Is normality/abnormality of personality culturally influenced/determined?

Question

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Answer 1

As a healthcare provider, I don't think it's so much determined, but definitely influenced.  Culture can influence  what is 'acceptable' and 'normal'. Also if 'help' is acceptable (men in this society are not encouraged to accept help as a perceived societal norm). It also influences what help is acceptable (voodoo, natural cures, medical care). Culturally accepted religion influences whether its 'illness' or 'possession' or 'healer'. These are but a few examples. This argument has been going on for a long time. It is usually named 'nature vs. nuture'.

Answer 2

of course. in the first place the very definition of normal/abnormal varies with cultures

Answer 3

I have to agree with what has been said so far except to add that sometimes what is accepted in a culture or society changes through the years. There was a time obviously that girls as young as twelve were allowed to marry. However, that was because with a high mortality rate in child birth as well as shorter lifespans people needed to marry young. Obviously that is no longer needed today and so we have put a taboo of sorts on the idea. There was a time that slavery was acceptable. Now it no longer is. One change came about with improvements in sanitation the other with an increase in moral or religious outrage.

Answer 4

I'd say its more defined by culture than determined by it.  A culture wouldn't "make" someone abnormal, but would be the one saying "that's abnormal".   The culture sets the guidelines on what is good and bad behavior within the values set by the culture.  Keep in mind, what is normal behavior for one culture is not normal for all.  We may consider a behavior extremely disturbing and another culture would consider it acceptable.  Abnormal personality is an individualistic occurance, capable of happening not because of a culture, but in spite of it.

Answer 5

Absolutely. Normal/Abnormal are culturally defined and therefore culturally influenced. Without going into detail, madness has been defined and redefined within the same cultures as well as cross-culturally. In some societies, the "mad man" has a well established and respected role. In others, he/she is just another number in a psychiatric institution.

Answer 6

Well, yes, it's pretty obvious that normalcy is to a large degree a cultural construction. What is and is not normal varies enormously from culture to culture. If you were to ask an ancient Greek, a Victorian Englishman, and a modern Californian to describe what normal behavior is you'd end up with three very different answers. For instance, in many cultures 12 was considered an acceptable marriage age. Today if you felt desire toward a 12 year old you'd be a pervert.