Defining Abnormality

Defining Abnormality

Defining abnormality changes over time with the expectations of society. Abnormal behavior reflects upon peoples’ behaviors they show to the world. These behaviors are a reaction to situational factors. Situational factors are environmental, or things that cause a reaction people have no control over (Taflinger, 2011). Three of the challenges and situational factors affecting these behaviors are culture, gender and sexual preferences, or practices, and age.

Cultural challenges affecting the viewpoint of abnormal behaviors are the practicing of what that specific culture believes (Hansell & Damour, 2008). For example, what one culture practices and believes may seen abnormal to another. Gender and sexual preferences, or practices, challenges affecting the viewpoint of abnormal behavior rely upon society and what they believe is the norm at that time. For example, those following the dictates of the Bible believe only men and women relationships are normal (Hansell & Damour, 2008). In today’s society same gender relationships, bi-sexual, and other forms of relationship exist that many consider abnormal behavior (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

Age is another challenge affecting the viewpoint of abnormal behavior. At different stages of the lifespan people act differently. Infants cry to express their needs, adolescents act out from emotions and hormones, and adults react from stressors put into their every day lives. These three stages of the eight in the lifespan make the most impact on how people behave. Abnormal behavior in an infant may be not reacting to a loud noise, an adolescent showing suicidal idealism, and as an adult imbibing with alcohol or drugs excessively. Other challenges and situational factors also play a vast part in how society defines normal and abnormal behavior. Professionals in psychology also determine abnormal behaviors in people from the research and technology advancements over the years.

Culture

Hansell and Damour (2008) state that, “abnormal behavior is highly influenced by culture, gender, class, and age” (Hansell & Damour, 2008, p. 5). Normal and abnormal behavior is diverse all over the world. No one definition exists to define abnormal behavior because in different cultures normal and abnormal behavior is extensively “different and changes over periods of time” (Hansel & Damour, 2008, p. 15). An individual believing his or her body has demonic possession occurring is an example of this. The individual has episodes of “shouting, laughing out of control”, or hurting his or her body (Hansell & Damour, 2008, p. 16). Society would view this as abnormal behavior.

In “North African and Middle Eastern” cultures incidents like these are completely normal (Hansell & Damour, 2008, p. 16). These cultures call these incidents “Zar”