Deviation from social norms - abnormality Flashcards
what are social norms?
the unwritten rules of society
Each society has norms… what does this mean?
accepted standards of behaviour that member of the society view as being right
Evaluation: how is real world application a strength of this definition of abnormality
The definition helps people and allow others to obtain help for those who might not able access it themeselves. Someone is hoarding posions might not see a problem but this can be reconginsed by others
Evaluation: how is situational norms a strength of this definition of abnormality
takes into account what is seen as normal in one setting is not so in another
Evaluation: how/what is development norms is a strength of this definition of abnormality.
behaviour deemed normal at certain ages is taken into account.
Evaluation: how does this definition of abnormality help societies?
sticking to said social norms of a society helps them to stick to it. therefore making a society more predictable and ordered
evaluation: what is said to be ‘normal’ varies across …. , …. , age and culture.
SITUATION / GENDER
evaluation: how is social norms changing over time a weakness?
social norms changing over time is weakness, this is because laws change over time which make it hard to know what is normal / abnormal
evaluation: the definition deviation from social norms is considered to have …… bias.
why?- (hint: think of culture R….)
how?- (hint: Cohran)
ETHNOCENTRIC
this is because ethnic minorities are seen to overrepresented in mental illness stats.
the definition lack cultural relativism for example, - Cochran 1977 black people have be diagnosed with schizophrenia more than white and asian people in BRITAIN. whereas in JAMAICA where black people are the majority, hearing voices in he normal in some cultures.
evaluation: a weakness of this definition is that it opens the door for ….. … abuse, give an example
HUMAN RIGHT
nymphomania which is a description of sexual desire for women that was used to control women
