ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a succinct and precise explanation of the social construction of normality. The distinction between marked (exceptional, debated) and unmarked (ordinary, disregarded) is explored through the lenses of the sociology of thinking. The characteristic semiotic asymmetry and lopsided distribution of sociocultural weight attached to different features are addressed, and the cognitive defaults underlying these processes are explored. Many examples regarding different fields of human behavior are provided. Finally, the author concludes by highlighting the persistence of sociosemiotic patterns.
