Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Abnormal Behavior Issues
Culture
Human culture varies tremendously from society to society and establishes what behaviors are considered normal within each given community (Henslin, 2008 p. 130). To a great degree, cultural norms, values, and expectations are completely arbitrary situational factors because the identical external behavior can have diametrically opposite connotations based purely on local custom. For example, burping after a meal is highly offensive in some cultures but considered an appropriate sign of contentment with the meal in others. All cultural norms reflect social learning in that individuals come to learn, internalize, and manifest whatever behaviors are promoted by their respective cultures (Henslin, 2008 p. 131). Deviance is also a common theme in human societies and reflects the choices of some individuals to adopt unconventional norms, values, and expectations of subcultures that differ substantially from those of their dominant society (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2009 p. 576).
Gender, Sexual Preferences, and Practices
Social norms also dictate what gender roles and sexual preferences and practices are considered normal or acceptable in society (Macionis, 2007 p. 493). For example, in some Middle Eastern societies, women are prohibited from many kinds of work, from driving, and even from appearing in public without specific clothes that hide their bodies and faces from view. Likewise, sexual practices and gender identity norms vary considerably from society to society: in some Eastern societies, it is considered normal for men to dress as women and to conduct sexual relationships with other men; in other (Middle Eastern societies, homosexuality is punishable by death (Schmalleger, 2009 p. 494).
Religion
Religious beliefs and values also differ tremendously, even within the same society, particularly in religiously free societies such as in the United States where individuals can choose their own religious traditions from many. Just as in the case of other aspects of behavior, religious norms, values, and behaviors can be diametrically opposite, with the identical practices or choices of foods being strictly prohibited in some religions while they are appreciated and encouraged in other religious traditions (Macionis, 2007 p. 494). Even religions can be the source of perceived deviance and abnormal behavior, such as where religious practices considered acceptable in some societies (e.g. ritualistic animal sacrifice) but abnormal and unacceptable in others (Macionis, 2007 p. 495).
References
Gerrig, R., Zimbardo, P. (2009) Psychology and Life. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Henslin, J.M. (2008) Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Boston:
Pearson.
Macionis, J.J. (2007) Sociology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
6. Describe some of research findings that demonstrate the importance of relationships to our psychological well-being. A group of researchers from the University of Georgia and the University of Kansas have found that attractive people do tend to have more social relationships and therefore an increased sense of psychological well-being. The significance of attractiveness in everyday life is not fixed, or simply a matter of human nature. The force of our
For example, the sexual revolution in Iran was part of a larger cultural movement that encouraged the challenge of a large number of social changes. "This social movement encompasses behaviours such as pushing the envelope on Islamic dress, sexual behaviours, heterosocializing, driving around in cars playing loud illegal music, partying, drinking, dancing and so on -- to include basically, young people doing what they were not supposed to do
" (Weiss, Goebel, Page, Wilson and Warda, 1998) However, it is stated that 7% of the children in the study "had scores indicating risk for mental health problems and 14$ showed enough symptoms to warrant substantial clinical concern." (Weiss, Goebel, Page, Wilson and Warda, 1998) it is reported that the study was focused on the determination of the degree to which behavioral and emotional problems may be related to the family's
Appreciating Diverse Views on Abnormal Behavior Experience and genetic inheritance influence human behavior. The manner in which individuals grow is driven by social circumstances and experiences within the setting of their inherited genetic potential (Walker, 2002). The scientific concern is just how the hereditary potential and experience interact to generate human behavior. The text illustrates that abnormal behavior is that behavior that deviates from the normal or what is expected. Most
person is born, the family, neighbor and the culture is the prime aspect through which they interact before they can enter into the outside world. The development of the personality of an individual is the synthesis of traditions, values, thoughts, feelings, and various other factors that is based on the cultural aspects. In this regard, the dissertation is about the ways in which personality and culture have a relationship
Atypical Sexual Behavior (paraphilias): Signs of a Changing Culture New York Times article recently reported that clinical psychologists are seeing an increasing number of patients reporting that they engage in abnormal sexual behavior (Goleman, 1991). Kinsey noted that in the years 1948 and 1953 as many as half of the Americans surveyed participated in sexual activities that could be considered masochistic or sadistic (such as biting or spanking) (Kinsey, et. al,