What Is Normal?

Definition:

 

NORMAL (adj).

1.  Conforming to the standard of the common type; Usual; Not abnormal; Regular; Natural.

 

NORMAL (adj).

2.  Psychol.

a.  Approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.

b.  Free from any mental disorder; Sane.

 

6 Ways to Define Abnormal Behavior:

 

1.  Norm Violation

  • Breaking one’s societal “rules”
  • e.g., personal space
  • How Far Do We Stand Apart When Conversing?
  • Who's closer/farther among USA, Asia, S. America?
  • Brief conversation with other student of same gender and nationality
  • Japanese - 40” apart
  • Americans - 35” apart
  • Venezuelans - 32” apart
  • Arabs Have No Sense of Personal Space
  • No word in their language for “trespass”

 

Problems With Norm Violation As Measure of Abnormal Behavior?

  • Variable
  • Weak basis for assessment of mental health
  • Oppressive
  • Stigmatizes the nonconformist

 

2.   Statistical Rarity

  • Substantial deviation from a statistically calculated average
  • Normal curve
  • e.g., mental retardation, genius 2 SD away from mean
  • Makes defining abnormality a simple task

 

Problems With Statistical Rarity As Measure of Abnormal Behavior?

  • No values
  • No system for differentiating between desirable and undesirable
  • Could be dangerous - why?
  • Discourages Even Valuable Deviations

 

3.  Personal Discomfort

  • Distress over one’s thoughts or behavior
  • Own judge of normality

 

Problems With Personal Discomfort As Measure of Abnormal Behavior?

  • No standard for evaluating the behavior itself
  • e.g., Alzheimer’s, delusions, eating disorders

 

4.  Maladaptive Behavior

  • Able to meet the demands of his or her life?
  • Favored by professionals for its elasticity
  • Focuses on behavior relative to life circumstances

 

Problems With Maladaptive Behavior As Measure of Abnormal Behavior?

  • No measure of values
  • Are there not certain circumstances to which people should not adapt?
  • drapetomania (drapetes, Greek for runaway)

 

5.  Deviation From An Ideal

  • Deviation from a psychological theory of an ideally well-adjusted personality
  • Ideal is difficult to achieve

 

Problems With Deviation From an Ideal As Measure of Abnormal Behavior?

  • If not "ideal," are you abnormal?
  • Do you need treatment?
  • Psychological theories and social norms change

 

6.  A Combined Standard

  • Combination of facts

o       Statistical rarity/clearly dysfunctional behavior

  • And values

o       Adaptation/adherence to norms