Deviation from Social Norms Under this definition, a person’s thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the (unwritten) rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group. Their behaviour may: –Be incomprehensible to others –Make others feel threatened or uncomfortable

Deviation from Social Norms With this definition, it is necessary to consider: –The degree to which a norm is violated, the importance of that norm and the value attached by the social group to different sorts of violation. –E.g. is the violation rude, eccentric, abnormal or criminal?

Write down some examples of behaviour which violates social norms Not leaving the house (agoraphobia) Undressing in public Swearing at inappropriate times Talking to yourself Binging and purging food Not washing

Strengths of the definition P: One strength of this definition is that it has practical applications. E: It can be used to identify people who need psychiatric help. For example, the behaviour of someone who hears voices differs from the norm, so they would be likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic, and to receive treatment. E: This suggests this definition can be used to help improve the quality of some people’s lives.

Problems with the definition Point: Social norms change between cultures and over time. Consequently, so do people’s conceptions of abnormality. Evidence: Homosexuality was regarded as a mental illness until 1973, but not any more. Cross-cultural misunderstandings are common, and may contribute to e.g. high diagnosis rate of schizophrenia amongst non-white British people Evaluation: Therefore this definition is limited as it cannot lead to a universal definition of abnormality applicable to all cultures

Problems with the definition Point: Classification of abnormality can only based on the context in which behaviour occurs Evidence: Same behaviour might be normal or abnormal in different contexts. e.g. undressing in bathroom or classroom Evaluation: Therefore there is a level of subjective judgment required and it cannot be an objective measure of abnormality

Problems with the definition Point: Another limitation is that this definition raises ethical concerns. Evidence: This is because people who do not fit into society’s norms are often labelled as “abnormal”, and may even be institutionalised. For example, young unmarried mothers in the past were often locked up in mental institutions because their behaviour was seen as unacceptable. Evaluation: This suggests that this definition is linked to issues of social control.