As argued by Hansell and Damour (2008), defining normal or abnormal behavior even in clear contexts cannot be made without considering the continuum between abnormality and normality. Therefore, classifying behavior as normal or abnormal is very contextual. Religion is among several other situational factors that can affect an individual’s behavior. Different religions have diverse backgrounds and beliefs and can cause problems in the identification and classification of abnormal behavior. This is because what is normal for some religions might be abnormal to other people from a different culture and religion. For such reasons; therefore, a professional or a client seeking to identify normal or abnormal behavior may find religion to have a significant influence on an individual’s behaviors. Therefore to make an accurate diagnosis, professionals should first lay down all the religious concepts and convictions they hold.
Every religion has different practices and customs unique to other cultures and religions. These unique features may appear abnormal to other religions and cultures. For example among the evangelical Christians, speaking in tongues, visitation by angels, and consummation of their God’s body and blood in the form of the Lord’s table is socially deviant from the normal behavior to people outside Christianity but is considered normal among the members of the Christian religion.
Members of the same religion have been known to form sub-cultures whereby they share common beliefs and practices. To people outside this sub-culture, their behavior is considered deviant and abnormal. For instance, in traditional Christianity mental illnesses were attributed to evil spirits. Anyone suffering from the same was exercised by the priests and religious leaders. After the evolution of modern psychology and medicine, such disorders have become medical or psychiatric conditions. Therefore, an individual addressing such disorders from a modern psychology or medicine point of view may find the earlier religious approach to be abnormal behavior and deviant.
Factors that affect behavior classification in various situations
Several situational factors affect abnormal behavior classification. These factors are culture and religion, sex, and sexual orientation. However, as elaborated by Hansell and Demour (2008), the continuum between normal and abnormal needs to be carefully considered before defining behavior as normal or abnormal.
The difference between how males and females are viewed in society influence the classification of abnormal behavior. According to Sue, Sue, and Sue (2010), women are believed to have more stressors than men. Their vast domestic responsibilities expose them to twice the chances of contracting depression as compared to men. Therefore, in classifying abnormal behavior among such women situational factors should be considered.
Therefore, it is important to understand any situational factor affecting an individual before classifying their behavior as normal or abnormal. Religion, genetics, culture, gender, and sexual orientation have been found to affect an individual’s behavior and need to be clearly analyzed before classifying behaviors.
References
Hansell, J., & Damour, L. (2008). Abnormal Psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Sue, D., Sue, D. W., & Sue, S. (2010). Understanding Abnormal Behavior (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.