Psychopathology - 01 Definitions of abnormality (1-Deviation from social norms) Flashcards
What is a social norm?
A set of standards that every society develops for acceptable behaviour.
What are explicit rules?
To break these rules is to break the law e.g. murder, theft, speeding etc.
What are implicit rules?
The unspoken rules that are agreed as a matter of convention within a particular society e.g. speaking respectfully, queuing etc.
People who violate social norms are often regarded as what?
Deviant or abnormal
Why is deviation from social norms a useful way of identifying mental problems?
-Because we learn what to expect from people
-If their behaviour drastically deviates from this, we can become concerned for them
-Can be vital for securing appropriate help for that person
Limitation of deviation from social norms (eccentric or abnormal?)
-deviation from social norms does not always indicate psychological abnormality
-e.g. running naked across a football pitch may be regarded as abnormal but we would not assume the person is mentally disturbed
-so, hard to use to determine who needs psychological help
Limitation of deviation from social norms (can lead to human rights abuses)
-Drapetomania was a made up mental illness given to black slaves who ran away
-Was used to maintain control over ethnic minorities and led to systematic abuse of human rights
Limitation of deviation from social norms (change with the times)
-beliefs about abnormality and the social norms of morally acceptable behaviour change overtime
-lack of consensus between generations
e.g. until the early years of the 2oth century unmarried mothers were sent to mental institutions and their babies taken away
Limitation of deviation from social norms (Cultural differences)
-e.g talking to an invisible person is considered normal in certain African cultures following the death of a loved one
-in our society it would be classified as abnormal
-means we can’t have one universal definition of abnormality
-limits the usefulness of the definition
