deviation from social norms

• Deviation from social norms


  A social norm is an unwritten expectation of behaviour that can vary from culture to culture and change over time. Additionally, what is acceptable in one context may not be acceptable in another, and people who deviate from these societal expectations may be seen as abnormal or social deviants.
• Examples of norms that vary between cultures

  Acceptance of homosexuality, face and hair covering, acceptable food and how to eat it, level of modesty in clothing choices and public displays of emotion.
• / Susceptible to abuse 


  E - What is considered as socially acceptable changes overtime. Homosexuality is acceptable in most countries, but in the past it was included under sexual and gender identity disorders in the DSM.

  E - If a person is seen deviating from social norms they may be segregated from others and mistreated.

  L - However, it could be argued that in certain cases this segregation is for the best (e.g. segregating criminals from the general public).
• / Cultural relativism of deviation from social norms


  E - What is classified as deviant from social norms varies from culture to culture. Classification systems, such as DSM, are almost entirely based on the social norms of the dominant culture in the West (White and middle class).

  E - What is classed as socially deviant isn't generalisable to all of society.

  L - However, Cultural relativism is now acknowledged in the most recent version of the DSM. For example, in the section on panic attacks a note is made that uncontrollable crying may be a symptom in some cultures.
• / Deviance is related to context and degree


  E - Wearing a swimsuit is regarded as normal at a pool or the beach, but the same outfit in a classroom or at a formal gathering would be regarded as abnormal.

  E - Context is important when it comes to judging behaviour as normal or abnormal. Something may be seen as normal and acceptable in one context but not in another.

  L - Therefore, Social deviance doesn't offer a complete definition of abnormality, since context can change whether something is normal or abnormal.
• + Distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour


  E - Social deviance distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour. This is absent from the statistical infrequency explanation.

  E - The social deviance definition takes into account the effect that behaviour has on others.

  L - Therefore, it offers a practical and useful way of identifying undesirable and potentially damaging behaviour.