Deviation from social norms

How many definitions of abnormality are there?

four

1) deviation from social norms

2) failure to function adaquetly

3) statistical infrequency

4) deviation from ideal mental health

What is considered abnormal?

• Every society sets norms or unwritten rules for acceptable behaviour

• many of these 'rules' are learnt in childhood through socialisation process

• Any behaviour that deviates from these social norms are considered abnormal

What are some influential factors when deciding if a behaviour is normal or abnormal?

• Culture

• Situation

• Historical time

• Age

How does culture influence whether behaviour is normal or abnormal?

• Hearing voices is a social norm in some cultures such as the American Indian culture as messages from ancestors.

• however a European person may see this as an abnormal hallucination (common symptom of schizophrenia)

How does situation influence whether behaviour is normal or abnormal?

Killing in war is seen as normal behaviour (heroic) but considered murder and therefore abnormal in other contexts

How does historical time influence whether behaviour is normal or abnormal?

• Victorian times: sex outside marriage considered abnormal behaviour and up until 1973 homosexuality classified as mental illness and therefore abnormal behaviour

How does age influence whether behaviour is normal or abnormal?

Toddler having tantrum in supermarket = normal

30 yo behaving in that way = abnormal