Defining Normal and Abnormal

At this stage in your study of mental health diagnoses, you might be wondering, “Since I can often recognize what I consider to be abnormal behavior, why is it so difficult to define?” As you found in this week’s assigned reading, some of the issues involved in distinguishing abnormal from normal behavior are complex and fraught with controversy. Additionally, the definition of abnormal behavior can change with time.

To Prepare:

Review the learning resources
Think about how you define normal and abnormal behavior
Draw from the definitions put forth in the Learning Resources as compared to the definitions put forth by society
Post by Day 3:

a comparison of normal and abnormal behavior
Challenges you might see in using these definitions to inform the diagnosis of your clients.
How you might figure out if a behavior is normal or abnormal if it isn’t immediately clear
Your current views on whether all abnormal behavior should be diagnosed and treated (why or why not)
Readings

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).Arlington, VA: Author.
Preface (pp. xli–xliv )
Section I, DSM-5 Basics
“Introduction”
“Use of the Manual”
https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596