Deviation from social norms

• Social norms are created by society and they are acceptable standards of behaviour set by a social group. Anyone who deviates from these norms is seen as abnormal.
• Explicit:

  a written rule/law. For example a somebody who is depressed may not leave the house or attend school. This goes against the law that we have to stay in full time education until we are 18.
• Implicit:

  unwritten rule. For example, someone suffering with OCD may switch a light a light on and off 3 times, which is abnormal according to society’s norms.
• Social norms vary across cultures, situations and ages.
• 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑒𝓃𝑔𝓉𝒽𝓈:

  • Helps people - people can intervene with atypical behaviour and help them get well before it is too late.
  • Distinguish between what is typical and what is atypical - you can clearly see what behaviours are considered to be atypical.
  • Helps society - keeps order and peace to allow society function smoothly.
• 𝓁𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓉𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈:

  • Eccentric - some people may want to break the norm to feel themselves.
  • Criminal - some crimes wouldn’t be considered as abnormal in different places.
  • Context - behaviours depend on the situation.
  • Change in time - socials norms change over time.
  • Abuse of the term - government have wrongly put people in institutions to make their job easier.
  • Cultural Issues - there are different norms for different countries.