AO3

• Deviation from Social Norms: Evaluation Points

  • Incomplete definition of abnormality
  • Real world application
  • Social norms change over time
• Deviation from Social Norms: Incomplete definition

  It suggests that anyone who doesn't adhere to social norms is abnormal and doesn't take into account context. For example, someone wearing a bikini at the beach is a social norm, but a change of context to somewhere like a work meeting is violating social norms. There is not a clear distinction between an abnormal deviation and a harmless eccentricity. Inevitably related to context.
• Deviation from Social Norms: Real World Application

  Deviation from social norm is a key defining characteristic of anti-social personality disorder, such as reckless behaviour. It is also used in diagnosing schizotypical personality disorder when their thinking, appearance and personality deviate. A negative side of the real world application is that historically it has led to human rights abuse. Drapetomania was once considered a mental disorder which led to human rights abuse as it justified the oppression of minority groups.
• Deviation from Social Norms: Social Norms Change Over Time

  As attitudes change, so do social norms and therefore defining abnormality is era-dependent. For example, homosexuality was considered abnormal as it broke social norms of the day. This invalidates deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality as they are era-dependent.