For as long as people live, they strive to be “normal”. We work hard to ensure we fit the status quo. What is normal you may ask? The term “normal” means usual or ordinary : not strange and mentally and physically healthy. With fear of rejection, we may mask many talents that make us who we are, for example, one’s interest in something typically considered “normal”. That’s the problem, the term normal is putting such stress on our society, thus leaving us to hide what makes us who are. We are forgetting that underneath religion, color, background and opinion, we are all just people striving to fit the “normal” that not everyone can reach. For example, people who aren’t mentally or physically healthy, people who a very eccentric background and people who just aren’t majority. Therefore, in order to build a better world, we must redefine the definition of normal, making it achievable for larger variety of people. …show more content…
While researching this topic, I stumbled across a wikihow on how to be normal. It said you must come out of your comfort zone more often and keep a clean house, you should dress like those around you and speak perfectly every time you open your mouth. Any of these contradict how you live? Well guess what, you’re not normal. The general argument made by Eric Maisel in his blog “What do we mean by normal”, on Psychology Today, is that normal is a term people have started to hide behind. Maisel states, “Normal can’t mean and must not mean ‘what we see most of’ or ‘what we see all the time’. It must have a different from that to mean anything of the value to right thinking people”, suggesting that what we’ve be told is normal is wrong because we’re looking at the wrong values. This relates back to the thesis, “in order to build a better world, we must redefine the definition of normal, making it achievable for larger variety of
...mans that we are today. Loving and supporting others no matter of your likings is the nature of life. Being violent and showing hate towards others is also part of life, unfortunately. Humans are vulnerable to the world socially and physically. There is no correct answer what actually makes humans normal. Everyone is normal in their own way and no matter what a person do, there will always be others that will judge you and find any way possible to dislike you. That’s why a person needs to be themselves and do what make them happy because nobody is perfect. Humans being humans is what makes life livable and dependable and humans dependable.
According to our text because of the difficult distinguishing normal from abnormal behavior, psychologists have struggled to devise a precise, scientific definition of “abnormal behavior” (Psychology and Your Life Feldam 2017). What is considered abnormal for some can be considered normal for others. The lifestyle practice that one chooses or the way an individual copes with life can differ amongst individuals. Deciding which coping style or preference is normal is or abnormal is generally is based off an individual's personal perception according to their own beliefs and practices.
Most people want to be normal. The definition of normal however, depends on the culture of the person making the judgment. Far too often, normal is defined in America by looking at the actions and beliefs of the average white middle class family. This definition of normal fails to let other cultures to be accepted, creating distance and misunderstanding.
Fey’s says that many normal people are not really normal and have serious psychological issues like depression and alcoholism. According to Feys these conditions are caused by, “ The desire to fit in”. Trying to fit in is a common experience in life and it can be stressful trying to be something you're not, and while I have not gotten any of theses psychological conditions, I could see how others might turn to alcoholism, addiction, or become depressed, either to try and relieve or respond to that stress.Some people may say that once someone is depressed or an alcoholic they are no longer normal. But how do you know if someone has one of these problems, your neighbor or someone in your family could be depressed and you might never know unless they told you. Are they freaks just because they have a temporary problem? If they weren’t normal they would not of given themselves these conditions by trying to fit in. Leopard man is so happy because he is free from the pressures to conform and does not care abou...
Just following the ant in front of us, and everyone looking the same as the next. Not having any of there own ideas or thoughts of what to do and how to do it. Some people are what you may call "normal", some are depressed, some are mentally ill, and some are just plain old crazy. In the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, written by Ken Kesey, the author shows how people can act so differently and have different ways of dealing with their problems. The story is narrated by Chief Bromden who is thought to be deaf and dumb.
Saleem had said “I’ve come to understand that normal has a lot to do with expectations.” What Saleem means by this is that if you’re normal, people will have solid expectations for you. This goes back to how color is important in ancient Greek culture and how it’s a part of their normal. This being said that ancient Greeks would only use certain colors in their writings or drawings, if they were able to make the color then they were able to use it in their art, but if they couldn’t make the color they wouldn’t use it. Saleem had said that the ancient Greeks couldn’t make the color blue because it wasn’t a part of their normal, if the color wasn’t makeable then it’s not normal to make that color other than if you can make that color then you as an individual are
As highlighted by the author, Mary Louise Adams in her article, “Excerpts from The Trouble with Normal”, ‘a norm’ “can be defined as something that is usual, typical or standardized” (Hacking, Adams, 2003). Norms are often already so established that most individuals do not realize how much they have shaped society and the people who live in it. Audrey Lord tells us that being a “White, thin, young, heterosexual, Christian, male” defines the characteristics of being “normal” and “privileged,” in which she calls “the mythical norm” (Perry, 2011). We use our sexuality, race and class as a way of giving ourselves an identity for the world to see. This identity will ultimately allow us to understand our place in the world and give
Once you are born, you become a part of a larger group. You will grow up starting at a point in your parent's life and then over time they or even you will change the direction of your families subculture in whatever country you all live in. In America, People strive for the best. Not all get it, but somehow or someone will push that family into a situation where they can move up in the world. Over the years America has came to a point where most jobs pay well and mostly anyone can be considered a middle class resident. In America this is considered normal to the general public. Being normal and striving to be normal is the focus most people try to reach within their lifetimes. Normality is a subculture in itself.
