Deviation from social/cultural norms

what is a social norm?

an unwritten rule about what is acceptable in a specific society

how does a person deviate from this norm ?

if their thinking and behaviour violates these rules

what is the difference between social and cultural norms ?

social - refer to shared understanding about what is ‘typical’ and acceptable behaviour in society

cultural- refer to shared expectations and behavioural standards of cultures

those that deviate from the norm may be deemed what ?

indicates struggle with mental health

What is a limitation of the definition ?

• social and cultural norms are dynamic

• eg homosexuality was illegal until the 70s - considered a deviation from norm

• social norms shifts and no longer is no longer considered clinical condition - thus isn’t stable definition of mental health

• cultural differences render definition as non standardised as some deviations from norm aren’t regarded as deviations so cannot be used at a global standard

give an example of deviation from social cultural norms?

antisocial personalty disorder

• impulsive , aggressive and irresponsible

• fails to conform to lawful behaviour

• considered undesirable across many cultures

what is a strength of the definition ?

• useful

• used in clinical practice

• defining characteristics for antisocial personality disorder is the failure to conform to culturally and social norms

• norms play apart in diagnosing schizophrenia - individuals have odd or eccentric thoughts

• thus definition valued in psychiatry

what is another limitation of using the definition in terms of labelling?

• definitions to label mental health conditions carries risk of human rights abuses eg nymphomania as a tool for controlling women historically

• however it is needed for other conditions like antisocial personality disorder