Definitions Of Abnormality

Question 1

What is a strength of deviation from social norms?

Answer 1

is that it has real life application in the
diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder

Question 2

Why can deviation from social norms help to diagnose antisocial personality disorder?

Answer 2

Mental health practitioners can look at what is
deemed acceptable within society and use those cultural and social norms to diagnose abnormal
behaviour. For example, an individual who engages in truant behaviour, lacks remorse or engages in
repeated illegal acts is deviating from social norms and this behaviour would be unexpected within
society. These behaviours can be used by practitioners to judge whether an individual is displaying
abnormal behaviour and therefore diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.