Deviation from social norms

The concept of deviation from social norms refers to behaviour or thinking that contravenes the unwritten rules of a particular society. Such rules define what is acceptable within that society. Hence, behaviour or thinking that violates these social norms can be viewed as abnormal. For example, if an individual talks to themselves in public you would probably think they were abnormal because talking to oneself in public is considered inappropriate or strange. However, it is important to note that this behaviour may be acceptable in some cultural or religious contexts, highlighting the subjective nature of abnormality based on social norms.

EVALUATING DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS

CULTURAL RELATIVISM: The concept of cultural relativism poses a challenge to the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality. Social norms vary across different cultures, and what is perceived as normal in one culture may be viewed as abnormal in another. An instance of this is that approximately 75 countries still consider homosexuality illegal, classifying it as abnormal behaviour. Nevertheless, in most other parts of the world, homosexuality is accepted as a normal variation of human sexuality. Consequently, there is no uniform criterion for defining abnormal behaviour, and it cannot be standardised on a global level.

HINDSIGHT BIAS: The definition of abnormality is also subject to hindsight bias since social norms are not fixed and can change over time. For instance, in the UK, homosexuality was considered a mental illness and individuals were institutionalised until 1973. However, it is now recognised as a normal variation of human behaviour. Relying solely on the deviation from social norm definition of abnormality in the past may have resulted in human rights violations, as individuals who were perceived as abnormal were stigmatised and excluded from society. Some scholars, such as Szasz (1974), argue that using this definition of abnormality was a means of social control over minority groups, rather than a genuine concern for their well-being.

SOCIAL NORMS ARE CONTEXT-DEPENDENT: The extent to which a person diverges from societal standards depends on the seriousness and circumstances. For instance, a single instance of breaching a social norm might not be labelled as deviant conduct, but continually repeating the behaviour could suggest psychological issues. Similarly, going shirtless at the seaside is acceptable, whereas wearing the same outfit in a workplace would be seen as unusual and potentially indicative of an underlying mental health concern. As a result, this description is insufficient on its own, as it is closely tied to the degree and context of the situation.