This semester, in addition to my pre-med requirements and neuroscience classes, I decided to supplement my learning with a must-take class at Brown: Abnormal Psychology. I would highly recommend this course to any student, specifically those interested in working in medicine. Even without a desire to go into the medical field, the class offer a new way to understand people, their behavior and the world around you. Based on the readings and content we have covered this semester, I have included a short essay I drafted for an assignment. It tackles the crucial question of what constitutes normal versus abnormal, and how the field of psychology has continuously evolved to accommodate these differences. Happy reading!
“As the field of psychology becomes increasingly sensitive and aware of the influence that culture, race, ethnicity, and gender have on psychological functioning, it can sometimes become difficult to deem what is considered normal and abnormal behavior. Due to diverse cultural practices and traditions, the Westernized view of normalcy can be vastly altered by local practices in different countries. What may be seen as deviant and dysfunctional in the United States may very well be considered completely normal in some communities. For example, women from some tribes in Myanmar are motivated to achieve the “perfect” neck size by stacking heavy brass rings around it. (Comer). This cultural norm is something that is not only expected, but encouraged among women, but could be seen as outlandish and abnormal behaviour in Western societies. Nonetheless, this is an ideal example of how differences between cultures and daily practices can make it difficult to distinguish normal and abnormal behaviour. While the norms of both communities are accepted and respected, it challenges people with the idea of when to draw the line. At what point does cultural difference be put aside to declare a person’s behaviour abnormal? Who is responsible to ultimately decide what is acceptable? These are questions that I ponder as society becomes more cognisant of cultural differences and their relationship to functional behavior. On a more local scale, rapidly changing societal norms can also make it difficult to be consistent about what we call normal or abnormal. For example, there has been a recent increase in technology and ride-sharing apps that have changed the way we think about modern-day transportation. It may have been considered extremely dangerous and risky behaviour to get into a stranger’s car who would provide transportation in exchange for money in the past few decades, however, companies like Uber have reshaped society’s views on what is deemed socially acceptable. This is an example of how social culture can change over time and alter something that was once viewed as abnormal behavior into normal. These fast-paced cultural changes and regional differences are why there is a lack of coherence when it comes to defining normal vs. abnormal behavior.”