Personality Disorders and Deviant Behavior

Sociology

Determination of the Normative Definition of Abnormality and Deviance

Though what is normal and abnormal is socioculturally relative, a normative definition of deviant or abnormal is possible. Every culture regards specific behaviors as good or normal or right. Those behaviors vary from culture to culture, place to place, and over time, yet the standards or dichotomies of behaviors exist. Once one end of the spectrum, good or normal, are named, the behaviors antithetical those are outlined as well, meaning what is deviant or abnormal. Normative definitions of deviance and abnormality that recognize the sociocultural relativism of such terms function on two levels, according to Chapter 14. Normative definitions function on the level of what is culturally universal, meaning that there exist sets of norms per every culture. Normative definitions also function on what is culturally specific, meaning what sets of norms exist per individual culture. Deviance and abnormality need not necessarily be criminal behaviors. Such character traits such as exceptional compassion and leadership or exceptional intelligence or creativity may be perceived as abnormal and/or deviant from a perspective reflecting cultural relativism. Normative definitions of deviance and abnormality exist because normative definitions of compliance and normality exist. One set does not function or exist without the other. Behaviors often require contexts within which to judge, gauge, or otherwise consider the behavior in question. That is, how can a culture assess what is good without having assessed what is bad? Even in the definitions, the opposite behaviors are implied. As stated in Chapter 14:

"In sum, the normative definition of deviance focuses on the abnormal behavior that violates social norms and is subject to negative sanctions. What is normal or abnormal is culturally relative but every society has its norms to define and control those who go beyond the community's tolerance limits. Hence deviance is unthinkable without norms, and norms without deviance are meaningless -- one cannot exist without the other." (Chapter 14,-Page 418)