The Definition of "Normal"

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A lot of students believe that they do not belong or do not 'fit in' because they've been downgraded by someone elses opinion as "Not Normal" But can I ask, who has a right to decide what is normal and what isn't? In a world of teenagers gone mad, what would your definition of Normal be?
 
I believe that the general definition of "normal" is something along the lines of "someone who conforms to what the individual believes to be relative and appropriate behaviour"

To be "normal" is to adhere to human stereotypes and accept herd behaviour, something we all do in our daily lives without even thinking about it. Those who don't display the accepted response to a situation for whatever reason are considered to be abnormal; that is, their behaviour is inappropriate for the situation from the perspective of another person, or cannot be related to, so it is defined as abnormal or weird or whatever so that it can be understood.
 
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Straight from the horses mouth (me), I'd say normal is a state where an individual rather than a group acts how he or she wants without the least bit of constraint.

In my honest opinion, I think normality can not be subjected to those of other people, only yourself. Does one feel comfortable wearing eye liner and singing bon jovi songs while doing palates? If so, then this is a state of being normal. You or other people might judge one another based on what you were brought up to believe what was normal, but honestly it's a psychological state of mine.

It to me is where one feels at home the most. I mean some may act like myself and it may be easier to relate, because it is "more" normal, but it's up to the person if he/she feels it is normal to that their friends act a certain way.

I have one bud who constantly analyzes everything and when his roomate doesn't say "hello" he gets all emo about it. Now it might be wrong to exploit my friend in this situation, but honestly its normal to him.. just not so normal to me.
 
Well, I don't think being "normal" is something you are as much as it is how you're perceived by others. I mean, all of our definitions for "normal" will be different, and what we all see as "normal" is different as well. Even from culture to culture, country to country, what people see as being "normal" is very different.

As far as what I see as being normal, it would be someone who isn't "controversial". When I say controversial, I basically mean, something that isn't outrageous to the point where we ask ourselves the question "why are they like that?" This can also mean that being normal makes a person very bland, as they won't have any extreme traits in personality, which tends to make them ordinary as opposed to extraordinary. So being normal isn't always what it's cracked to be.

I consider myself normal, though some of our friends on FFF may disagree. For my personality, I'm very down-to-Earth, but also very consistent. The way I dress is very normal, as I dress very basic (blue jeans, basic shirt with no labels and of 1 non-bright color). Being normal like I am also makes me very basic, which is something that may seem very vanilla to some people, but that's just how I am. Being normal has many disadvantages as well, as you tend to get overlooked a lot. And believe me, there are many times when I almost don't exist, in real life and on the internet. But overall, I do enjoy being "normal", or from what I see as being "normal".
 
I think the definition of "normal" is whatever the individual wants it to be. We all see normal as different things. Someone may see cutting themselves as normal, while I am grossed out by it. Normality has many different definitions and it is up to a person to find what they think is normal and stick to it.

I believe that I am my own definition of normal. Whereas I do things that I see as being ordinary and not overly special. People think that since I am so good in school work, but tend to want to stay home a lot as being abnormal.

It's just what I see as normal in my own life, I guess, as others would see in their own life. We can all be abnormal to some and normal to others. So their may be no one defining meaning of the word.
 
The definition of normal is what is acceptable by society's standards (ie. that which is not deviant of the conventional).

In regards to students, what I find odd is how some kids are still considered to be outside the norm when really much of how students are labeled, jocks, preps, athletes, artists, goths, punks, indies are actually quite common to see.

Normal depends on the individuals definition, and if you want to get technical, by society's standards.
 
There is no such thing as 'normal' I mean you could try to fit in with others and whatnot but were all different and unique IMO. We can have the same taste etc. But I don't think there is such a thing unless, you were to try to be someone your not and be 'normal' to fit in V.V because you want to be friends with a group of people. To me it's a matter if they like you or it they don't. If they don't like you and you act different just to impress/ be friends with them then your not your 'normal' self. If they like you for who you are and you don't change then your well yourself which is normal because that's how you really are you know?? So it's normal/ comes naturally to you and your friends around :griin: If.. that makes sense xD.
 
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There is no such thing as normal. Everyone is different. I used to think I wasn't normal. I fit in find if I have the right friends. It takes time but just because you don't fit in with a certain crowd just means they are fools and you are different. Nobody is normal. You just need to find people to hang out with that understand you.
 
