ABSTRACT
The criteria for abnormality are primarily based on how a person is acting or what a person is saying and only rarely include a specific known marker for disorder. Of course, most of us would agree that problems are evident when individuals do not acquire speech, are unable to feed themselves, or see and hear things that others do not. But less dramatic instances are harder to judge and a fine line can exist between what is considered disordered and what is normal. Young people of specific ages display behaviors that may or may not be considered signs of disturbance, such as noncompliance with parental rules, social withdrawal, high activity level, fearfulness, sadness, and delayed reading skills. Thus, we must ask, “When do we consider behaviors abnormal?” and “How can we distinguish everyday problems from more serious indications of psychopathology?” There are no simple answers to these questions, but it is informative to consider several factors that enter into judgments about psychological or behavioral disturbances.
