What is 'abnormal'?

I hope this isn't inappropriate or anything like that.
But I'm doing an essay titled 'What is 'Abnormal'? and i was just trying to get some research done and wondered if you guys would be happy to let me know what you think about it!

your help would be much appreciated


So yeah, what is abnormal?

Another Asuka wrote:When one does not adhere to the social norms of their respective society.

What are these 'social norms'?
And what is 'the norm'?

aabigaill wrote:

Another Asuka wrote:When one does not adhere to the social norms of their respective society.

What are these 'social norms'?
And what is 'the norm'?

Thought.

Nothing is abnormal, until you say somthing is abnormal

Yes, 'abnormality' isn't really anything that can be defined. It changes depending on who's perspective you are looking from. For example: What is normal for the cat, is abnormal for the dog; What is normal for an E. coli cell, is abnormal for me.

Kevin.

Abnormal Psychology in short is when you violate social norms in your society. But of course there is more to it than that ...

*opens up psychology book* Abnormal Behavior ... "Pattern of emotion, thought, and action deemed pathological for one or more of the following reasons: infrequent occurrence, violation of norms, personal distress, disability or dysfunction, and unexpectedness."

If most of the people on this planet have some form of mental illness then we are normal, and they are abnormal.

I demand my crazy rights! I demand to say surreal things at any given moment and still be worth talking to!

Tee hee. I'm a firestarter!

albie wrote:If most of the people on this planet have some form of mental illness then we are normal, and they are abnormal.

I demand my crazy rights! I demand to say surreal things at any given moment and still be worth talking to!

Tee hee. I'm a firestarter!

That's exactly the way it is: Normality is just whatever the mass population is like. So, if the mass population consists mostly of cocaine abusers, then that is normal; If they all have Schizophrenia, then that is normal too. Anyway, albie, you're quite a character here - you can say whatever random and silly thing that you want to and you will always be worth talking to, no matter what.

Kevin

I could probably say weird stuff in the real world too, and get away with it. But I always go too far.

Do you feel comfortable enough to give an example of such a 'gone-too-far' weird thing to say? I remember once, when I was younger, I started talking to my brother and a 'friend' about how I clean my anus when I am having a shower, and thinking that it was normal to talk about such things. I was genuinely surprised when they told me to shut-up.

Kevin