What Is Normal Behavior Anyway? For This Assignment, Assess ✓ Solved

What is normal behavior anyway? For this assignment, assess a

What is normal behavior anyway? For this assignment, assess a behavior you observed during a COVID-19 lockdown that seemed abnormal. Describe the behavior and the particulars, and assess it according to the 4 D's of abnormality: Distress, Danger, Deviance (statistical and social), and Dysfunction. Address how that behavior made you feel, whether you observed or responded to the behavior, and why or why not.

Paper For Above Instructions

Observed behavior and context

During the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown I observed a neighbor, a previously sociable mid-40s man I will call "Alex," who developed strikingly abnormal behaviors over several weeks. Prior to the pandemic he greeted neighbors, attended community events, and worked from a home office. During the stay-at-home mandate he began spending entire days on his front porch in full protective clothing (gloves, multiple masks), loudly admonishing passersby for not wearing masks, and repeatedly disinfecting shared mailboxes with a bleach solution. He stopped joining virtual social gatherings, declined grocery delivery offers, and left used food containers on his steps for days. On two occasions he screamed at children playing on the sidewalk, accusing them of "carrying the virus" and telling them to “go home or die.” He also posted multiple social-media messages alleging conspiracies about neighbors intentionally infecting each other.

Assessment using the 4 D's of abnormality

Distress

Distress refers to negative emotions caused by a behavior for the actor or others (Barlow & Durand, 2015). Alex exhibited signs of internal distress (obsessive fear about contamination and hypervigilance) that likely produced anxiety. His public aggression and severe worry also caused distress to neighbors—children were frightened and some adults reported anxiety about encountering him (Brooks et al., 2020). Distress was therefore evident both intrapersonally and interpersonally (WHO, 2020).

Danger

Danger involves behaviors that threaten physical safety of the person or others (APA, 2013). Alex's shouting and aggressive confrontations could escalate to physical altercations, particularly given mask disputes observed nationally during COVID-19 (Pfefferbaum & North, 2020). Although I did not witness physical violence, his aggressive verbal attacks toward vulnerable neighbors (children, elderly) increased the risk of harm, making the behavior potentially dangerous.

Deviance (statistical and social)

Deviance can be statistical (rare) or social (violates norms). Alex's visible ritualized sanitizing and admonishment of every passerby went beyond the common pandemic protective behaviors (masking and hand hygiene). While handwashing and masking were statistically common, his extreme, intrusive enforcement and conspiracy assertions were socially deviant in this community context—neighbors described him as having “changed” and behaving “oddly” (Comer, 2018). Thus his conduct met social deviance criteria and arguably statistical deviance in intensity.

Dysfunction

Dysfunction is present when behavior impairs life roles (work, social, self-care) (APA, 2013). Alex stopped participating in work meetings, declined social invitations, and neglected reciprocal neighborhood interactions. His ability to maintain occupational and social functioning appeared compromised; he also declined offers of practical help (grocery delivery), suggesting impaired daily functioning. This level of dysfunction indicates a notable departure from baseline functioning and suggests a need for outside assistance (Wakefield, 1992).

Interpretation and provisional conceptualization

Based on the above assessment, Alex's behavior aligns with a clinically concerning pattern where anxiety, hypervigilance, and possibly paranoid ideation interfered with functioning and social relations. During public-health crises, elevated fear and maladaptive coping are common (Brooks et al., 2020; Holmes et al., 2020), but Alex's combination of distress, social deviance, and dysfunction suggests more than normative pandemic anxiety—it suggests an escalating maladaptive response that could meet criteria for an anxiety disorder with compulsive elements or emerging paranoid symptoms (APA, 2013).

My reaction and actions

I felt unsettled, sympathetic, and concerned. Observing someone I knew become fearful and aggressive evoked sadness and worry for his wellbeing, but also caution because of the unpredictability of his confrontations. I did not confront him directly for safety reasons and because direct confrontation can escalate risk (Pfefferbaum & North, 2020). Instead I contacted a community liaison (a neighborhood association member) to express concern and encourage outreach, and I notified a friend who had closer ties to Alex so they could check in. This indirect response balanced concern for his needs with neighbor safety.

Ethical and practical considerations

Intervening with someone who displays potentially dangerous or psychotic behavior requires caution and appropriate channels. If immediate harm is imminent, emergency services are warranted (CDC, 2020). For less acute cases, outreach from trusted social contacts, offering practical support (groceries, telehealth resources), and encouraging mental health evaluation are recommended (WHO, 2020; NIMH, 2020). Stigmatizing or punitive responses can worsen isolation and distress (Taylor, 2019), so measured empathy and connection are preferable.

Conclusion and recommendations

Alex's behavior during the lockdown exhibited distress, social deviance, potential danger, and dysfunction—three of the four "D's" clearly present—which supports labeling the pattern as abnormal within clinical frameworks (Barlow & Durand, 2015; APA, 2013). My response prioritized safety, community liaison involvement, and encouraging supportive outreach rather than confrontation. For similar cases, I recommend (1) gentle outreach by trusted contacts; (2) offering concrete help (food, telehealth links); (3) if danger appears imminent, contacting emergency or mobile crisis teams; and (4) reducing stigma through community education about pandemic stress reactions and mental health resources (Holmes et al., 2020; WHO, 2020).

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
  • Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2015). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach (7th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet, 395(10227), 912–920.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Coping with stress. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/stress-coping/index.html
  • Comer, R. J. (2018). Abnormal Psychology (10th ed.). Worth Publishers.
  • Holmes, E. A., O'Connor, R. C., Perry, V. H., Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., ... & Bullmore, E. (2020). Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(6), 547–560.
  • National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Caring for your mental health during COVID-19. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
  • Pfefferbaum, B., & North, C. S. (2020). Mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(6), 510–512.
  • Taylor, S. (2019). The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • World Health Organization. (2020). Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/mental-health-and-psychosocial-considerations-during-the-covid-19-outbreak

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