Outline and evaluate deviation in social norms as a means to explain abnormal behaviour

Social norms are culturally relative. Within any culture there are many sub-cultures that also have different opinions as to what is and isn’t deviant. This means that the definition is culturally relative as social norms are culture bound. This means that the norms of behaviour focuses on one culture’s perspective and is considered to be ethnocentric.

The socially accepted way to behave in one culture may differ in another for example, in some cultures homosexuality is still socially unacceptable, whereas others have considerate and more equal rights like Britain compared to strict religious countries such as the Arab states where homosexuals are often murdered or imprisoned. Some countries offer the status of marriage as opposed to civil partnership in Britain. A study conducted by Kim and Motsei (2002) found that many African medical workers thought it was acceptable to beat a wife in order to correct her behaviour. These values are not shared in Western cultures. This means the definition does not provide a universal account of abnormality as it only focuses on normal behaviour in one countries perspective. Different countries have different cultural variations and rules of how they should live, therefore this definition cannot be generalised.

Deviance is related to context for example it is seen as acceptable for a female to wear a bikini at the beach but not seen as acceptable in a business meeting. This definition is also limited as it is era-dependent. Cultural values often change over time and so this definition does not provide a universal account of abnormality. For example, in 1968 homosexuals were classed as sexual deviants; today gay marriage is legal in the UK and although prejudice still exists, homosexuality is no longer associated with mental disorder which it once was in the USA until 1973. The definition does not reliably define abnormality because there is no consistency over time.

To conclude the definition of deviation in social norm as a means to explain abnormal is extremely difficult as this definition cannot be generalised due to the variations and differences between cultures. This definition could be used in a way to determine abnormality amongst a culture but not numerous cultures. Deviation from ideal mental health and failure to function adequately can be viewed as a more reliable way in explaining abnormality.