Deviation From Societal Norms

Question 1

What are norms?

Answer 1

Unwritten rules which society follows

Question 2

What is abnormal?

Answer 2

Variation from these norms

Question 3

When is deviation from societal norms only important?

Answer 3

If it interferes with everyday life- only important if it impacts your life.

Question 4

What is an example of undesirable behaviour?

Answer 4

Being homeless

Question 5

What are norms specific to?

Answer 5

The cultures we are in e.g. being homosexual is allowed in the UK but punishable by death in other countries

Question 6

AO3: Strength- clinical practise?

Answer 6

It is useful- deviation from social norms is used in clinical practise
Such norms also play a part in the diagnosis of schizophrenia- shows that deviation from societal norms has value in psychiatry

Question 7

AO3: Limitation- variations in cultures?

Answer 7

The variability between social norms in different cultures and even different situations. A person from one cultural group may think something is abnormal, but others may think that behaviour is normal.
It is difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations and culture

Question 8

AO3: weaknesses- labelling?

Answer 8

Using deviation from societal norms to define someone as abnormal carries the risk of unfair labelling and leaving them open to human rights abuse- diagnosis can be used as a way to control people

Question 9

AO3: strength- diagnosing?

Answer 9

Using deviation from societal norms to diagnose conditions is a strength as it is used for things like antisocial personality disorder