Question

Certain behaviours like eating sand would be considered abnormal. But not if it was done after being stranded on a beach in a plane crash.

Listed below are ‘abnormal’ behaviours followed by situations where the behaviours might be considered normal.

1. talking to yourself - you are praying.
2. standing in the middle of the street waving your arms wildly - you are a traffic policeman.

Think about it and list similar examples.

Answer 1

Examples of behaviour whose meaning changes with the situation:

1. Running through a building: may seem unusual, but is reasonable during a fire or emergency.
2. Wearing a mask indoors: may seem unusual in some settings, but is appropriate in a laboratory or while caring for someone who is ill.
3. Shouting loudly: may be disruptive in a library, but may be necessary to warn someone of immediate danger.
4. Sleeping during the day: may seem unusual for someone with a daytime routine, but is normal for a night-shift worker.
5. Carrying a first-aid kit: may seem unnecessary on an ordinary outing, but is appropriate for a rescue worker. Behaviour should be understood in its context rather than labelled abnormal in isolation.