A03 - DSN

• Strength = acknowledges social implications

  • If used correctly can help people as it gives society right to intervene to improve the lives of people suffering from mental disorders who may not be able to help themselves
  • Also helps protect members of society as deviation from norms normally comes at expense of others
  • According to definition abnormal behaviour is behaviour that damages others = offers practical way of identifying undesirable and potentially damaging behaviour
• Limitations = cultural and situational relativism

  • Social norms vary from one culture to another
  • E.g. hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultures but seen as sign as mental abnormality in the UK
  • DSM’s classification systems are almost entirely based on social norms of western world
• What are the strengths of deviation from social norms?

  1. Acknowledges social implications
• What are the limitations of deviation from social norms?

  1. Cultural and situational relativism