Understanding Abnormality Through Social Norms and Statistical Infrequency

Abnormality can be defined as behaviors that deviate from social norms, which are expectations of right and wrong in society. These norms can vary significantly across cultures; what is normal in one may be strange in another. Deviating from these norms often involves breaking unspoken rules, such as talking to oneself or refusing to engage in daily activities, which society may view as abnormal. Additionally, defining abnormality through statistical infrequency focuses on rare or extreme behaviors, providing an objective measure that does not depend on societal opinions. This perspective highlights how traits, such as intelligence, can be understood through their distribution in the population.