Normality?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve wondered at some point, am I normal? Then in order to answer this question you had to ask yourself another one. What exactly is normal anyway?

Before we get to the answer, let’s first consider: If you have asked yourself these questions, and were interested in the answers, we could draw the conclusion we are the same on some level.

Since I am the one writing this blog post, and you are in agreement this topic is important, we have a certain degree of authority in this situation.                   

Additionally, the more people we can get to agree with us, the more valid our concerns seem. Anyone who is in disagreement can easily be discredited, as we have already established the direction of this blog post. Simply put, we have co-constructed the meaning and set the standard for what this blog post is.

This is an example of how concepts like normality are formed. When more than one person comes together in agreement on something, meaning is generated through that interaction and relationship. Normal can be anything a specific group decides. If you take this under consideration, it might be useful to consider these questions:

·         What is my definition of normal?

·         What do I value?

·         What do the people around me value?

·         What values have I taken for granted?

·         Is my idea of normal flexible?

Image by Shauni Redfearn

Take the photo above for instance. Notice how all the letters on top exist in relationship forming a word. All are similar in color, which doesn’t leave room for the two below that aren’t. The spelling of the word has already been decided. The way the letters have come together to form a word is the same as us coming together to form the concept that this blog topic is important.

To simplify our answer to the question of what is normal, we could simply say it is a concept that is questionable depending on the context. The standard can differ depending on who you ask. Long story short, what something is depends on the meaning we attribute to it through the relationships we participate in.

Do you agree? Has your idea of normal shifted since reading this?

References: Gergen, K. J. (2015). An Invitation to Social Construction (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.