Psychology2016

Psychological Disorders 545

Simulate the Experiment Are You Normal?

Survey ARE YOU NORMAL?

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INTRODUCTION SURVEY RESULTS

Interactive

This survey asks you about your attitudes

towards and experiences with a broad range

of psychological principles and theories.

Click Next to begin the survey

situational context

the social or environmental setting

of a Rersonos Dehavior.

subjective discomfort

emotional distress or emotional Rain.

maladaptive

anything that does not allow a Rerson

to function within or adaRt to the

stresses and everyday demands of life.

STATISTICAL OR SOCIAL NORM DEVIANCE One way to define normal and abnormal is to

use a statistical definition. Frequently occurring behavior would be considered normal,

and behavior that is rare would be abnormal. Or how much behavior or thinking devi-

ates from the norms of a society. For example, refusing to wear clothing in a society that

does not permit nudity would likely be rare and be seen as abnormal. But deviance (vari-

ation) from social norms is not always labeled as negative or abnormal. For instance,

a person who decides to become a monk and live in a monastery in the United States

would be exhibiting unusual behavior, and certainly not what the society considers a

standard behavior, but it wouldn’t be a sign of abnormality.

The situational context (the social or environmental setting of a person’s behavior)

can also make a difference in how behavior or thinking is labeled. For example, if a man

comes to a therapist complaining of people listening in on his phone conversations and

spying on all his activities, the therapist’s first thought might be that the man is suffer-

ing from thoughts of persecution. But if the man then explains that he is in a witness

protection program, the complaints take on an entirely different and quite understand-

able tone.

SUBJECTIVE DISCOMFORT One sign of abnormality is when the person experiences a great

deal of subjective discomfort, or emotional distress while engaging in a particular behav-

ior or thought process. A woman who suffers from a fear of going outside her house, for

example, would experience a great deal of anxiety when trying to leave home and dis-

tress over being unable to leave. However, all thoughts or behavior that might be consid-

ered abnormal do not necessarily create subjective discomfort in the person having them

or committing the act—a serial killer, for example, does not experience emotional distress

after taking someone’s life, and some forms of disordered behavior involve showing no

emotions at all.

INABILITY TO FUNCTION NORMALLY Thinking or behavior that does not allow a person to

fit into society or function normally can also be labeled abnormal. These may be termed

maladaptive, meaning that the person finds it hard to adapt to the demands of day-to-

day living. Maladaptive thinking or behavior may initially help a person cope but has

harmful or damaging effects. For example, a woman who cuts herself to relieve anxi-

ety does experience initial relief but is harmed by the action. Maladaptive thinking and

behavior are key elements in the definition of abnormality.

Have you ever questioned if someone

was talking to himself or herself and then

discovered they were on the phone? What

are some other public behaviors than may

vary by context or situation?

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