Normality

[samuch]

What do you consider the word "normal" to mean? in this world where individuals are ridiculed for 'standing out of the crowd'... How do we come to the conclusion that the people in this crowd are the 'normal' ones? Everyone is classified into groups, may it be - emo, muzza, gothic, indie etc...

In terms of behaviour... yelling is not accepted in a shopping centre but somehow it is OK at the footy... These are unwritten rules but how come when someone breaks them, that person is suddenly a weirdo or a freak?  :idiot2:

So yeah... what is "normal" and why... ?

[vexx]

We did this in psychology unit 2

definition: being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning
Normality in terms of what a particular society views as acceptable or unacceptable behaviour. What is considered acceptable or unacceptable behaviour in a society or culture depends on the era, or period of time, when the judgement is being made. So it is considered unacceptable to be screaming in a shopping centre, but at the football this is the 'accepted' behaviour due to the situation. Because within a society or culture, behaviour that is considered accepted in one situation may not be accepted in another.

[samuch]

how come society (the majority) is classified as 'normal' though? why isn't it just classified as what it is... the majority....

[vexx]

how come society (the majority) is classified as 'normal' though? why isn't it just classified as what it is... the majority....

i just changed what i said above, because it's more relevant to say this here. Behaviour is viewed as ‘normal’ if the individual can function effectively (or cope with living independently) in society; so accepted behaviours in society are considered normal. Also, if the majority of society started to stop wearing shoes in public, which is something we all consider 'normal', then it would start to become normal if everyone was doing it -- because then everyone who is not wearing shoes will be not be conforming to the social norm. what the majority of the society you are in does sets the standard of what is considered normal:
In a city town - wearing shoes is normal.
In a remote village - wearing shoes is not normal.
I hope you get what i'm saying, i'm starting to confuse myself haha

[samuch]

i do get what you're saying lol
i never did psychology unit 2... but i was just asking because its just one of those questions that don't really have a specific answer and each person views it differently even if the difference is only marginal...

In society there are people who do follow these 'unwritten rules' but are still considered not to be 'normal'... and then when someone asks you why you think that person is weird you can't really answer....

mmm i think im letting my mind wander a bit too much haha

[ReVeL]

In society there are people who do follow these 'unwritten rules' but are still considered not to be 'normal'... and then when someone asks you why you think that person is weird you can't really answer....

I thought you were saying when someone breaks these rules they are considered abnormal. Could you provide an example of people following these unwritten rules but still being thought of as weird?

[samuch]

ummmm for example you just meet someone new... you judge them and form your opinion of them.... you may think they are weird from that first impression just because of the way they looked or what conversation they made....
am i making sense?

[vexx]

i do get what you're saying lol
i never did psychology unit 2... but i was just asking because its just one of those questions that don't really have a specific answer and each person views it differently even if the difference is only marginal...

In society there are people who do follow these 'unwritten rules' but are still considered not to be 'normal'... and then when someone asks you why you think that person is weird you can't really answer....

mmm i think im letting my mind wander a bit too much haha

haha yeah it's kinda confusing but it all makes sense it you think about it. it's really only a concept though, so these people that are 'weird' or abnormal, are so because they don't follow the 'unwritten rules' or not conforming to social norms. but if they are following the unwritten rules, they are most likely still considered abnormal because they have some behaviour, or think differently, then what is expected of a typical person of that society. like if there was a kid at school who constantly told everyone he was going to destroy the world, but did follow the other 'written rules', he would still not be considered normal as it is abnormal to want to destroy the world - irrational even; and it would not be well understood, therefore considered weird.
err. make sense?

[ReVeL]

ummmm for example you just meet someone new... you judge them and form your opinion of them.... you may think they are weird from that first impression just because of the way they looked or what conversation they made....
am i making sense?

So wouldn't they be breaking those unwritten rules (through fault of their own or not) because of they way they dress or come across?

[samuch]

i do get what you're saying lol
i never did psychology unit 2... but i was just asking because its just one of those questions that don't really have a specific answer and each person views it differently even if the difference is only marginal...

In society there are people who do follow these 'unwritten rules' but are still considered not to be 'normal'... and then when someone asks you why you think that person is weird you can't really answer....

mmm i think im letting my mind wander a bit too much haha

haha yeah it's kinda confusing but it all makes sense it you think about it. it's really only a concept though, so these people that are 'weird' or abnormal, are so because they don't follow the 'unwritten rules' or not conforming to social norms. but if they are following the unwritten rules, they are most likely still considered abnormal because they have some behaviour, or think differently, then what is expected of a typical person of that society. like if there was a kid at school who constantly told everyone he was going to destroy the world, but did follow the other 'written rules', he would still not be considered normal as it is abnormal to want to destroy the world - irrational even; and it would not be well understood, therefore considered weird.
err. make sense?

yah thanks

[samuch]

ummmm for example you just meet someone new... you judge them and form your opinion of them.... you may think they are weird from that first impression just because of the way they looked or what conversation they made....
am i making sense?

So wouldn't they be breaking those unwritten rules (through fault of their own or not) because of they way they dress or come across?

how can the way they come across break an unwritten rule? Are you saying that everyone has their own unwritten rules and once someone breaks them they are weird to that person only? or am i reading into what you said too deeply...

[ReVeL]

ummmm for example you just meet someone new... you judge them and form your opinion of them.... you may think they are weird from that first impression just because of the way they looked or what conversation they made....
am i making sense?

So wouldn't they be breaking those unwritten rules (through fault of their own or not) because of they way they dress or come across?

how can the way they come across break an unwritten rule? Are you saying that everyone has their own unwritten rules and once someone breaks them they are weird to that person only? or am i reading into what you said too deeply...

Well think about it. Why would you judge someone as weird? They would have to give you a reason. To use your example, maybe they were talking too loudly to you in a shopping centre. It could be anything. What I'm saying is those 'unwritten rules' you are talking about extend to almost anything.

[samuch]

yah, thanks