deviation from social norms

• Deviation from social norms - behaviour which deviates from social norms and society disapproves of or doesn’t follow socially accepted patterns
• Social norms are approved and expected ways of behaving in a particular society or social situation
• Deviation from social norms suffers from cultural and situational relativism
• hearing voices in western cultures is viewed as abnormal and indicative of auditory hallucinations associated with schizophrenia whereas in other cultures it’s an accepted norm as it could be seen as a spiritual connection with ancestors
• Deviation from social norms can lead to unfair labelling and leave individuals open to human rights abuses
• in the past this has been the case where diagnoses have been made for nymphomania (women’s uncontrollable or excessive sexual desire.) this labelling has been detrimental
• it can be argued that being able to use deviation from social norms to diagnose antisocial personality disorder and schizotypal disorder, whose defining features are socially unacceptable behaviours, has merit.
• psychologists must weigh up the cost and benefits of using this as a definition as history has shown that it can at times do more harm than good