Defining Abnormality: Deviation from Social Norms

Question 1

What are the FOUR definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

1. Statistical infrequency
2. Deviation from social norms
3. Failure to function adequately
4. Deviation from mental state

Question 2

Definition of deviation from social norms

Answer 2

A person’s thinking/behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates written/unwritten laws on what is expected/ acceptable behaviour in a particular social group

This behaviour may be incomprehensible to others or make others threatened or uncomfortable

Question 3

Example of everyday behaviour that goes against social norms

Answer 3

• Underage sex
• Underage drinking

Question 4

Examples of psychological abnormalities and explain why it goes against social norms

e.g eating disorder

Answer 4

• Eating disorder
• Abnormal about eating since it is a social event
• Eventually isolate themselves
• Subject of eating makes them distressed

Question 5

Examples of psychological abnormalities and explain why it goes against social norms

e.g depression

Answer 5

Suicidal thoughts

Question 6

Examples of psychological abnormalities and explain why it goes against social norms

e.g social phobia

Answer 6

• Putting the burden on life as anxious being in large crowds
• Not participating
• Anti-social behaviour

Question 7

A limitation of social norms

is that social norms are culturally relative

Answer 7

• A person from one cultural group may label someone from another group as abnormal using their standards (ethnocentric) rather than the person’s standards
• For example, hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultures (e.g seen as a sign of comfort like hearing parents) but would be seen as a sign of abnormality in the UK (voices had a negative effect on hurting)
• Creates problems for people from one culture living with another cultural group

Question 8

Limitation of social norms

opinions change over time

Answer 8

• Opinions change over time so social norms change over time
• e.g homosexuality, people would use aversion therapy and recognised ‘gay’ as an illness
• These opinions change because now today’s society doesn’t see it as abnormal
• Therefore, limits the accuracy of using deviation of social norms

Question 9

A limitation of social norms

is that the definition could lead to human rights abuse

Answer 9

• Too much reliance on deviation from social norms to understand abnormality can lead to a systematic abuse to human rights
• historial examples: drapetomania (black slaves running away) nymphomania (women attracted to working-class men) are examples of how diagnosis was used for social control
• Such classification appear ridiculous - social norms changed
• but some psychologists argue that modern abnormal classifications are abuses of people’s right to be different