What defines "normal"? Why is it so important for the everyone to be or appear "normal"?

Question

Do you think definitions of what is normal constitute a way to control human behaviour and actions within certain defined parameters and outlaw what falls outside these as deviant and abnormal?

Answer 1

Some would simply classify what is "good" as normal and what is "bad" as abnormal, but this is a vague and narrow definition and brings up many of the same questions for the definition of "good" as does the definition for "normal". There are many more ways of determining a more objective reference point.

One way of defining abnormality is statistical deviation. Most human characteristics are nicely distributed along a smooth bell-shaped curve.

Those who stray too far from the average on this curve are then considered abnormal. This definition, however, has its problems. It does not recognize valuable derivations, such as genius, nor does it recognize common but maladaptive behavior like smoking and drinking 3. Nonetheless, this method is both objective and scientific.

A very simple idea that can be used to classify abnormal behavior is personal distress. Basically, if a person is content with their life, then they are of no concern to the mental health field 2a. However, if a person's thoughts or behaviors are causing them personal discomfort or unhappiness, then they will be considered abnormal.


The most common criterion for defining abnormality, however, is maladaptiveness. There are two aspects of maladaptive bahavior:

1. Maladaptive to one's self - inability to reach goals, to adapt to the demands of life and

2. Maladaptive to society - interferes, disrupts social group functioning.
2a
This type of definition allows much flexibility. It provides room for conforming behavior to society's norms as well as deviant behavior as long as it is not self-damaging. It makes abnormal the relative term it needs to be, dependent upon each individual's life and circumstances. There are certain catergories of behavior that suggest the presence of psychological disorders which are, in one way or another, maladaptive in that they threaten the well-being of the individual. These catergories include long periods of discomfort, impaired functioning, bizarre behavior, and disruptive behavior.1

Long Periods of Discomfort

Given, everyone experiences some kind of psychological discomfort during their life. This could be anything as simple as worrying about a calculus test to grieving the death of a loved one. This distress, however, is related to a real, related, or threatened events and passes away with time. When such distressing feelings, however, persist for an extended period of time and seem to be unrelated to events surrounding the person, they would be considered abnormal and could suggest a psychological disorder.1

Impaired Functioning

Here, again, there must be made a distinction between simply a passing period of inefficiency and prolonged inefficiency which seems unexplainable. For instance, a very brilliant person who consistently fails classes or someone constantly changing jobs for no reason.

Bizarre Behavior

There are many things people do that others would find strange. The various piercings today's younger generation chooses to get and their style of dress may seem bizarre to adults, but their motivations are not hard to understand, which keeps them from being considered clinically abnormal. Bizarre behavior that has no rational basis, however, seems to indicate that the individual is confused. The psychoses frequently bring on hallucinations (baseless sensory perceptions) or delusions (beliefs which are patently false yet held as truth by the individual).1

Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive behavior means impulsive, apparently uncontrollable behavior that disrupts the lives of others or deprives them of their human rights on a regular basis. This type of behavior is characteristic of a severe psychological disorder. An example of this is the antisocial personality disorder.

All of these types of behavior are maladaptive because they directly affect the well-being of the individual and those around them, and block the growth and fulfillment of the individual's potential.1

Answer 2

I think normal today is being different in the same way as other popular people.

My ex would always say she didn't want to be like other people, she wanted to be unique, but all she really wanted was to be popular. She worked hard at finding out what the cool people did avoiding 'normal' in any way she could.

Now that we're not together I see many women do the same thing. Five years ago there were fewer Mac's, so she had to have one of those. Forget the fact that for her work she couldn't use a mac, and that she didn't like doing anything on the computer because that would be nerdish. She wanted a Mac because artists and movie stars had mac's.

She had to be different, and that's what I think today's normal is.

Normal today = different than the masses, but exactly like what some of the very cool popular people like.

Answer 3

Normal is just a word. When you look at a particular feature, or behavior over a large spectrum, you will see a repeat of some. When you look at the repeats, you will notice some are repeated more than others. To get the norm, you have to use all of the measurments, and calculate the average. Very few will be on the average, or normal range. In mental health, what is normal. No one knows. What is normal for one region is not normal for another. It has to do with what is acceptable by the society.

