Abnormality - Deviation From Social Norms (DSN)

Question 1

How does ‘Deviation from Social Norms’ define abnormality.

Answer 1

Someone is defined as abnormal if they behave in a way that is seen as ‘unacceptable’ by the majority in society.

Question 2

What two ways can the ‘rules’ of society be presented?

Answer 2

• Explicit

- Implicit

Question 3

What are you explicit rules?

Answer 3

These are written rules that form laws that govern behaviour.

Question 4

What are implicit rules?

Answer 4

These are unwritten rules but generally accepted by society.

Question 5

What is an example of a disorder that can be explained by DSN?

Answer 5

Tourette’s Syndrome.

Question 6

How can Tourette’s Syndrome be explained by DSN?

Answer 6

The syndrome causes sudden outbursts (called ‘tics’) that may be breaking implicit rules of society.

Question 7

What are the four evaluation point for DSN?

Answer 7

• Social norms change over time.
• Ethnocentric.
• Fails to distinguish deviance and psychological abnormality.
  + More appropriate than Statistical Infrequency.