Culture and abnormality: Definitions, diagnoses and treatment across cultures

Culture, abnormality and psychopathology In everyday discourse it is common (normal, even) to point out someone’s behaviour and declare it unusual, weird, abnormal. This usually happens when someone steps out of line or does something that is considered extreme or socially unacceptable, eccentric or even courageous. However, psychologists are rather more cautious about labelling behaviour ‘abnormal’. Traditionally they have struggled to establish workable criteria against which to judge behaviour as normal, abnormal or pathological (requiring medical treatment). Yet several criteria are open for consideration.