AO1 Social Norms

• How is abnormality defined regarding deviation from social norms?

  Abnormality concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society. Accepted behaviours may be considered unwritten rules
• Someone who deviates from social norms may make others feel threatened or uncomfortable. Their behaviour may be incomprehensible to others
• One weakness of using deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality is that it is open to cultural bias. Social norms differ around the world and within subcultures. Therefore, ethnocentrism should be acknowledged due to cultural relativity
• Example of social norms differing around the world?

  In Southern Europe, it is common to stand closer to strangers than in the UK
• Social norms also change over time. For example, homosexuality was once seen as an illness but nowadays it is more widely accepted by many societies
• This explanation doesn't consider the context. For example, wearing bright colours is considered socially normal however, it is not appropriate at a funeral.
• This explanation can easily distinguish between desirable and undesirable
• Another issue with this approach is that it can be influenced by politics. In Russia people who disagreed with communism were called dissidents. Their attitude were seen as symptoms of schizophrenia and they were sent to mental hospitals