A teacher discusses the two views of abnormal behaviour with her class. Consider the following statements:
(A) Meena never asks questions in class though she has doubts; her behaviour can be called maladaptive even though it conforms.
(B) Under the first approach, aggressive behaviour may be seen as abnormal in a society that emphasises cooperation and family values.
(C) Under the second approach, the best criterion of normality is whether society accepts the behaviour.
(D) Under the first approach, a society's views of what is psychologically abnormal stay fixed even when its values change over time.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A and B only
(A) Meena never asks questions in class though she has doubts; her behaviour can be called maladaptive even though it conforms. — Correct. Under the maladaptive view, even <strong>conforming behaviour can be abnormal</strong> if it blocks growth. A student who stays silent despite doubts is the book's own example.
(B) Under the first approach, aggressive behaviour may be seen as abnormal in a society that emphasises cooperation and family values. — Correct. Norms grow from a culture. A society that values <strong>cooperation and family values</strong>, such as India, may treat aggressive behaviour as unacceptable or even abnormal.
(C) Under the second approach, the best criterion of normality is whether society accepts the behaviour. — Incorrect. This is reversed. The second approach asks <strong>whether the behaviour fosters well-being</strong>. Social acceptance is the test of the first approach.
(D) Under the first approach, a society's views of what is psychologically abnormal stay fixed even when its values change over time. — Incorrect. Under the first approach, a society's values may change over time, and its <strong>views of what is abnormal change as well</strong>.
NCERT (2026-27): “CONCEPTS OF ABNORMALITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS … “… The second approach views abnormal behaviour as maladaptive. Many psychologists believe that the best criterion for determining the normality of behaviour is not whether society accepts it but whether it fosters the well-being of the individual and eventually of the group to which s/he belongs. Well-being is not simply maintenance and survival but also includes growth and fulfilment, i.e. the actualisation of potential, which you must have studied in Maslow’s need hierarchy theory. According to this criterion, conforming behaviour can be seen as abnormal if it is maladaptive, i.e. if it interferes with optimal functioning and growth. For example, a student in the class prefers to remain silent even when s/he has questions in her/his mind. …” |