Wearing a mask, chinstrap or face covering became normal in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originating from the Latin term normalis , the concept of normal refers to that which is in a state that is considered natural . The term also refers to what acts as a rule , canon or model , and to what conforms, due to its nature, to precepts established in advance.
For example: "It is normal for dogs not to be aggressive towards humans" , "Don't worry, it is normal for you to feel that way" , "It would be normal for the businessman to refuse to support the person who criticized him so harshly" .
On the other hand, a normal school is that educational entity that is responsible for training teachers. Its purpose is to establish the standards of teaching (hence its name).
What is normal for psychology
For psychology , the term normal is applied to someone who does not reveal an important difference with respect to their community . This, obviously, without forgetting that all living beings have differences among themselves. Therefore, the use of the concept of normal always implies subjectivity .
According to Freud, a normal person is a person with healthy behavior who does not deny his reality but knows how to face it and transform it with the tools he has. Those who do not have these characteristics are individuals with some emotional disorder, such as neurosis .
Incidence of subjectivity
It should be noted that abnormality is another characteristic that is defined subjectively and is assigned to those people or things that have strange conditions or that are not functional.
For a teenager, it may seem normal to dye their hair purple and have a nose piercing . It is likely, on the other hand, that your elders will not agree with your decision. A third person may add that the teenager's behavior is normal, but only for someone his age.
There are sectors of society that consider that homosexual relationships are not normal.
What is normal in a society
It is very common to hear the phrase " That's not normal " to refer to something that goes beyond what is expected of a person, for example: it is not normal for a man not to enjoy football, it is not normal for a woman not to want to play. have children, it is not normal for a child to prefer writing instead of spending the day playing, it is not normal for a person not to talk to their family, it is not normal for a child not to do what their parents want... For every age there are actions and inclinations that are defined as normal and those individuals who do not conform to them are rejected, criticized and attempts are made to convince them to follow the marked path, the socially correct one .
It is evident that this term is one of the bastions that govern our social life . Throughout history, different societies have created stereotypes to which individuals in the group must respond; Rules were established that designate normality , all those who respect them may enter this category, those who do not will be considered strange or abnormal .
The view on sexuality
When it comes to sexuality , normal appears synonymous with heterosexuality, and individuals who identify with homosexuality, bisexuality or even asexuality will be considered abnormal. At this point there is great power exercised by the church around the political decisions of societies; With primitive ideas , this organization has managed over the centuries to maintain unanimity on this issue, considering that homosexuality is a disease and barbaric criteria of similar magnitude.
In modern societies sexual diversity is increasingly respected; However, there are many people who are still capable of hating and even killing in order to eliminate from their surroundings those they consider abnormal, those whose only negative point is not meeting the expectations of a closed group of society that does not share their beliefs. needs or feelings.
Also those people who do not wish to marry and have children, or even who do not express a desire to become sexually related to anyone, are considered abnormal and are urged to abandon their lifestyle in pursuit of a normal life .