Lecture 02

2. Normality vs. Abnormality
 Normality
The absence of illness and the presence of state of well being
called normality.
 The condition of being normal; the state of being usual, typical, or
expected
 Abnormality
 A physical malformation; deformity
 Deviation from the typical or usual; irregularity

( According to Morgan & King)
Abnormality is the significant deviation from commonly accepted
patterns of behavior, emotion or thought".

3.  NORMALITY
 As we have seen, normality means different things to
different people at different times in different settings. If, as a
soldier, we shoot someone in wartime we may receive a
medal; if we shoot someone in peacetime we will be put in
prison. If we lose our job and someone close to us dies then it
is normal for us to be unhappy and depressed. In fact if we
were not unhappy and depressed it would be abnormal.
Therefore we have to look at emotions and behavior in the
context in which they occur

4. MARIE JAHODA suggested :
 That mentally healthy individuals should be in touch with their
identity and their feelings.
 They should be oriented toward the future, and over time they
should remain fruitfully invested in life.
 Their psyches should be integrated and provide them resistance
to stress.
 They should possess autonomy and recognize what suits their
needs.
 They should perceive reality without distortion and yet possess
empathy.
 They should be masters of their environment—able to work, to
love, and to play and to be efficient in problem solving.

5.  Characteristics of a normal mentality, person
 1. Efficient perception of reality
 They have a realistic view of their strengths and weaknesses
 They know what they have the ability to do and what they
cannot do. They have a realistic Perception of what is
happening around them and their reactions to those events

6.  2. Self knowledge
 They have an understanding of WHY they do things and
WHY they have certain emotions. None of us has complete
Insight into our feelings and behavior but normal people
have more Insight than the mentally ill
 3. ability to control behaviour
 Occasionally normal people may act impulsively [Without
thinking] but normally they can control DRIVES such as
aggression

7.  4. Self-esteem
 They know their own value and feel happy with their
achievements and abilities. They feel accepted by those
around them. They may wish that they were more handsome
or intelligent but they don't allow these ideas to rule their
lives. They know that though they may not be handsome
they have a nice personality or, that though they cannot be a
university professor they are doing a useful job which brings
in money for the family to live on.
 Mentally disordered people often feel that they are worthless
and not accepted by other people. They may blame society or
other people for their feelings of worthlessness and Rejection

8.  5. Able to form close relationships
 NORMAL people are able to form close and satisfying
friendships and relationships. They are aware of other
peoples feelings and beliefs and adapt to them.
 Mentally disordered people often think only of their own
problems and are unable to care about other peoples
problems [they are often Self-centered]. Sometimes they do
not want to form close friendships because at some time in
the past they were emotionally hurt by the breakup of a
relationship

9.  6. Productivity
 They are able to channel their energies into work' and social
life. They are enthusiastic about their lives and enjoy
activities.
 Mentally disordered people often feel chronically tired and
each day is an obstacle to be suffered, not enjoyed.

10. Criteria often used in defining abnormality
 1. Deviation from social norms
 Every society has certain standards [or Norms] of behavior
that it expects. Such things as the way we dress, politeness,
bad language are subject to certain rules [often unwritten].
However, Social Norms are different in different societies.
Eating in public during the day at Ramadan would be
regarded as a deviation and would be punished. It would not
be a deviation in a non-Islamic country.

11. 2. Maladaptive behaviour
 Behavior is abnormal if it is Maladaptive ie: it has an adverse
[bad] effect on the well-being of the individual or society. For
example a person who is so frightened of crowds that he
cannot leave his home or a person who drinks so much
alcohol that he cannot live a normal life. Individuals who are
violent and aggressive have a bad effect on society. They may
release their aggression on the roads and cause traffic
accidents or indulge in crime.

12. 3. Personal distress
 In this criteria one would look at the person's subjective
[internal] feelings rather than their [external] behavior. They
may feel unhappy, depressed and agitated. They may be
unable to concentrate or sleep. They may hide these feelings
from others and their behavior may appear normal. There
may be the "Smiling Depression" where an individual is very
depressed but hides that depression from family and friends.
Often the first that his family know of the depression is when
he attempts to kill himself.