My name is Julie, but most people call me Jules. I live in New Hampshire with my 17-
year-old son. I work full-time as the lead server and bartender at a restaurant and am enrolled
full-time in school. I am currently pursuing a psychology degree with a focus on addictions. My
goal is to obtain my LADC and become an addiction counselor. I am in recovery myself and
would like to be able to help those who are still struggling.
The definition of abnormal behavior has evolved throughout history. Early writings
showed that abnormal behavior had been attributed to someone being possessed by a god or a
demon. The exhibited behavior determined whether they believed the possession was good or
evil. A good possession could be defined by behavior that had religious significance. In contrast,
evil was behavior contrary to their religious teachings. However, the Greeks disagreed with this
belief. They were the first to believe that abnormal behavior meant that there was a problem
within the body. Hippocrates attributed the behavior directly to the brain. He had three
classifications for mental disorders, and they included mania, phrenitis, and melancholia. He also
introduced the idea of the four humors. This was the relation of the four elements of the earth to
the four bodily fluids. He believed that the dominant fluid would determine a person’s
temperament. Plato partly believed in a divine cause but also introduced cultural influence.
The Chinese were one of the earliest civilizations to introduce attention to mental illness
and medicine. They did believe that mental illness was rooted in natural causes. They believed
that if the two forces in the concept of yin and yang weren’t balanced, they would result in illness
and would focus on restoring that balance. They believed that someone who had become ill
might eat and sleep less, feel sad, behave in strange manners, hear voices, or possibly see weird
things. They treated people with medicine and attempted to regain emotional balance. During the
Middle Ages, mental hospitals began to open. The first was constructed in Baghdad. Avicenna
was well known, and he had written about epilepsy, melancholia, hysteria, and manic reactions.
If I had to define abnormal behavior, I would say that it was atypical, undesirable, or that
it was behavior that impaired someone’s ability to function. It would be behavior that violated
cultural and societal norms.
Abnormal behavior varies between cultures. Cultural factors can influence what disorder
someone may develop, what form it might take, how frequently it may occur, and the course it
might take. The outcome of disorders can also greatly vary across different cultures. An example
of a way that depression can be seen differently across cultures is with the symptoms that
Western cultures attribute to it. We believe that finding a lack of pleasure in relationships and
things in the world is a symptom of depression. However, Buddhists believe it is the basis of all
suffering. We may also experience bouts of depression when we grieve. However, Shi’ite
Muslims believe that fully experiencing grief is a marker for understanding and depth of
personality. Another example can be seen in parenting. In Western societies, we value secure
attachment relationships. This occurs when a parent responds to a signal from their child but
gradually allows that child to develop autonomy. However, in Japan, it is expected that parents
and teachers anticipate all of their children’s needs. As a result, a secure attachment in Japan
results when a child is entirely dependent.
Abnormal behavior may result from biological, psychological, and social factors.
Biologically abnormal behavior can be attributed to genes, chemical imbalances, and brain
abnormalities. Psychologically, it may be attributed to trauma, stress, personality traits, learned
behavior, or cognitive functions. Socially, it may be attributed to family dynamics, isolation,
expectations, or life events.
These contributing factors relate to self-care, social justice, emotional intelligence, and
ethics. Abnormal behavior can significantly impair one’s ability to provide self-care for
themselves. Social justice applies because people may face discrimination or prejudice in social
situations, which could contribute to abnormal behavior. Emotional intelligence is required to
understand your own and other’s emotions. If you cannot do this, you may not be able to manage
them correctly, which could result in abnormal behavior. Ethics refers to values, morals, social
norms, and legal requirements for some careers. If ethics are not upheld, it could, in turn, result
in abnormal behavior.
