ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
There is a thin line between normal and abnormal. Human beings are quick to judge others and hasty in putting labels and assigning stereotypes to behaviors they deem abnormal. What really is abnormal behavior? What criterion is used to determine whether behavior is acceptable or defiant?
Before passing judgment on your neighbor’s mannerisms, use the following questions to help you analyze their behavior and then make your conclusions.
1. Does the behavior appear unusual?
Unusual behavior is behavior that is experienced only by a few individuals. Michael Jordan is an exceptional basketball player who’s physical abilities were beyond what every average player could endure. Does that make him abnormal? How about an individual who runs around claiming he can hear voice?
2. Does the behavior go against societal norms?
All societies establish standards or social norms that define acceptable behavior. Deviance from them is usually labeled abnormal. But behavior considered abnormal in one context may not necessarily be abnormal in another. For instance the shouting vulgarities to strangers in the street verses shouting them at a football game to a biased referee…. the latter may be considered normal to society even though it may be offensive to people around and to the recipient.
3. Does this person appear to be in emotional distress?
States of abnormal distress are considered abnormal when inappropriate, excessive, or prolonged, relative to a person’s situation. For example grieving a dead relative is normal but when the process takes years and leads to depressive state, then its abnormal.
4. Does the behavior seem to be maladaptive?
Behavior that is self-defeating or associated with significant health social or occupational problems is considered abnormal. This kind of behavior in advanced stages threatens an individual’s life and ability to function in meeting life’s responsibilities. A good example is alcoholism.
5. Does the behavior appear to be dangerous?
Engaging in behavior that is dangerous to ones self or to others is abnormal. Controversy comes in cases like war and sports. If the behavior is erratic during wartime or during a game, it is considered “normal”, but at peacetime or when the game is over, it is considered a problem. One certainly cannot go around killing people or beating people up!
6. Is the individual portraying faulty perceptions or interpretations of reality?
If a person is delusional or has hallucinations, it’s not normal. Hallucinations is when you see things that are not there, whereas delusions is having unfounded beliefs like being haunted or the FBI are tapping my phone (if they really aren’t), just to name a few. We have to be careful with this one too because in some cultures like the American Indians, hearing voices of departed relatives is considered normal.
To sum it up, we should be careful when categorizing the bounds of normalcy. Medical professionals are bound to encounter the issue and should gather all the facts of an individual before diagnosing abnormality, and thus mental illness.
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This is funny because it happens all the time. People in general are very quick to determine what is wrong with a person whether in a negative or positive faction. I think the terms normal and abnormal can be used in both positive and negative manners depending on the individual using it. I think if people can mind their own business and take their eyes off other people and let them do what they do and let how they do it be left with them the world will be a much better place. I get sick of people who are quick to label someone even though they are not a hundred percent clear of that which they are charging someone else with. The bible says that we should remove the blank from our eyes before telling someone he/she has one in their eyes.
ReplyDeleteAll I can think of is how frequently we all use the phrase "That person is crazy!" I think people are quick to jump to conclusions about others without having all of the facts. People judge others strictly on what they see and more so on how they act. I am just as guilty of it as the next person. Since taking psychology though I have tried to be more cautious of throwing those terms around because I don't want to be "that girl" and sound as demeaning as others. It is also not an example I would like to set for my children.
ReplyDeleteI remember, when I was taking psychology, my teacher spent a lot of time on this topic. Even for psychologist, it is not always clear whether an individual's behavior is abnormal or not because some behaviors may be very confusing. However, many people are so quick to judge others and easily jump to conclusions about others, labeling and stereotyping them. I think that there are not that many people who actually go through the entire set of criteria for determining abnormal behavior you have written here in order to identify someone as abnormal. So, I absolutely agree with you that we should be more careful in labeling people.
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