Deviation from Social Norms

Name: Giselle Gloria Ottley

Date: November 10th 2005

Psychology

Deviation from social norms is when a particular behaviour is not socially accepted, these behaviours are often referred to as being abnormal. For example in the United Kingdom its illegal for anyone (man & woman) to be married to more than one person, whereas in countries mainly situated in the Asian Division its legal and the norm to for the men living within these countries to be married to more than woman. It's fair to same this particular situation the social norms are cultural relative.

Items A & B suggest the problems of using deviance from social norms as an indicator of psychological disorders is that this method is ineffective as John Slater's behaviour is eccentric rather than clinical abnormal. His behaviour which consisted of walking barefooted, clothed in just his pyjamas walking his pet Labrador and the fact that he lived in a cave would suggest t a Western psychologist that he has a clinical abnormality as his behaviour is an indicator of a psychological disorder which needs to be diagnosed and treated for. The case study shows that John Slater was once a Royal Marine Bandsman, a truck driver, steward on a luxury yacht, social worker and a number of other high statused jobs shows that John Slater is capable of conducting a non - deviation behaviour. The study in Item B is based on interviews, personality questionnaire and tests conclude that John's eccentric behaviour did not indicate a psychological disorder, as the results which were obtained showed that people with this type of behaviour had "fewer disorders" than that of the general population. They found that people with eccentric behaviour were happy within their lifestyles fully accepting it, also these people took pride at the fact that they are unique in characteristics.

The social norms that punks break away from causing them to be seen as psychologically abnormal is the fact that they have a vast amount of piercings and tattoos also that they style their hair in Mohican styles. Their dress codes consist of wearing black leather and black boots. According to the Western definition anyone that doesn't fit to the definitions would be diagnosed with an abnormality. As it isn't the norm to have that amount of piercings and tattoos as well as "weird hairstyles". However this is not a reason to diagnose them with an abnormality because of their appearance. This indicates one of the limitations of this definition.

According to Rosenhan and Seligman's element of abnormality if you display one or more of these elements you could be diagnosed with a clinical abnormality.

In Item A, Katie suffered from severe depression; this caused Katie to show behaviours such as slashing her wrists, isolating herself from friends and family, cutting herself from everyday things, heavily indulging in alcohol and being frustrated as well as angry.

According to Rosenhan and Seligman Katie is displaying several indicators of failure to function adequately. The fact that her depression has caused her to become angry and frustrated would be an indicator of irrationality/incomprehensibility. Katie is also displaying indicators such as Maladaptiveness, Unpredictability/ loss of control and suffering as she thinks she's "the ugliest creature in the world."

In Item B Ann was a diagnosed schizophrenic, she showed behaviours such as walking out of her marriage, wanting to have twenty babies, her speech was very fast which made conversation incomprehensible, She claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, when Ann was at work she knelt down reciting the rosary and she also spat at the priest.

Anne is displaying the following indicators, Irrationality/Incomprehensibility, Unpredictability/loss of control, observer discomfort (going to work to pray), unconventionality/ vividness (seeing Virgin Mary) and violation of moral and ideal standards (spitting at