doa- deviation from social norms

Question 1

What definition of abnormality suggests that abnormality is judged as behaving in a way that does not fit with what is socially acceptable?

Answer 1

Deviation from Social Norms

Question 2

What does Deviation from Social Norms suggest?

Answer 2

-abnormality is judged as behaving in a way that does not fit with what is socially acceptable

Question 3

What types of norms are there?

Answer 3

-implicit
-legal

Question 4

What is an implict norm?

Answer 4

-unspoken ‘rules’ about society that are expected to be followed, however they are not enforced by the law.

Question 5

Examples of breaking an implicit norm?

Answer 5

-sitting directly next to someone on a bus when all other seats are empty
-wearing flipflops in winter
-farting loudly in public

Question 6

True or False? Something that goes against social norms is always illegal.

Answer 6

-False

Question 7

What is a legal norm?

Answer 7

-norms that are enforced by the law, however that does not mean they are uncommon or against implicit social norms.

Question 8

Examples of breaking a legal norm?

Answer 8

-it is illegal to swear excessively in public
-being gay in the olden days

Question 9

Which Definition of Abnormality is dependent on the culture in which the behaviour occurs?

Answer 9

Deviation from Social Norms

Question 10

True or False- Social norms across societies are not the same?

Answer 10

-True
-what is abnormal in one culture is not defined as abnormal in another.
-For example, homosexuality was classified as abnormal and regarded as a mental disorder in the past. It was also against the law in the UK. It continues to be viewed as abnormal (and illegal) in some cultures (e.g sex between men in Brunei is an offence punishable by stoning to death).

Question 11

What is another name for Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Answer 11

Psychopathy

Question 12

What do symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder include?

Answer 12

-‘an absence of prosocial internal standards associated with failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour’

Question 13

How would Antisocial Personality Disorder be viewed by others?

Answer 13

-would be considered abnormal in a wide variety of cultures
-we make the social judgement that psychopaths are abnormal because they don’t conform to our moral standards.

Question 14

What is the strength of the Deviation from Social Norms definition of abnormality?

Answer 14

-flexible depending on situation and age

Question 15

What are the limitations of the Deviation from Social Norms definition of abnormality?

Answer 15

-norms change over time
-cultural relativism

Question 16

Explain the strength of the Deviation from Social Norms definition of abnormality that it is flexible depending on situation and age?

Answer 16

-Behaviour is often context specific, which is taken into account.
-For example, wearing a bikini at the beach is seen as socially acceptable, whereas wearing one at school would go against social norms and be categorised as ‘abnormal’.
-This is a strength because it considers the context of the behaviour before categorising it as abnormal, unlike the statistical infrequency explanation, which does not.

Question 17

Explain the limitation of the Deviation from Social Norms definition of abnormality that norms change over time?

Answer 17

-Although this definition allows for age and situation dependent behaviour, the changes in legislation mean that norms vary dependent on the time.
-This is sometimes hard to judge and means that there is a lack of consensus between generations.
-Beliefs about abnormality and social norms change over time, so what one generation may regard as ‘deviant’, may be acceptable by the next generation.
-For example, homosexuality was outlawed in the UK until the late 60s and regarded as a mental illness into the 1970s, whereas nowadays that is no longer the case.
-This is a limitation because it means that it cannot apply to all situations over time (?)

Question 18

Explain the limitation of the Deviation from Social Norms definition of abnormality that it is culturally relative?

Answer 18

-Social norms vary.
-What may be acceptable in one culture may not be in another.
-For example, in some cultures it is normal or even desirable to hear voices in your head, such as of ancestors
-However in others it is considered abnormal and may indicate a disorder such as schizophrenia.
-This is a limitation because it means that this definition of abnormality is weak and cannot be generalised across cultures.