Discuss deviation from social norms as a defnition of abnormality.n (8 marks)
A person may be considered abnormal if they behave in a way that opposes our
expectatonss and defes the collectve judgements of social groups about what behaviours are
normal and acceptable. Abnormal behaviour may violate implicit social normss e.g. laughing at a
funeral. Alternatvelys it may violate explicit norms policed by lawss e.g. paedophilia. For examples
according to the DSM5 an important symptom of antsocial personality disorder is ‘failure to
conform to lawful or culturally normatve ethical behaviour’.
A limitaton of this defniton is that cultural diferences in behaviour may be unappreciated
and classifed as abnormal. For examples in some cultures hearing voices is desirable as it is seen as a
sign of spiritual communicatons yet in the UK it may be seen as a symptom of schizophrenia. Social
norms are ofen ethnocentrically baseds and this presents problems for ethnic minorites as they are
likely to be overrepresented in mental health statstcs.
Another limitaton is that it may unjustly classify eccentric individuals as abnormals even
though they are not doing any harms for example Lady Gaga. Furthermores some individuals have
psychological abnormalites such as anxiety disorders that mean they obsessively over-conform
to social normss yet this would not be recognised by the defniton. .y focusing on the social
dimension of abnormalitys the defniton fails to acknowledge the impact of behaviour on the
individual themselvess which is arguably a more important consideraton.
Word count: 78 + 153
A person may be considered abnormal if they behave in a way that opposes our
expectatonss and defes the collectve judgements of social groups about what behaviours are
normal and acceptable. Abnormal behaviour may violate implicit social normss e.g. laughing at a
funeral. Alternatvelys it may violate explicit norms policed by lawss e.g. paedophilia. For examples
according to the DSM5 an important symptom of antsocial personality disorder is ‘failure to
conform to lawful or culturally normatve ethical behaviour’.
A limitaton of this defniton is that cultural diferences in behaviour may be unappreciated
and classifed as abnormal. For examples in some cultures hearing voices is desirable as it is seen as a
sign of spiritual communicatons yet in the UK it may be seen as a symptom of schizophrenia. Social
norms are ofen ethnocentrically baseds and this presents problems for ethnic minorites as they are
likely to be overrepresented in mental health statstcs.
Another limitaton is that it may unjustly classify eccentric individuals as abnormals even
though they are not doing any harms for example Lady Gaga. Furthermores some individuals have
psychological abnormalites such as anxiety disorders that mean they obsessively over-conform
to social normss yet this would not be recognised by the defniton. .y focusing on the social
dimension of abnormalitys the defniton fails to acknowledge the impact of behaviour on the
individual themselvess which is arguably a more important consideraton.
Word count: 78 + 153
