'ideal mental health' is are not properly defined, and the bigger problem with the definition is that all individuals will at some point in their life deviate from ideal mental health, but it does not mean they are abnormal; i.e., someone who has lost a relative will be distressed, but would not be defined as abnormal for showing that particular behavior.

• A common approach to defining abnormality is a Multi-Criteria approach, where all definitions of abnormality are used to determine whether an individual’s behavior is abnormal. For example, if an individual is engaging in a particular behavior that is preventing them from ‘functioning’ breaks a social norm and is statistically infrequent, then psychologists would be prepared to define this individual's behavior as abnormal.

Normality (behavior)• In behavior, normal refers to a

lack of significant deviation from the average. The phrase "not normal" is often applied in a negative sense (asserting that someone or some situation is improper, sick, etc.) Abnormality varies greatly in how pleasant or unpleasant this is for other people.

• The Oxford English Dictionary defines "normal" as 'conforming to a standard'. Another possible definition is that "a normal" is someone who conforms to the predominant behavior in a society. This can be for any number of reasons such as simple imitative behavior, deliberate or inconsistent acceptance of society's standards, fear of

humiliation or rejection etc.

Adjustment Problems• Maladjustment may shortly be described

as ‘inability to react successfully and satisfactorily to the demands of one’s environment’. It encompasses a wide range of physical, psychological and social conditions, but most often implies an individual’s failure to meet social or cultural expectations. In psychology, the term generally refers to unsatisfactory behaviour patterns that cause anxiety and require psychotherapy.

The term maladjustment is most simply defined as 1. Faulty or inadequate adjustment. 2. Inability to adjust to the demands of interpersonal relationships and stresses of daily living.

Let us try to see what ‘adjustment’ is.

• In the very first instance, it should be seen as an honourable psychological term untainted by the contemporary derogatory colouring that attributes compromise and opportunism. It is a positive capacity to adapt to one’s circumstances and needs. This presupposes three things:• a sensitive appreciation of reality• some accommodation to environmental pressures• continuing efforts at modifying the environment to suit one’s needs

Symptoms of maladjustment

• Louis Kaplan depended on hospital and clinic data, military service data and surveys conducted among the public for his studies on maladjustment. In addition to these data he lists other symptoms manifest in the society as indications of maladjustment prevalent there. These are: alcoholism, divorce and family disruption, suicide, crime, use of drugs,

job f t ailures, cost of mental illness.

He classifies behavioural symptoms that reflect a deviation from normal patterns of response and adjustment as follows: • reality distortions• mental aberrations• affect distortions• motor reactions• personality disorganization• somatic reactions

• The biomedical model of mental health, has been around for centuries as the predominant model used by some physiciatrists in the diagnosis of mental disorders. The term is used by practitioners of of biological psychiatry, in contrast to the biopsychosocial model, which incorporates psychological and social factors.

• The biopsychosocial model (abbreviated "BPS") is a general model or approach that posits that biological, psychological (which entails thoughts, emotions, and behaviors), and social factors, all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness

• Indeed, health is best understood in terms of a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors rather than purely in biological terms. This is in contrast to the traditional, biomedical model of medicine that suggests every disease process can be explained in terms of an underlying deviation from normal function such as a pathogen, genetic or developmental abnormality, or injury.

• The concept is used in fields such as medicine, nursing, health psychology and sociology, and particularly in more specialist fields such as psychiatry, health psychology, chiropractic, clinical social work, and clinical psychology.

  Biomedical model Biopsychosocial model

What causes illness?

Diseases come from outside the body, invade the body and cause physical changes within the body, or originate as internal involuntary physical changes. Such diseases are caused by a number of factors, including chemical imbalances, bacteria, viruses and genetic predisposition.

Human beings should be seen as complex systems and illness is caused by a multitude of factors and not by a single causal factor. Health psychology therefore tends to move away from a simple linear model of health and claims that illness can be caused by combination of biological (e.g. a virus), psychological (e.g. behaviours, beliefs) and social (e.g. employment) factors. This approach reflects the bio psychosocial model of health and illness, which was developed by Engel (1977, 1980). The bio psychosocial model represented an attempt to integrate the psychological and the environmental into the traditional biomedical model of health as follows: the bio contributing factors included genetics, viruses, bacteria and structural defects. The psycho aspects of health and illness were described in terms of cognitions (e.g. expectations of health), emotions (e.g. fear of treatment) and behaviours (e.g. smoking, diets, exercise or alcohol consumption). The social aspects of health were described in terms of social norms of behaviour (e.g. the social norm of smoking or not smoking), pressures to change behaviour (e.g. peer group expectations, parental pressure), social values on health (e.g. whether health was regarded as a good or a bad thing), social class and ethnicity.

 Biomedical model

Biopsychosocial

model

Who is responsible for illness?

Illnesses arise from biological changes beyond the patients control; individuals are therefore not seen as being responsible for the illnesses. They are regarded as victims of some external force causing internal changes.

Illnesses regarded as the result of a combination of factors, the individual is no longer simply seen as a passive victim.

 Biomedical model

Biopsychosocial model

How should illness be treated?

The responsibility for treatment rests with the medical profession.

The patient is in part responsible for their treatment. This may take the form of responsibility to take medication, responsibility to change beliefs and behaviour. They are not seen as a victim.

 Biomedical model

Biopsychosocial model

What is the relationship between health and illness?

Health and /illness are seen as qualitatively different-you are either healthy or ill, there is no continuum between the two.

Health and illness are not qualitatively different, but exist on a continuum. Rather than being either healthy or ill, individuals progress along this continuum from health to illness and back again.

  Biomedical model Biopsychosocial model

What is the relationship between the mind and the body?

The mind and body function independently of each other. The mind is incapable of influencing physical matter. The mind is seen as abstract and relating to feelings and thoughts, and body is seen in terms of physical matter such as skin, muscles, bones, brain and organs. Changes in the physical matter are regarded as independent of changes in state of mind.

There is an increasing focus on an interaction between the mind and the body. This shift in perspective is reflected in the development of a holistic or a whole person approach to health. The mind and body interact. The mind and body are considered as separate but there is interaction between distinct structures.

  Biomedical model Biopsychosocial model

What is the role of psychology in health and illness?

Illness may have psychological consequences, but not psychological causes. For example, cancer may cause unhappiness but mood is not seen as related to either the onset or progression of the cancer.

Psychological factors are seen as not only possible consequences of illness but as contributing to it's aetiology.