Removing Abnormal Behavior
Abnormal behavior is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) with criterion that includes the following: unusualness, social deviance, faulty perceptions or interpretations of reality, significant personal distress, maladaptive self-defeating behavior, and dangerousness. Abnormal behavior has many definitions, but in most cases a combination of these criteria defines abnormality. Historically, it has been shown that people with abnormal behavior disorders can be very creative, making contributions to science, mathematics, arts, sports, and politics. However, given all the contributions these afflicted individuals make to society, they can still suffer greatly through the distress, pain, anger, and sadness mental disorders can cause.
Considering the stigma attached to mental disorders, society still benefits a great deal from these individuals. Scientists such as Einstein greatly enhanced our knowledge of the universe, Pythagoras improved mathematics, and Dickens authored many influential works of literature. All of these individuals endured from mental disorders. Although stigmatized, society values their abnormal behavior by supporting their invaluable contributions.
Consider a situation in which all abnormal behavior is removed from the individual. Would society still reap the benefit? This removal would affect both their creativity and their suffering. It would change cognitive and emotional processes including temperament and personality. This undeniably would affect the influence made to society.
Removal of abnormal behavior would eliminate suffering. The effects are innumerable but would certainly decrease individuals’ distress, pain, anger, and sadness. In addition, it could lessen violent and aggressive behavior, substance abuse, suicidal tendencies, and incarceration. Societal stigma would disappear and in its place acceptance, enhanced coping and a more balanced mood. It would have many positive implications for society.
However, removal would also devastate creativity. Removal of creativity would decrease societal contributions and advances made by those with mental disorders. Independent thinkers would vanish along with knowledge about those disorders, and consequently change what society refers to as abnormal. As creativity diminishes, conformity and indifference would undoubtedly increase.
Eliminating all suffering from the world would certainly be ideal. Sufferers would not be subjected to the misery a mental disorder may cause. However, removal of a mental disorder, abnormal behavior, or illness changes individuals. Irregardless of societal contributions, I would not want to change my cognitive and emotional processes, nor my temperament and personality. I do not suffer from a mental disorder, but I have endured from a chronic illness my entire life. I would not change that. I believe that despite all the intolerable cruelty associated with illness, those who suffer would not change to have the illness removed, no matter how society does or does not benefit.