4 D's

There are many definitions of abnormality. Abnormality is something deviating from typical accepted behavior. Current practitioners agree that there are four areas that help define abnormality. These four areas are referred to as the four D’s. The four D’s would include deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger.

Deviance is behavior that is different from tradition, and custom. Every society of people has social norms which are rules for proper conduct. Norms are developed from history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts.

Deviant behavior could be exhibited by a minor child leaving an abusive home. When such a decision is made it sets in motion a set of circumstances the child is now totally dependent on an outside environment with no resources to meet their needs. Considering the consequences a child will be forced to steal to survive. Theft in most cultures is considered a criminal deviant behavior. Even though culturally we recognize this deviant behavior as criminal the child many times receives empathy and others reach out and attempt to rescue the child from such circumstances.

Distress could be defined as people subjecting themselves to physical pain or discomfort which could cause them to become disconnected from others. Extreme body building causes both physical pain and discomfort. The body builder makes a conscious decision to extremely alter their lifestyle to reach an optimum goal. They grossly restrict their food intake, exercise extensively and are even willing to take steroids. Body building is extremely completive and in American culture this is considered normal behavior but clearly could be classified as an act of distress.

A dysfunction is a disturbance in a person’s daily socially accepted activities or behaviors. For example missionaries are people who travel to third world, underdeveloped, countries. By living in these countries these people make a conscious decision to deal with substandard living, poor quality food and water, lack of transportation and sometimes even chronic illnesses. Even though they experience deprivation they’re not considered dysfunctional and many times are highly admired and respected.


Danger is the action by a person of potentially harming themselves or others. For example self cutting is a form of superficial carving that is self contained. The person many times struggles with depression and exposes themselves to a dangerous act of self cutting. Even though many people view this action as disturbing, it can be recognized as a way for the person to express a need for help. This topic is controversial but is not considered unusual.