Post by Radrook Admin on Sept 6, 2019 9:41:27 GMT -5
Definition of Abnormal
Defining what is normal and what is abnormal isn't as easy as might seem. The difficulty arises because of differences in culture which causes a behavior to be tagged as normal in one, while being taboo in another. It is referred to as cultural relativism and the pre-Socratic sophists argued that there is no right or wrong or normal or abnormal based on it.
Victimizing Others
Now, if indeed such were the case, then the Enlightenment, which inspired the writing of the Bill of Human Rights in order to protect us from despotism, would not have been possible. The right to freedom of speech, pursuit of happiness, freedom of worship, freedom to own property, are nonnegotiable. etc. Anyone violating these human rights is considered to be behaving antisocially or abnormally.
Cultures which insist on going contrary these rights by the United Nations, are viewed as seriously flawed and economic sanctions are leveled against them. So no, cultural relativity is not an acceptable argument when a behavior violates human rights and is therefore justifiably tagged as abnormal.
Effect on the person himself
Another way to determine if a behavior is normal is the effect that it has on the person's life. Does it endanger his health or existence? Does it prevent him from earning an honest living? Is he forced into abject poverty and suffering because of it? Is it based on what the vast majority of mankind considers reality or is it based on an illusion or hallucinations? If the person believes himself to be a horse and goes galloping down the street and tries to survive on grass-obviously that is abnormal. Or if the person drinks Clorox in order to cleanse his digestive system, and keeps winding up at ER, or has a tendency to jump off tall buildings because he believes he can fly,that also is justifiably deemed abnormal regardless of the culture in which it occurs.
Below is a brief definition of Abnormal provided by different dictionaries.
Abnormal Psychology Defined
n.
The study of mental and emotional disorders, dysfunctional behaviors, and their treatment.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
abnormal psychology
n
(Psychology) the study of behaviour patterns that diverge widely from generally accepted norms, esp those of a pathological nature
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
abnor′mal psychol′ogy
n.
the branch of psychology that deals with modes of behavior, mental phenomena, etc., that deviate markedly from the standards believed to characterize a well-adjusted personality.
[1900–05]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
The following article goes deeper into the subject.
Definitions of Abnormality
The definition of the word abnormal is simple enough but applying this to psychology poses a complex problem: what is normal? Whose norm? For what age? For what culture?
The concept of abnormality is imprecise and difficult to define. Examples of abnormality can take many different forms and involve different features, so that, what at first sight seem quite reasonable definitions, turns out to be quite problematical.
There are several different ways in which it is possible to define ‘abnormal’ as opposed to our ideas of what is ‘normal
www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html