deviation from social norms Flashcards
(12 cards)
what are social norms?
expectations from a group about acceptable behaviours
what is a deviation from social norms?
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community
how is deviation from social norms an implicit definition?
we make a collective judgement as a society about what is right
this means behaviours that break the law aren’t classed as deviation from social norms
what are some examples of implicit behaviours that are deviating from social norms?
-laughing at a funeral
-crawling to lessons
-play music out loud on public transport
-standing on a chair instead of sitting
give an example of a disorder which can be defined using deviation from social norms?
Antisocial Personality Disorder
defined in the DSM-5 as having an absence of prosocial internal standards associated with a failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour
often impulsive, aggressive, lack empathy and irresponsible due to faulty amygdala functioning
how is deviation from social norms culture dependent?
many behaviours that deviate from social norms in one country would be acceptable in others e.g. hearing voices
COUNTER: ASPD is an example of universal abnormal behaviour
how is deviation from social norms time dependent?
many behaviours that were previously illegal are now accepted as normal e.g. homosexuality used to be in the DSM
how is deviation from social norms context dependent?
some behaviours are acceptable in some contexts but not others e.g. wearing a bikini in shops vs beach
how can deviation from social norms being culture, time and context specific be a strength?
allows for flexibility across different cultures, times and contexts, as diff societies can decide what deviates from their own social norms at that time
means we aren’t imposing Western cultural norms for behaviour on other cultures
how can deviation from social norms being culture, time and context specific be a limitation?
very hard to be consistent using this definition
also makes it difficult to compare cultures because something may be seen as abnormal in one and not another
difficult to decide what is a deviation and what isn’t- diagnoser’s bias may be involved
how does deviation from social norms have real world application?
ASPD and Schizotypal Personality Disorder use the term ‘strange’ to characterise behaviour
strange behaviours are those that deviate from social norms
how is deviation from social norms linked to human rights abuse?
defining someone as abnormal because of our society gives opportunity for people’s human rights to be abused
e.g. Drapetomania (was a disorder given to black slaves who ran away from owners, just so they could abuse the slave more) and Homosexuality
