Distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviours. It takes into account the effect that behaviour has on others. Deviance is defined in terms of transgression of social rules and social rules are established in order to help people live together. According to this definition, abnormal behaviour is behaviour that damages others and so offers a practical way of identifying undesirable and potentially damaging behaviour.
What is a weakness of deviation from social norms
Cultural relativism. For example, hearing voices is socially acceptable in some cultures, but is seen as a sign of mental abnormality in the UK. The DSM’s classification systems are almost entirely based on social norms of the West.
What is a counter-argument for the weakness of deviation from social norms
Cultural relativism is now acknowledged in the most recent revision to the DSM in 2013, which makes reference to cultural contexts in many areas of diagnosis – in the section on panic attacks a note is made that uncontrollable crying may be a symptom in some cultures, whereas difficulty breathing may be a primary symptom in other cultures.
