Abnormality, in the context of behavior, refers to a behavioral characteristic that is atypical, undesirable, and results in impairment in an individual's functioning
. It is considered deviant from specific societal, cultural, and ethnic expectations, which are broadly dependent on age, gender, and traditional categorizations
. Abnormal behavior is often associated with mental disorders, and its determination is based on medical diagnosis
. Some criteria for defining abnormality in behavior include:
- Statistical infrequency : Behaviors that are statistically rare are considered abnormal
- Personal distress : When a person engages in abnormal behavior, the cause and sometimes the result of their behavior can be distress
- Deviation from ideal mental health : Abnormality can be defined as a deviation from ideal mental health, rather than simply being rare or statistically unusual
Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that studies, diagnoses, and treats unusual patterns of behavior, emotions, and thoughts that could signify a mental disorder
. It is essential to understand and manage mental health issues, develop treatments, and help people better cope with their day-to-day lives
. Many people engage in behavior that is maladaptive or harmful, but they are not classified as abnormal if the behavior is not statistically unusual or does not significantly impair their functioning