Answer 4

The concept of normal tends to be a convenient, somewhat lazy and unthinking way of accepting or rejecting things at first glance. The concept of normal applies to manufacturing and production as well. Certain standards are put in place as to what is acceptable and what is not.
But regarding human beings, it is necessary to have members of society who are well outside of the 'norm' to provide society with services that the normal members would not be capable of. For example, a genius, a warrior, an artist, etc. all provide a necessary service outside the norm. So the norm legitimately stretches quite a bit and is not so narrow as some people would believe. I think the true breaking point with society comes not with uniqueness (no matter what some people might say) but with the declared intent to go against society.

Answer 5

I'm not sure if anyone is consciously trying to control behaviour by making determinations about normality.

However, I agree that the notion of normality is absurd and arbitrary.

If you want to see some interesting work about the conditioning process that occurs when people are growing up in a society, I suggest you read some of Michael Foucalt's ideas about discourse and power within cultures.

He talks about the way trying to rebel against authority (in this case, those who determine the boundaries of normality) is actually an acknowledgement of that power. For example, you might seek to be different, but that is just a reaction to the ideals of normality rather than a position independent of a culture's ideas about how you should be living. (a raw and not so accurate example of what I mean is the way arguing with a judge is a good way of calling his power into being!)

He also talks about how the episteme, or total body of knowledge within a society (and including the 'way' we think it), also only allows a limited number of roles or positions within society. (This includes the issues we talk about, who IS ALLOWED to talk about them, the realms of work, study, and family roles etc)

It is rare that the episteme changes... a perfect example is the "earth vs sun" as centre of the earth. For example aliens visiting would surely constitute a change in the episteme under which our various ways of thinking and being are determined.

Getting off track!! One of the main ideas is the way that unwritten rules are just as powerful as written ones. For example, even if you havent been into a church you know how you should behave. Perhaps more importantly, in church or anywhere else, you usually know exactly when you ARE NOT behaving according to these unwritten norms.

Hence, we are often under control of these cultural norms without even realising it.

It is too much to go into, but you may be interested.

Answer 6

I think normal behavior is anything that will not affect anyone around you in a negative way. When someone does something that makes most people feel uncomfortable. A relationship with a 55 year old man and a 5 year old is not normal. We have to define what is normal to protect the people that can't protect themselves. Normal also depends on your environment. You might work at a law firm and come in with spiked hair, tatoos, and black clothing. Most people would look at you strangely. You take the same outfit and join a rock group. You are seen as normal. Someone comes to try out for a rock group wearing a business suit with glasses. The group would not see him as normal. These differences sometimes help us to identify people. Most of the time we profile. It is very important to not judge a book by it's cover. A lot of things that were seen as weird in the past are now seen as normal. Self expression is a beautiful thing as long as it does not hurt anyone.

Answer 7

It's instinctual to fit into the pack. Yes, there is the need to control abherrant behaviour that could hurt people or property. Hence the need for laws. Living outside the law is not considered normal. Normal is what the majority do and believe. It's how we co-exist peacefully, and as we can all clearly see, when these ideas of what constitutes normalcy clash, peace is shattered.

Answer 8

I think "normalilty" is a way to control human behavior because it is known that humans fear what is out of the ordinary or what they don't understand. So humans as a society set a standard of appearance, intelligence, and mannerisms that constitue whether you are just like everyone else enough to fit in. It is simply a way to avoid a stupid fear of misunderstanding. If you think about it, how many scientific discoveries and how many artistic and industrial revolutions came from people thinking inside the box of what was considered normal?

Answer 9

Who knows what 'normal' is but I think it is important for people to appear 'normal' because people, in general, are mean. It's that simple. If others notice you are different in anyway, as a child you get picked on, as a teenager you have no friends, even as an adult you will get criticized. People will make fun of, talk about, point fingers at anybody that is different. It's sad but true...you have no choice but to want to be so called normal so you can fit in.

Answer 10

Normal is the absolute worst thing to be, you ever tried that, it's horrible. What do you want to be when you grow up, Gee dad I want to be a lifeless zombie stuck in the loop of social pressure constantly criticised by those around me. Ahem sorry bout that I don't like normal. To be human is to be unique normal is a set limit into which we can base things off from. The abstract is what allows normal to be.