The classification of abnormality and normality involves various perspectives and criteria. One approach views maladaptive behavior as a failure to function adequately, though not all who exhibit such behavior are deemed abnormal.
Jahoda defines six characteristics each view normality and abnormality from different perspectives
Medical
Abnormal thoughts, feelings or behaviourist have underlying biological cause and can be diagnosed and treated
Maladaptive
The approach view maladaptive behaviour as failure to function adequately, however many people engage in such behaviour but are not consider abnormal
Legal Act
Violation of country rules
Deviation from social norm
The approach regard breaking society's standards or norms as an abnormality
It defines abnormality in terms of trait, thinking or behaviour that are statistically infrequent ( Simple psychology 2018)
Violation of social norms
Violation of social norms is a definition of abnormality where a person's thinking or behavior is classified as abnormal if it violates the (unwritten) rules about what is expected or acceptable behavior in a particular social group.
Effect on others
Ranges from having a positive effect to being barely noticeable
Socially accepted
Normal behaviour is socially accepted while abnormal behaviour is not accepted
Situation
Behaviour that is normal in one place and context may be abnormal in a different situation. E.g nudity is normal in the bath, changing room and on the nudist beaches but not on supermarkets
History
What is abnormal at one time might be Norma later, even in the same culture. E.g homosexuality used to be viewed as a mental illness but now accepted by most in Western culture
Unpredictability
Does the person act in ways that are unexpected by themselves or other people
Normal curve indicates that behaviour are common while others are rare
A normal psychological disorder is a condition characterised by abnornormal thought feelings and behaviour ( Boundless psychology)
