Deviation from social norms (DSN)

• Social norms – Explicit and implicit rules governing behaviour

• Behaviours are abnormal if they do not fit into the norms of
acceptable behaviours.

Example:
• Schizophrenia -Talking to self isn’t deemed normal in
society.

Limitations:
• Social norms differ in different place. This means that this
definition changes according to cultural relativity. This makes
this definition hard to generalize.

• Behaviour that deviates from social norms isn’t always a sign

of psychopathology:
o Eccentricity
o Superstitions
o Wearing scuba diving kit in the street due to a charity
event.
This emphasis that you need to take the context of the
behaviour into account.

• Social norms are influenced by politics in some societies:

o E.g. if you didn’t agree with the ruling party then they
would class you as someone with an abnormal.
This would be used to gain political control.

• Social norms differ over time:

o E.g. 1960s USA homosexuals were considered
psychopaths.
This means that this definition isn’t an overall definition, but
era dependent.

• Legal system assumes people have control over themselves.

Its been shown those doing violent crime had brain
abnormalities.