Disadvantages of deviation from social norms

Question 1

Name one disadvantage of deviation from social norms

Answer 1

it is susceptible to abuse and largely influenced by time

Question 2

How would you elaborate on your first point

Answer 2

Homosexuality in the DSM was regarded as a sexual and gender identity disorder
Thomas Szaz claimed that the concept of mental illness was simply to exclude nonconformists from society
This is a limitation as there is danger of creating definitions based on prevailing social norms, morals and attitudes

Question 3

Name a second disadvantage of deviation from social norms

Answer 3

Social deviance is related to context and degree

Question 4

How would you elaborate on your second disadvantage of deviation from social norms

Answer 4

This means that some behaviours may be considered abnormal in certain situations
for example singing on a bus vs singing in the shower
wearing beach clothes on a beach vs wearing beach clothes in a classroom
This means that on its own, social deviance cannot offer a complete definition of abnormality because it is inevitably related to both context and degree

Question 5

Name a third disadvantage of deviation from social norms

Answer 5

deviation from social norms is culture bound or it is limited by cultural relativism

Question 6

how would you elaborate on your third disadvantage

Answer 6

This means that looking at social norms alone is not enough as cultural norms and expectations must be considered
for example, classification systems such as the DSM are based on social norms that are dominant in the western world which means that if these systems were used in collectivist cultures in Africa, there would be high levels of abnormality
However, in a recent revision of the DSM- 5 in 2013 cultural relativism is now acknowledged