Chapter 37, Problem 1E

Summary Introduction

Introduction: The behavior that causes an individual to experience distress and hinders them from their daily life functioning is called abnormal behavior. The psychologists have struggled to form a clear, scientific definition of abnormal behavior because of the difficulty to differentiate normal behavior from abnormal behavior.

Answer to Problem 1E

Correct answer: The problem in defining abnormal behavior is that statistically rare behavior may not be abnormal, not all abnormalities are accompanied by feelings of discomfort, and cultural standards are too general to be used as a measuring tool.

Hence, the correct answer is option d.

Explanation of Solution

Reasons for the correct answer.

Option d. is given as “All of the above are correct”.

According to the definition of abnormality, the behavior that is rare in a society is considered abnormal and the abnormalities that are accompanied by feelings of discomfort in a person is considered abnormal if their cultural standards are different from what society considers ideal.

Hence, the correct answer is option d.

Reasons for the incorrect answers.

Option a. is given as “Statistically rare behavior may not be abnormal”.

According to the definition of abnormality, as a deviation from the average behavior, the behavior that is rare in a society is considered abnormal. This is one of the problems in defining abnormal behavior, but the other options are also correct.

Hence, option a. is incorrect.

Option b. is given as “Not all abnormalities are accompanied by feelings of discomfort”.

The abnormalities are accompanied by feelings of discomfort according to the definition of abnormality as a sense of personal discomfort. This is one of the problems in defining abnormal behavior, but the other options are also correct.

Hence, option b. is incorrect.

Option c. is given as “Cultural standards are too general to use as a measuring tool”.

According to one of the definitions of abnormality, as a deviation from ideal, a person is considered abnormal if their cultural standards are different from what society considers ideal. This is one of the problems in defining abnormal behavior, but the other options are also correct.

Hence, option c. is incorrect.

Hence, options a, b, and c are incorrect.

Conclusion

The behavior that is rare in a society is considered abnormal and a person is also considered abnormal if his cultural standards are different from what society thinks ideal. The abnormalities are accompanied by feelings of discomfort.