deviation from social norms

Question 1

deviation from social norms

Answer 1

concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of society
groups of people choose to define behaviour as abnormal on the basis that it offends their sense of what is ‘acceptable’ or the norm
norms are specific and relative to the culture we live in
ie antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy)
a person with apd may be impulsive, aggressive, and irresponsible
we make the judgement that psychopaths are abnormal because they do not conform to our moral standards
psychopathic behaviours would be regarded as abnormal across a wide range of cultures

Question 2

cultural and situational relativism

Answer 2

“normality” is different in all cultures and situations
therefore it is impossible to say one behaviour is “abnormal” as it may not regarded as such across all cultures

Question 3

real world application

Answer 3

used in clinical practice
key characteristics of antisocial personality disorder is failure to culturally acceptable ethical behaviour ie recklessness, depression