Definitions of abnormality - deviation from social norms

• AO1:

  • In any society there are commonly accepted standards of behaviour that are set by the social group (i.e the people in that society). These are what we call the social norms.
  • The standards and social norms are normally in place for good reasons.
  • Some of these social norms are explicit such as the laws of a country. For example, stealing and arson break the legal norms and rules of a society.
• AO1:

  • Some of the social norms are implicit, meaning that they are an unspoken rule but generally agreed upon by members of the society. An example of an implicit social norm is politeness, which allows for positive relationships within that society. Other social norms might include not standing too close to someone in conversion, dressing to a particular code, and being quiet in a theatre.
  • So, one approach to defining abnormal behaviour is to consider deviations from these social norms as abnormal behaviour.
• AO1 Examples:

  • For example, people with obsessive compulsive disorder might wash their hands 50 times a day – this goes against social norms and so is considered an abnormal behaviour.
  • Another example would be a person who inappropriately laughs when they are told that someone has died. This type of inappropriate ‘affect’ (emotion) is often seen in people who suffer from schizophrenia.
• AO3:

  • A limitation of deviation from social norms definition is that it is relative to the culture in which the behaviour is being assessed
  • For example, walking around London city centre naked would be seen as a deviation from our social norms, but walking around the Amazonian rainforest in a three-piece suit would be seen as a deviation from social norms to Amazonian Indians. Classification systems like the DSM are based on Western cultures
  • However, cultures differ in terms of social norms
  • Therefore, there are no universal standards or rules for labelling behaviours as abnormal
• AO3:

  • One limitation of the deviation from social norms definition is that social norms vary over time
  • For example, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder in DSM (classification system used by psychiatrists for mental disorders)
  • However, homosexuality is now considered to be socially acceptable
  • This means the deviation from social norms definition is based on social morals and attitudes of a particular time
• AO3:

  • A limitation of is that some argue that this definition is susceptibility to abuse.
  • If we define abnormality in terms of DFSM, it means that abnormality and mental illness are defined by the thinking of that time only – no matter how flawed that thinking might be.
  • By this reasoning, in Nazi Germany, anyone not killing Jews many have been labelled mentally ill. This behaviour would not have violated explicit social norms or implicit social norms.
  • This means that any government can set what they think are the social norms and label anyone who disagrees as mentally ill.
• AO3 - continued :

  • happened in the old USSR where people were put away for speaking against the government