'Drawing the Line: Normal and Abnormal Behavior Essay\r'

'The term ab frequent is specify as deviating from the norm (Spoor, 1999). The definition til now is problematic in that it addresses other factors. For instance, iodin needs to contemplate what the norm is and who labeled it as such. Norms be similarly high-power; a norm today may no longer be genius in the future. The fact that norms are also culture specific (Syque, 2007) leads one to consider that deviateity is largely relative.\r\n Delineating between normal and insane deportment is thus much complicated in that a medical checkup implication is often involved. Several criteria ease up been proposed to account for such. For instance, the first criteria accounts for the deportment’s deviation from cultural norms. Cultures impose upon its members sealed norms and the deviation from such often results to organism labeled as abnormal. Men who wore earrings xl years ago were thus considered abnormal. Second, abnormal behavior deviates from the stati stical norm (Smith, Nolen †Hoeksema, Fredrickson, Loftus, 2003). to the highest degree people tend to fall at heart the mean of certain traits.\r\nAn undivided with an IQ of 40 falls on the peak end and is therefore considered abnormal. Third, abnormal behavior is maladaptive; that is, it has detrimental effects on the individual and society. A woman who fears crowds and avoids fetching the bus to work even if she has to is an ex angstromle. Lastly, abnormal behavior causes personal distress (Smith, et al, 2003). An individual who harbors self †defeating belilefs about himself is deemed abnormal.\r\n Abnormal behavior is rarely diagnosed effectively using effective one from the aforementioned criteria. For a quash that calls to draw the line between nitrogen and abnormality; one needs to be cautious in that people are inevitably affected and involved.\r\nReferences\r\nSmith, E., Nolen †Hoeksema, S., Fredrickson, B. & Loftus, G. (2003). Atkinson & Hilgard’s Introduction to psychological science, 14th Edition. capital of Singapore: Thomson Learning Asia.\r\nSpoor, Katrina. (1999). What is â€Å"abnormal”? A novice’s Guide to Abnormal Psychology Site. Retrieved December 12, 2007 from http://www.purgatory.net/merits/abnormal.htm\r\nSyque. (2007). Elements of Culture. ChangingMinds.org Site. Retrieved December 12, 2007 from http://changingminds.org/explanations/culture/elements_of_culture.htm\r\n'