PP - Deviation from social norms Flashcards
What is a definition of abnormality?
Deviation from social norms
What does deviation from social norms mean?
behaviour is seen as abnormal if it violates social norms about what is acceptable in a particular society.
What does deviation from social norms look at?
It looks at the impact of an individuals behaviour upon other people. The behaviour that is displayed is examined in terms of how desirable the behaviour is for the individual and for society as a whole.
What are the advantages of ‘Deviation from social norms’ as a definition of abnormality?
1) Deviation from social norms gives a culturally specific definition of abnormal behaviour. It takes into account the culture in which the behaviour occurs because what is considered normal and appropriate behaviour in one culture might be considered abnormal and inappropriate in another. For example, in approximately 75 countries in the world, homosexuality is still considered abnormal, while in the rest of the world, homosexuality is considered normal.
2) It distinguishes a difference between desirable and non desirable behaviour.
By highlighting that this behaviour is abnormal, we can aim to minimise this behaviour and protect members of the public from its effects.
What are the disadvantages of ‘Deviation from social norms’ as a definition of abnormality?
1) In some instances it can be beneficial to break social norms, for example the Suffragettes broke many social norms but this led to women gaining the right to vote.
2) The social norms of a society change over time. For example, homosexuality was classed as a mental illness in the International Classification of Diseases until 1990 but is no longer considered an abnormality.
3) The definition does not always clearly indicate that a person has a psychological abnormality. Therefore we must be very cautious when making judgements about whether someone is mentally disturbed or just odd/eccentric.
