BY ARCHANA
The American Psychological Association defines abnormal behavior as “behavior that is atypical or statistically uncommon within a particular culture or that is maladaptive or detrimental to an individual or those around that individual.”
In a casual sense, we can define abnormal behavior as a behavior that deviates from the normal pattern of behaving, thinking, or feeling. It is quite difficult to define it, but we can notice any kind of abnormal behavior when we face it ourselves. Abnormal behavior can also be called such behavior that is not accepted by our society and their norms and values. Abnormal behavior is most of the time influenced by different kinds of psychological disorders and illnesses. If any behavior of yours is right for you but isn’t normal among a group of people or under any cultural or other values, then also those kinds of behaviors can be considered as abnormal behavior. Most of the time we also distinguish normal and abnormal behaviour on the basis of our own perception or the things we are used to.
Talking about normal behavior, it’s kind of vice versa from abnormal behavior. Which means a normal behavior is a type of behavior of an individual that is perfectly accepted by the society and their norms and values. Unlike abnormal behavior, normal behavior can be abnormal for oneself, but it can be normal for others, and that is what we count.
If we differentiate normal behavior and abnormal behavior, then we can simply say that normal behavior is a behavior that is common among a group of people or any kind of action that is expected, whereas abnormal behaviors are normally unexpected and aren’t common among a group of people. Normal behavior doesn’t make any kind of negative impact on our day-to-day life, but it’s quite the opposite with abnormal behavior.
Abnormal behavior not only hampers his/her daily routine but it makes others’ lives and surroundings difficult too. For instance, if a person is laughing at a funeral, then it is unacceptable for anyone. Eating beef can also be considered an abnormal behavior in Nepal, as it is against the law as well as the social norms and values. If a person is going for a morning walk at 5:30 AM, then it’s normal, but it can’t be called normal if someone is going for a morning walk at 11:45 AM, though technically 11:45 AM is also a morning time.
Abnormal behaviors are influenced by various factors like biological factors, psychological factors, social factors, cultural factors, and many more. Sometimes, normal or abnormal behavior is more evaluated on the basis of societal norms and values rather than other factors, but it is quite controversial, as normal behavior in one culture can be considered abnormal in another.
In conclusion, abnormal behavior can be considered as the unexpected behavior against societal expectations and values, whereas normal behavior is the expected behavior and accepted by a group of people or by any culture.