In the field that I work in, (Occupational Therapy, think physical therapy if you don't know what that is) we are told not to use the word normal when describing other people. We are told to use the word typical.

I guess if you were to define the word normal, it would be someone that conforms to the majority of what society expects. And like what Cricket said, no one is truly normal. We all have something that would not conform to society, but a lot of people are better at hiding it than others.

Apparently in high school I wasn't "normal" because the only boy I was ever interested in during my four years there was my boyfriend (now fiance). Yeah I was told that my relationship wasn't healthy because I should have been with other boys. However, I was very happy with my boyfriend and I was honestly not interested in any other guys. (I am quite picky about people I hang out with)
 
I don't really have one. I don't know what normal is. Quite frankly, I don't care. Nobody is normal. Everyone's a freak or a weirdo somehow. And even if someone was normal, that alone would be quite strange.

But to properly answer your question, I agree with this
Dee said:
The definition of normal is what is acceptable by society's standards
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"Normal" is socially and culturally defined. Everyone could give their own definition of the term, but only upon collecting these individual answers would one be able to derive an answer as to what's normal in their community (and even then it might not be clear).

While it's true that it's an assortment of aspects that defines us as an individual, it's also true that there exists an unwritten type of standard or average (per aspect) in every society that's determined by majority. To think otherwise is a bit naive.
 
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Normal is nothing but a stereotypical ideal that has not really been achieved since the late 80's which is the classic married with 2.4 children living in a suburb with a car, working 9-5 monday to friday.

Society has transformed so much since the 80's that the ideal no longer exists really in modern culture, so there really is no longer a definition of "normal", normal is pretty much whatever you make it to be.
 
Throught most of my child and adolesente life i have tried to be "normal" with great failure. I see normal as hinderance of one's copacity to accept others as they are. Normal is a word society has used to define what is best for them. For you? Not so much. It has been used universally throughout history. And i find that amazing and saddening at the same time.

To be normal is to be abnormal. Abnormalaties are a form of normal behaviour gone wrong. Which happens all the time. If someone calls you wierd or odd, take it with a good heart. And know that you cannot be defined so easily as society would like.
 
nor·mal
[nawr-muhl]
–adjective

1.) conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.

2.) serving to establish a standard.

 
I'm a teenager and everyone thinks i'm not normal. But everyone's definition of normal is different. There is no true normal. The popular crowd give the definition of normal by using themselves as examples. In my opinion, I'm normal, but in their opinion, I'm not
 
"Normal" is when some one agrees completely on everything I believe and think. Normal occurs when some one acts in similar fashions as myself, and conducts themselves in public as I would. Normal can only truly exist when the people around me act and behave in public and private as either I do or I expect. Normal happens when some persons have the same sexual orientation as I, believe the same religion as I, engage in the same pastimes as I, and socialize in the same groups as me. A normal person has the same mannerisms as I do, and modifies his or herself, as I do, to fit my perceptions and changes in perceiving reality.

Think about it.

At the very least, read it out loud until you get it.
 
Normal is just like absolute zero or anything like that. It does not really exist, or if it does, it has yet to be discovered. It is a mere reference point to find out exactly what a person is actually like. If I found anyone that was normal I would slap them with a fish.

But at the same time, Normal is the ordinary, and weird is the un-ordinary, so normal is weird, therefor weird is normal. so what it is can be varied. Basically this means that the true normal are not what we traditionally call normal, but to be normal is to be a unique individual. thats how I see it...
 
GBJoker said:
"Normal" is when some one agrees completely on everything I believe and think. Normal occurs when some one acts in similar fashions as myself, and conducts themselves in public as I would. Normal can only truly exist when the people around me act and behave in public and private as either I do or I expect. Normal happens when some persons have the same sexual orientation as I, believe the same religion as I, engage in the same pastimes as I, and socialize in the same groups as me. A normal person has the same mannerisms as I do, and modifies his or herself, as I do, to fit my perceptions and changes in perceiving reality.

Think about it.

At the very least, read it out loud until you get it.
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I agree that normal is a subjective term. However I disagree, most people don't consider someone not normal because they vote for a different political party or go to a different church.

I think normal is doing what is common/widely practised, i.e. being a christian is normal, being an atheist is also normal, but being a pagan is not normal.
 
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