(no subject)
Kristen Barth October 2, 2006
Maladaptive Behavior
What Is Normal?
“”Normal” seems to be the most convenient work to convey the idea of well adjusted” (Case study, chapter 1). However who decided what is normal? Who chooses the criteria for being ‘normal’? In the case study What Is Normal? They talk about a boy named Jerry and how he was a normal person to his friends, family and teachers. Jerry’s teacher thought he was a very normal student because like most student he didn’t know what he wanted from life. For Jerry the big question that needs to be answered is what is normal?
It all started for Jerry when school first began; on campus he seemed very normal to his friends. He dressed well, everything he wore was in style, he was a student who cared more parties and friends then about his school work. In high school he played sports causing his grades to suffer. Since Jerry cared more about sports and social activities he barely graduated from his high school. Is it normal for a student to care more about parting then about their future?
I believe that no matter what happens there isn’t one way to live; you can’t call one way of life normal. To some kids sports are more important then anyway, but are they not normal because they aren’t thinking of the future? What about kids who spend every night of their life’s studying for school. They want good grades, they want a future. Is it wrong to say there not normal because they care more about their future then their ‘now’?
Jerry parents had a plan for him. Their plan was to see Jerry go to Yale College. He was to receive a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business. After going to college he was then to take over his father family business. He wasn’t doing well in junior college making his parents ask his teacher to help him get back on track, his teacher agreed to help.