What is normal? Why should I try to be like everyone else?

Answer 1

You should not try and be like everyone else. What ever is normal to you (as long as it is legal and you don't hurt anyone or anything) is what normal is. If you like to play the piano, or lick feet, and it make you happy well more power to you then ;-)

Answer 2

.L. Rosenhan[1], published a study in 1973 that was designed to see if trained professionals could differentiate the sane from the insane. They used eight volunteers to present themselves at various hospitals. The volunteers were professionals themselves, including psychologists and physicians. They used pseudonyms and presented with vague complaints. Other than this, they offered no false information to the hospital staff.

Significant events of their history were presented as they actually occurred. Relationships with parents, siblings spouse, children etc. were unaltered. In fact the presentations were presented with a balance of not only frustrations but also joys, etc. which would have strongly suggested sanity or normality. The pseudo-patients were told that once admitted, the only way they would be discharged was to convince the hospital staff that they were sane or fit to be released. Their behavior was in no way disruptive.

Despite acting perfectly sane while in the hospital, none of the pseudo-patients was detected as a pseudo-patient. On the other hand, legitimate hospital patients who presumably were insane did detect the pseudo-patients, confronting them with the notion that they did not belong in the hospital. Some of the real patients suspected that the pseudo-patients were faking, wondering if they were journalists, professors doing research or overseers checking up on the hospital. In this case, at least, the insane had a far better idea who is sane or not than the “sane” professionals.

The story becomes even more like a Twilight Zone episode. Because once the hospital staff labeled the patients, there was nothing they could do to convince the staff that it was all a mistake. You could get in. But you couldn’t get out so easily.

Answer 3

I think you are normal. I don't know you yet, no need to try to be like everyone else

Answer 4

There is no 'norm'. Normal is only a abstract concept created by individuals who experience something (or multiple things) constantly. It is a unique concept because different people have different ideas about what normal is.

Be the person YOU want to be. Try not to label yourself or others. Don't take a person by face value alone.

Answer 5

I think normal is whatever a person thinks it is. And don't try to be like everyone else; it makes the world a more interesting place and, besides, its hard to try to be something you're not. You're unique & be yourself.

Answer 6

Normal is defined by the dominant society with which u identify.

You should try to be live everyone which with u identify because ...thats normal.. for u anyway.

But

Who says u have to be???

Answer 7

normal is a variety of different things. there is your perspective and other peoples perspective of normal. If you want other people to like you try voicing your opinion, speaking your mind, and talking to everyone. I thought the i was socially retarded because i thought nobody liked me... but you know what? i stood out to people, and i wasn't afraid to speak. now i talk to everyone in my grade and higher. why would you want to be like everyone else. try to be unique. i don't wear logos, prints, and words on my shirts because i don't want to be put in a category like the preps, or the nerds,jocks,freaks,and the stuck ups. if your not comfortable with the way you look them your trying to hard to be like everyone else. get comfortable, relax and be unique.

Answer 8

I guess "normal" is... doing what most people do, liking what most people like, disliking what most people dislike, not being too shy, not being too outgoing, not thinking out of the box, not being smart, not being really stupid, not being too funny, not being too serious... etc. You should be like everyone else because everyone else wants you to be, lol.

Just kidding, I hate when people tell me (or other people) to be normal :-(

Answer 9

Actually, I reckon everyone is pretty normal until you get to know them. I wouldn't consider anyone I know personally to fit into the category of normality.....and that's the way I like it!

Answer 10

"normal" <---notice the quotes.. is based on what a majority of a population feel is the norm.. <---texbook definition... I guess depending on where you go you everyone would either be "normal" or not...... Who's to say everyone isn't crazy anyway? to me normal is a state of mind.. if you feel normal you are... who cares what people think