Deviation from social norms(Definitions of Abnormality) Flashcards
what are the four different definitions of abnormality
Deviation from Social Norms
Failure to Function Adequately
Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
Statistical Infrequency
What are social norms?
Social norms are explicit and implicit rules that exist in society that determine acceptable behaviours, values and beliefs. They are set by the social group and adhered to by those socialised into that group.
According to this definition, behaviour is deviant/abnormal when social norms are violated.
example of Explicit social norms
laws
examples of Implicit (unspoken) social norms
agreed as a matter of convention e.g. politeness, not invading someone’s personal space, queuing, eating with a knife and fork.
:( social control:
P:If we define abnormality in terms of deviation form social norms, than we rely on prevailing(i.e. current)social morals and attitudes
E:This may permits mental health professionals to classify individuals as mentally ill if they fail to conform to social roles
C:Szasz(1974) claimed that mental illness was simply a way to exclude non-conformist form social i.e. a form of social control
Szasz: Stigmatisation
Because of the stigma attached to mental health disorders, those labelled as suffering from such conditions may be treated differently by those around them i.e. discriminated against.
The label may reflect badly on the individual - once a diagnosis is made, it tends to stick, even if the symptoms are no longer present
P:: Social norms change over time
E: Homosexuality was once listed as a mental illness in the DSM, however, attitudes have since changed and homosexuality is now accepted.
C: Therefore, behaviour that is deemed abnormal at one time may be considered normal at another, as social attitudes change. Abnormality according to this definition is therefore a fluid concept.
Cultural relativism
P: Social norms vary across cultures
E: e.g. hearing voices is considered a blessing in certain African tribes, but is a symptom of schizophrenia in the Western world.
C: Therefore, behaviour viewed as normal in one culture may be considered abnormal elsewhere, again, highlighting how fluid the concept of abnormality is according to this definition.
Eccentric or abnormal?
Behaviours that deviate from the norm e.g. men wearing make-up, may be merely ‘eccentric’ rather than abnormal in a pathological sense.
Abnormal or criminal
P: Those who violate legal norms are not necessarily suffering from a psychological disorder.
E: e.g. you are more likely to view a serial killer as abnormal compared to a fraudster.
C: Therefore, perhaps it depends on the crime committed as to whether they are viewed as abnormal in a pathological sense, or not.
P: Behaviour that is deviant is socially unacceptable for the rest of us.
E: This way of defining abnormality therefore takes account of the greater good of society and distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour, a feature that is absent from the statistical infrequency definition.
C: According to this definition, abnormal behaviour is behaviour that therefore potentially damages others.
This definition recognises the role of context
P: Some behaviours may be considered normal in one context, but abnormal in another
E: e.g. wearing a bikini in an office would be considered abnormal, but wearing one on a beach would be seen as perfectly normal.
C: Therefore, the context in which the behaviour occurs must be considered.
