Concepts of Normality
For those with autism, understanding `normal' can be a difficult task. For those without autism, the perception of `normal' can lead to unrealistic expectations of self and others. This book explores how individuals and society understand `normal', in order to help demystify and make accessible a full range of human experience. Wendy Lawson outlines the theory behind the current thinking and beliefs of Western society that have led to the building of a culture that fails to be inclusive. She describes what a wider concept of `normal' means and how to access it, whether it's in social interaction, friendships, feelings, thoughts and desires or various other aspects of `normality'. Practical advice is offered on a range of situations, including how to find your role within the family, how to integrate `difference' into everyday society, and how to converse and connect with others. Accessible and relevant to people both on and off the autism spectrum, this book offers a fresh look at what it means to be `normal'.
Multiple Normalities
Multiple Normalities enhances sociological understandings of normality by illustrating it with the help of British novels. It demonstrates commonalities and differences between the meanings of normality in these two periods, exemplifying the emergence of the multiple normalities and the transformation of ways in which we give meaning to the world.
Normality; Theoretical and Clinical Concepts of Mental Health
Histories of the Normal and the Abnormal
This fascinating volume tackles the history of the terms 'normal' and 'abnormal'. Originally meaning 'as occurring in nature', normality has taken on significant cultural gravitas and this book recognizes and explores that fact. The essays engage with the concepts of the normal and the abnormal from the perspectives of a variety of academic disciplines – ranging from art history to social history of medicine, literature, and science studies to sociology and cultural anthropology. The contributors use as their conceptual anchors the works of moral and political philosophers such as Canguilhem, Foucault and Hacking, as well as the ideas put forward by sociologists including Durkheim and Illich. With contributions from a range of scholars across differing disciplines, this book will have a broad appeal to students in many areas of history.
Individual Differences
This book highlights some of the ways in which people differ from each other psychologically and is aimed primarily at students of 'A' level and first degree level psychology. The book is also suitable for students on GCSE, Access to Higher Education, BTEC, nursing, midwifery and teacher education courses. It examines definitions of intelligence, the measurement of intelligence and the controversial nature/nurture debate. Different theoretical approaches to the study of personality are expolored along with some ways in which personality can be assessed. The text is presented simply and concisely in the form of comprehensive notes. The key concepts are clearly highlighted through the use of bold type and subheadings; each chapter includes self-assessment questions and a list of recommended further reading. The clear, readable style is acceptable both to students following a course in psychology and to those such as parents, teachers and health professionals who look to psychology as a source of interestinng and useful insights to support them in their roles.
