Dominique McKoy
Intro to Anthropology
Dr. Taylor
04/26/2018
In different cultures what is normal and what is not normal is often considered when it
comes to everyday things for different citizens in its society. Most of the time what is looked at
is what is normal when it comes to social hierarchy and social settings. Also, what is normal
when it comes to religion and spirituality. Normal Personality/Behavior is behavior that
conforms to societies expectations and ideals. Abnormal personality/ behavior doesn’t. Normal
personality is often associated with being a good thing as abnormal personality is associated with
being bad. In certain societies and certain cultures abnormal is actually not bad. If in those
societies, you are considered abnormal it could warrant for special titles for you or special status.
According to the book Cultural Anthropology,” In many cultures, individuals may stand out as
“different” without being considered “abnormal” in the strictest sense of the word—and without
suffering social rejection, ridicule, censure, condemnation, imprisonment, or some other penalty.
Moreover, there are cultures that not only tolerate or accept a much wider range of diversity than
others, but they may actually accord special status to the deviant or eccentric as unique,
extraordinary, even sacred…” (Haviland, Prins, McBride, & Walrath 2017, Pg. 144). Religion
that is common within certain groups can bring a sense of community. That is what makes it
important. They can provide a guideline for moral conduct (normal personality) for people who
conform to said spiritual/religious guidelines. It also opens dialogue given that will help establish
the conversation of opposing ideas when it comes to rituals and sanctions even the legitimacy of
policyholders. For this paper I focused on the Normal and Abnormal personality in spiritual
context. The culture that is focused on in this paper is the Native American Culture in respects to
the American Culture in the 1800’s. In the 1800’s Europeans that settled in America who were
creating their own way of life wanted to force the Native Americans into their culture and into
their religion. They thought they were crazy for their religious and spiritual practices. They
thought their way of life was normal and that the Native Americans should showcase normal
behavior. But, what is Spiritually acceptable in Native American Culture in relation to American
culture? What boundaries surround normal and abnormal personality in relation to the spirituality
in Native American Culture and in American Culture? In native American culture normal
personality in spirituality is a good thing and after doing research abnormal personality in the
Native American culture is a good thing also. They take the abnormal and turn it into a good
