The term "normal" usually means adjusted to society's norms (rules). So what happens when a society's norms start becoming unhealthy? Does it mean then that those who adjust to and accept unhealthy norms are normal and those who do not are abnormal? Is there a difference between normal and healthy? |
|
|
Years ago I took a class in abnormal psychology. As interesting as it was, I had trouble with the term "abnormal" being used to describe mental illness within the context of modern society. First of all, certain mental dis-eases (for example, anxiety and depression) could probably be considered normal (albeit undesirable) responses to unhealthy or abnormal social conditions. In fact,it seems that unhealthy or abnormal social conditions are becoming more common (errr....normal) in America lately. As such, I tend to view high rates of anxiety, depression and other mental and physical dis-eases more as barometers of societal demise.
More "Normals" Experiencing Abnormalities
According to Martin Seligman, Ph.D., of the American Psychological Association, an American today is much more likely to experience depression at some point in his or her life than at any other time in the past hundred years. In a 2000 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Jean Twenge, Ph.D. of Case Western Reserve, authored several studies showing that normal children today report more anxiety than child psychiatric patients did in the 1950s. In other words, abnormal psychology is becoming more normal!
"That's Just the Way It Is"
Prevailing social norms, whether healthy or not, typically define the measuring sticks whereby we confer whether or not someone or something is behaving or adjusting normally or abnormally. I suggest we stop associating the terms normality with health, and abnormality with illness, and instead focus on making health the norm.
The following lifestyle trends suggest that, in general, "normal" America is not moving in a healthy direction:
1. Pace of Life
Normal: Frenetic, multi-tasking, stressful, distracted, with little time for personal reflection, wellness activities, relationship building, and community
Healthy: Relaxed, balanced, focused, with ample time for personal reflection, wellness activities, relationship building, and community.
2. Values and Achievements
Normal: Guided by externals, consumerism/materialism, status-anxiety, others' expectations, and often adopted without much thought or question
Healthy: Guided by deep introspection and strong self-worth, questioned and fully examined, deeply resonant with inner (spiritual) self, sense of purpose
3. Consumption
Normal: "Consume and toss" without much thought about personal, social, or environmental consequences
Healthy - Health and ecology-minded choices, conservation
4. Relationships
Normal: Relationships of "convenience," superficial, often crowded out of busy schedules
Healthy: Authentic, sense of real connection, honesty
5. Diet
Normal: Highly processed, high in sugar, fat, and additives, lots of junk food, "convenience" important, low in fiber
Healthy: Minimally processed, high in whole grains, legumes/beans, fresh vegetables and fruit, with occasional splurges (after all, healthy doesn't have to mean purist or food fascist!)
6. Physical Activity
Normal: Minimized - driving instead of walking or biking, lots of sedentary activities including work, watching TV, and sitting in front of computer for hours, with no regular exercise
Healthy: Increasing opportunities for physical activity (taking stairs instead of elevator, walking/biking instead of driving), with regularly scheduled exercise
7. Mental/Emotional State
Normal: Stressed, rushed, anxious, or masking and suppressing emotions
Healthy: Relaxed, peaceful, in touch with and accepting of all emotions, able to express feelings
8. Entertainment
Normal: Media choices that repeatedly focus on negativity— crime, violence, dysfunctional behavior, catastrophes, vengeance, external power, or trivia, with a low level of creative, educational or spiritual value—mental junk food (take a look at what's on TV!)
Healthy: Mostly choices that inspire and provoke awareness of truth, beauty, wholeness, aliveness, uniqueness
9. Work
Normal: More than 40 hours per week, stressful, minimally fulfilling or unfulfilling, wage slavery
Healthy: Work-life balance (ample time for a life outside of work), sane work pace, at least somewhat fulfilling
10. Aging
Normal: Seen as a negative - "No longer productive," focus on illness and limitation
Healthy: Viewed with respect and appreciation, equated with wisdom, wellness focus
11. Tradition and Institutions
Normal: Widespread breakdown of life-enhancing institutions such as marriage, family and community due to materialistic value system and unexamined fervor for change and individualism.
Healthy: Life-enhancing traditions and institutions are preserved and enhanced.
12. State of Health
Normal: Abundance of lifestyle and environmentally induced diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, etc.)
Healthy: Lifestyle and environmentally induced wellness.
If we look closely, we can see that what's normal in contemporary society is often that which caters to a consumer-driven economy—speed, productivity, materialism, work addiction, desire for status symbols, even illness (given that our health care system is largely focused on disease management and not wellness or prevention).
"Normal" depends upon one's frame of reference. When cultural values become increasingly unhealthy, so can definitions of "normal." Therefore, we shouldn't be as concerned with norms as much as with what's truly healthy and conducive to positive outcomes.
In the meantime, if trends continue as they are, perhaps we should consider that rational thinking and healthy behavior may eventually define a new "abnormal psychology."
