Normality-Toward a Meaningful Construct

The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one’s mind, is the condition of the normal man.-R. D. Laing T HE TERM “NORMAL ” has become, if it has not already been, a liability to the special language of adult psychiatry. Despite the shaky foundation supporting the use of this term, it is frequently leaned upon as though it designated one of the pillars of psychiatric thought. This paper explores the need for and the neglect of the scientific underpinnings which the widespread employment of the term would seem to presume, and it reports research showing that mental health professionals use the term in a way which allows them to assess and label specific behaviors. This usage is unfortunate in that the term “normal ” does not designate a valid construct, nor is there a relevant scientifically meaningful body of psychiatric knowledge from which to Proceed in developing an empirically sound construct. It is suggested that much detour research is in order. The appropriate direction of that research is explored. THE PROS AND CONS OF RESEARCHING NORMALIT