In “Constructing Normalcy,” Lennard J. Davis discusses how the idea of normalcy, the bell curve, and eugenics go hand-in-hand, especially in how only “negative” deviations from normalcy are deemed as a threat to the “purity” of humankind. This concept is inescapable in daily life, even seeping into such widespread cultural phenomenons as the Harry Potter book series, published by J.K. Rowling between 1997 and 2007. In particular, Remus Lupin, a werewolf, and Nymphadora Tonks, a Metamorphmagus, both have magical abilities beyond the norm, and each of their abilities is queer, yet Lupin’s lowers his productivity and is thus a disability while Tonks’ increases her productivity and is therefore normalized. Furthermore, both of these characters
The normalization of being a heterosexual presence would classify you as normal and you’d feel accepted by many different groups and communities by default. Certainly no one would deny that being true. What seems to be the issue is why is being heterosexual is the only type of normality society seems to accept. While reading Gloria Anzaldua’s Borderlands/ La Frontera, the author brought up her personal struggles with her sexuality within her culture and with society. As well as other difficulties when being a female and being lesbian (Anzaldúa and Saldívar-Hull, 41). The scope of this essay should cover the many different borders we face as humans when it comes to where we draw the line on sexuality.
Saleem states that he’s seen in statistics that normal maybe seen in color and gender. Which in a way are very many schools and jobs use “normal views.” We know that reviewers will find more spelling errors in your writing if they think you're black. We know that professors are less likely to help female or minority students.And we know that resumes with white-sounding names get more callbacks than resumes with black-sounding names.” Why do we, use the norm to see the “difference” in people that have. Different in a way is good to be around, you get to learn new cultures and new ways of life. So why is normal so judged? Well “ Because of our expectations of what is normal.” (Saleem 2016) our expectations are what we see as the norm is, which is what we live around. “But studies also show that discrimination of this kind, in most cases, is simply favoritism, and it results from more from wanting to help people that you can relate to than the desire to harm people that you can't relate to.” (Saleem 2016) What if we don’t mean the norm in people? We need to start becoming one and enjoy each other's differences.
deviations and find themselves perfectly normal. For people shouldnt have that thought that what they
...ociety tries to control what should be seen as normal, but as humans we are all individual and there is no 'norm' there is only an ideal self, how society would like everyone to be and conform.
It is used interchangeably with commonplace and usual and normal and typical and humdrum. Does this mean that being ordinary makes one humdrum? Being ordinary can be boring or exciting. It is again based on the point of view. If you can run a 5K faster than some people and slower than some others, you are an ordinary 5K runner but completing 5K can still be exciting. In the world of today, ordinary stereotypically entails that a person has little to no college education, a prosaic dead-end job, and a somewhat monotonous existence. However, the meaning is a bit more encompassing. Ordinariness is found in every single human being that has walked on the face of Earth, for God does give with both hands. Even Jim Thorpe, one of the best athletes in history, was an alcoholic who was terrible with money. The plumber who fixes your sink twice a year might be the best shuffleboard player in the county, but at the end of the day, he is still a plumber. The alcoholics and plumbers of the world can relate to the rest of mankind because tens of millions share their situation unlike the tens of ones that share Jim Thorpe’s
To be considered normal or abnormal has been just a label society places on you to explain individuality. When we are younger, we were given a mixed message that being different and unique is acceptable, however growing up in a society that wants you to blend in and adhere to the norms and usual customs of that culture is difficult. Being dissimilar often leads you to be judged and considered deviant. What you perceive not only defines your idiosyncratic judgment, so does your culture, prejudices, upbringing and generation you belong to. In our modern day society a universal normal has not, nor ever will exist. We think, look and all act differently and the reality of it is, no one is normal.