Normalcy And Changes In America Essay, Research Paper

From the day we are born until we pass on, we are taught to follow ‘the norm’. A young child being yelled at by his mother for burping at the dinner table, a teenage girl diligently watching ‘Beverly Hills 90210′ to fit in with her friends, a 1950’s housewife deciding that divorce is not an option, these images exemplify people learning to function normally in society. A difficult question facing many psychologists today is “what does normal mean?” To answer this question we must look into human nature and social influences. What ‘normal’ means is hard to explain, it changes throughout time and place. Things that are considered normal now were considered absurd fifty years ago, and visa- versa. Also the view of being normal has changed throughout America’s history.

As young children we are all taught to act in ways that are considered acceptable to the majority of people, in the society in which we live. Culture and rules are imposed on us all throughout our development, with the goal that we grow up to be normal, contributing members of America. As soon as we are old enough to start learning we are taught rules. A four-year-old drinking Dr. Pepper while eating dinner feels the urge to belch and does so. His mother reacts to this gesture with a reprimand, quickly instilling in him the idea that belching is unacceptable behavior. It is a scene that we have all experienced and can relate to. We are all taught these rules so that we are not rejected by the rest of society for being abnormal.

Throughout American history our culture has gone through many changes and so has the definition of what is normal and abnormal. If you ask many grandparents and other seniors of society to talk about divorce, you will gain the impression that it was not an option in their day. Once you took the sacred vows of marriage, you entered in an almost irrevocable situation. Many people, especially those living in small, close knit towns, were shunned if they had been divorced. Today, it is almost common place to meet people who have experienced several unsuccessful marriages. Times have changed and so have the attitudes of Society on marriage and family. What was considered socially unacceptable and abnormal sixty years ago is considered acceptable today.

Another example of changing American norms is the view of racism. From the time that slavery began until most recently, vocalized racism was commonplace and acceptable. Today it is virtually unheard of in most parts of the United States. Vocal racism still exists, but it is considered taboo and is usually showcased in a mockery on ??talkshows like Jerry Springer and Sally. This is not to say that racism does not exist in mainstream America (just look on the walls in the public bathrooms on campus, but it is not as blatantly expressed, as in previous decades. Today, it is not considered acceptable to be racist, it is not considered ‘politically correct’. For this reason, most racism today is discreet and not frequently expressed face to face, or vocally, at least in the Midwest. What has been culturally normal and acceptable in earlier America is now considered abnormal and taboo in today’s culture.

The American view on normality and being normal have also changed throughout our history. In the era of Harding and post World War I, America people viewed normal as ideal and safe. People were just recovering from the chaos created through World War One.

In the 1920’s Americans were irritated by the restrictions, sacrifices, idealism, and the disappointments of the war years. Although Harding had never gained much voter support, his campaign slogan, “A return to normalcy” brought him the admiration and trust of the American people. Harding won the presidency with a popular vote of about sixty- percent, using this theme as his campaign slogan. Throughout most of American History and especially post war America, people viewed normal as ideal.

Recently there has been a shift in the view on normalcy. The poetic film “American Beauty” by director Sam Mendes shows just what it means to be normal and how people react to abnormality. The film centers on the character Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man going through a midlife crisis. His relationship with his wife is apathetic and his daughter feels removed and unloved. Lester lives the ‘normal’ American life and is facing the many problems that result from that. He is bored, unhappy, and his relationships are failing. While at his daughter’s high-school basketball game, Lester becomes fascinated by his daughter’s cheerleader friend and immediately experiences a driving lust for her. This sparks significant turmoil in his life. Lester’s life changes from that of being a normal suburban father to the abnormal life of a drug-using father having an affair with a sixteen-year-old girl. The underlying theme in the film is reinforced when Ricky regards Angela as “boring.” Normal is no longer considered a way to live ones life. Normality causes a decrease in individuality. Through his use of deep, intriguing characters Sam Mendes is able to show that trying to live a normal life in American Suburbia can leave people feeling empty and without identity.

What is considered normal in America changes from era to era. Many of the strict cultural rules that were prevalent at the turn of the twentieth century have loosened. People are more relaxed in some respects and more reserved in others. The societal views on such things as divorce, mothers working, and scanty clothing have become more tolerant and relaxed, while views on racism and political correctness have become more reserved. ????Along with changes in what is considered normal and abnormal throughout American history, the overall view on normalcy has also changed. The theme that normal can be boring is wonderfully portrayed in the film “American Beauty.” Earlier in our nations’ history, normal had not only been considered ideal but viewed as an objective goal. The majority of people who operate within the boundaries of ‘normal’, gives society a strong backbone, while excessive abnormality cannot exist for lengthened periods of time without significant consequences. The exclusive existence of either normal or abnormal is not an ideal situation, but a proportional mix of the two gives ones’ life excitement while maintaining reasonable order and structure in society. Both concepts must exist together, as one defines the other.