From time to time, we've all been told that we're weird and 'abnormal'...or, even worse, someone tells us that we're missing a piece of our head. But don't worry, there's nothing unusual about it. We humans are a bunch of weirdos. And that's exactly how it should be.
Chances are you've already 'Googled' the following things: "When is a normal time to go to sleep?”, “It's normal for me to talk to the dog?” "It's okay to sleep with a teddy bear?” But believe me, your questions are nothing compared to a study from Yala published by Avram J. Holmes and Lauren M. Patrick.
They find that NORMAL does not exist, not for people or their brains. Optimality is a myth in clinical neuroscience, since change and diversity are much more necessary for the evolutionary development of a species. Their research claims so, that there is no universal optimal profile of brain function.
There is no right or wrong way to be human. Normal is relative because it is depending on time, place and circumstances. With an example hot dog scientists explain it simply. Is it normal to eat 23 hot dogs in the morning?
Holmes says that this, just because a person eats that many hot dogs doesn't mean they have a mental illness. There are others to consider factors. Every one a behavioral, psychological, or neurobiological characteristic is not defined as good or bad. Context, in which the person is age, social network and environment they have a stronger influence on the definition of a person and his 'status'.
Holmes says yes seek psychiatric help, if you struggle with your 'weirdness'. But if you are completely happy, healthy and productive in their weirdness, then who says that your 'abnormality' is false?
More information:
cell.com
