Deviation from social norms

What is a social norm?

Rules about what is acceptable within a particular society which influence how we expect people to behave either explicit (laws) or implicit (society). Therefore a person is abnormal if they’re thinking or behaviour is different from social norms

Define cultural relativism?

Norms are specific to a culture so few behaviours would be considered universally abnormal e.g gay marriage is still illegal in Qatar

Name a study that researched deviation from social norms?

Broverman et al 1970

What was the aim of Broverman et al 1970?

Do characteristics associated with normal mental health very depending on gender?

What was the method used by Broverman et al 1970?

• Asked therapist to complete the questionnaires

• Given different questions e.g characteristics of a mentally healthy person, man or woman

What was the results of Broverman et al 1970?

Double standards of mental health.

• healthy person and healthy male generally described in the same way

• Healthy female described a submissive emotional easily influence sensitive, excitable conceited about appearance dependent less competitive and inaggressive

What conclusions did Broverman et al 1970 come to?

Results suggest that gendered social norms create differences in how males and females are judged.

This definition makes it difficult to identify abnormal mental health objectively because men and women are held to different standards due to gendered social norms

What is a strength of deviation from social norms?

Real life applications in clinical practice

What some evidence to support the real life applications of deviation from social norms?

Signs of antisocial personality disorder are due to inability to conform to culturally acceptable ethical behaviours e.g. reckless, aggressive, violate others rights, manipulative, deceitful

What is a limitation of deviation from social norms?

Social norms differ between cultures

What is some evidence to support differences in cultural norms as a limitation?

• Members of one culture might label members of another culture as abnormal if they use their own cultural norms

• E.g. hearing voices is a sign of messages from ancestors in some cultures but would be seen as abnormal in the UK (potentially diagnosed with schizophrenia)

What is some evidence to suggest that deviations in social norms can result in human rights abuse?

- Historically, diagnoses were used to control specific social groups

- Nymphomania (women’s excessive sexual desire) to control and stigmatise women

- Women were institutionalised under the guise of treatment for nymphomania for reasons that had more to do with social control than actual medical necessity.

- For example, a woman might be institutionalised or confined to her home for engaging in relationships outside of marriage, challenging the authority of her husband