Lesson 1: Deviation from social norms

Question 1

What is deviation from social norms? (AO1)

Answer 1

any behaviour that does not follow socially accepted RULES or PATTERNS is deemed as ABNORMAL

Question 2

What does deviation from social norms look at the IMPACT of?

+How is behaviour EXAMINED

Answer 2

Focuses on the IMPACT of an individuals’ behaviour on OTHER PEOPLE

The behaviour is EXAMINED by how desirable the behaviour is for the individual + society as a whole

Question 3

What does society use to GOVERN behaviour?

Answer 3

society has RULES that GOVERN behaviour

-rules can be EXPLICIT (breaking them would mean breaking the law)

-rules can be seen as CODES of CONDUCT

Question 4

Why is deviation from social norms helpful?

Answer 4

It can be used to help IDENTIFY a person who may be SUFFERING

(if a person is behaving in a strange way that DEVIATES from what is expected of them-> might indicate a mental disorder)

Question 5

State a DISADVANTAGE of deviation from social norms (AO3)
(hint: psychological abnormality)

Answer 5

-definition does NOT always indicate if an individual has a PSYCHOLOGICAL ABNORMALITY

-psychologists must be CAUTIOUS when making judgements about whether deviation from social norms implies that someone is ABNORMAL or ODD/ECCENTRIC

Question 6

State a DISADVANTAGE of deviation of social norms
(hint: context)

Answer 6

• CONTEXT must be taken into CONSIDERATION

-e.g no clothes in highstreet= deviating from social norms
-HOWEVER no clothes would be acceptable in a different context (e.g nudist beach)

Question 7

State an ADVANTAGE of deviation from social norms
(Hint: desirable/non-desirable)

Answer 7

• helps distinguish between DESIRABLE/NON-DESIRABLE behaviour

-model aims to protect society from the effects of abnormal behaviour + damaging consequences

-e.g no clothes in highstreet = damaging/disturbing

-highlighting the effects allows behaviour to be prevented