Editing Abnormality (behavior) (section)

{{Short description|Behavioral characteristic}}
{{Redirect|Dysfunctional}}
{{Redirect|Abnormal|the albums|Abnormal (Bumblefoot album)|and|Abnormal (Bacil & Rakby album)}}
{{Distinguish|Anomaly (disambiguation)}}
In [[psychology]], '''abnormality''' (also '''dysfunctional behavior''', '''maladaptive behavior''', or '''deviant behavior''') is a behavioral characteristic assigned to those with conditions that are regarded as dysfunctional.<ref>Zimbardo, P. G., Johnson, R. L., & McCann, V. (2017). ''Psychology: Core Concepts''. Pearson.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Scardua-Silva |first1=Lucas |last2=Amorim da Costa |first2=Beatriz |last3=Karmann Aventurato |first3=Ítalo |last4=Batista Joao |first4=Rafael |last5=Machado de Campos |first5=Brunno |last6=Rabelo de Brito |first6=Mariana |last7=Bechelli |first7=José Flávio |last8=Santos Silva |first8=Leila Camila |last9=Ferreira dos Santos |first9=Alan |last10=Koutsodontis Machado Alvim |first10=Marina |last11=Vieira Nunes Ludwig |first11=Guilherme |last12=Rocha |first12=Cristiane |last13=Kaue Alves Silva Souza |first13=Thierry |last14=Mendes |first14=Maria Julia |last15=Waku |first15=Takeshi |date=2024-01-19 |title=Microstructural brain abnormalities, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction after mild COVID-19 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=1758 |doi=10.1038/s41598-024-52005-7 |pmid=38242927 |issn=2045-2322|pmc=10798999 |bibcode=2024NatSR..14.1758S }}</ref> [[Behavior]] is considered to be abnormal when it is atypical or out of the ordinary, consists of undesirable behavior, and results in impairment in the individual's functioning.<ref>A Cross-sectional Study in Iranian Population, n.d.</ref> As applied to humans, abnormality may also encompass [[deviance (sociology)|deviance]], which refers to behavior that is considered to transgress [[Social norm|social norms]]. The definition of abnormal behavior in humans is an often debated issue in [[abnormal psychology]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior|url=http://www.csun.edu/~hcpsy002/Nevid_ch03.pdf|website=csun.edu|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref>

''Abnormal'' behavior should not be confused with ''unusual'' behavior. Behavior that is out of the ordinary is not necessarily indicative of a [[mental disorder]]. Abnormal behavior, on the other hand, while not a mental disorder in itself, is often an indicator of a possible mental or psychological disorder.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology|last1=Marty|first1=Meghan A.|last2=Segal|first2=Daniel L.|publisher=American Cancer Society|pages=1–6|language=en|doi=10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp308|chapter = DSM-5|year = 2015|isbn = 9781118625392}}</ref> A psychological disorder is defined as an "ongoing dysfunctional pattern of thought, emotion, and behavior that causes significant distress, and is considered deviant in that person's culture or society".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life (13th ed)|last1=Butcher|first1=James|last2=Mineka|first2=Susan|last3=Hooley|first3=Jill|publisher=Allyn & Bacon|year=2007|location=Boston, MA}}</ref> Abnormal behavior, as it relates to psychological disorders, would be "ongoing" and a cause of "significant distress". A mental disorder describes a patient who has a medical condition whereby the medical practitioner makes a judgment that the patient is exhibiting abnormal behavior based on the [[DSM-5|''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition'']] (DSM-5) criteria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.simplypsychology.org/medical-model.html|title=The Medical Model|last=McLeod|first=Saul|date=2014|website=Simply Psychology|access-date=11 February 2017}}</ref> Thus, simply because a behavior is unusual it does not make it abnormal; it is only considered abnormal if it meets these criteria. The DSM-5 is used by both researchers and clinicians in diagnosing a potential mental disorder. The criteria needed to be met in the DSM-5 vary for each mental disorder.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About DSM-5 and Development|url=https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/about-dsm|access-date=2021-06-04|website=www.psychiatry.org}}</ref>

Unlike physical abnormalities in one's health where symptoms are objective, psychology health professionals cannot use objective symptoms when evaluating someone for abnormalities in behavior.<ref name=":0" />