Definitions of abnormality: deviation from social norms
This definition labels behaviour as abnormal when it breaks the unwritten rules a society expects people to follow. Refusing to wear clothes in public or laughing at a funeral are examples of norm-breaking behaviour.
Real World
Until 1973 the American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as a mental disorder because it deviated from the social norm of heterosexual relationships, illustrating how this definition changes with cultural attitudes over time.
Exam Focus
Evaluate by noting social norms vary across time and culture, so this definition risks labelling non-conformists as abnormal.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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