Chapter Three

• Typical behaviour


  An activity that is consistent with how an individual usually behaves
• Atypical behaviour


  An activity that is unusual or unnatural according to how an individual usually behaves
• Psychological criteria


  Standards against which a judgement can be made about a person’s behaviour and abilities
• Cultural perspectives


  The influence of society and community on one’s thoughts
• Social norms


  Society’s unofficial rules and expectations regarding how individuals should act
• Statistical rarity


  Something that lies outside the range of statistical normality and is also unusual enough to be considered significant
• Personal distress


  An aversive and often self-oriented emotional reaction
• Maladaptive behaviour


  An action that impairs an individual’s ability to meet the changing demands of their everyday life
• Normality


  The state of having thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that are considered common and acceptable
• Abnormality


  The state of deviating from the norm, usually in a way that is undesirable
• Neurotypicality


  A term used to describe individuals who display neurological and cognitive functioning that is typical or expected
• Neurodiversity


  Variations in neurological development and functioning within and between groups of people, such as those experienced by people with autism
• Adaptive


  Being able to adjust to the environment appropriately and function effectively
• Maladaptive


  Being unable to adapt to the environment appropriately and function effectively
• Neurodivergent


  Individuals who have a variation in neurological development and functioning
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)


  A neurodevelopmental condition characterised by impaired social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication difficulties, narrow interests, and repetitive behaviour
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)


  A neurological condition characterised by persistent inattention or hyperactivity that disrupts social, academic, or occupational functioning
• Dyslexia


  A neurologically based learning difficulty manifested as severe challenges in reading, spelling, writing words, and sometimes in arithmetic
• Mental wellbeing


  An individual’s current psychological state, involving their ability to think, process information, and regulate emotions
• Psychological development


  An individual’s changes in functioning across multiple domains, including the life-long growth across emotional, cognitive, and social domains
• Mental health workers


  Members of a mental health treatment team who assist in providing a wide range of services and care for patients with psychological or social problems
• Psychologist


  An individual who is professionally trained in one or more branches or subfields of psychology
• Psychiatrist


  A doctor who specialises in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and study of mental, behavioural, and personality disorders
• Mental health organisation


  A company or group that works to address or advocate for mental health, such as through providing support or specialised services
• Culturally responsive practices


  Acting in ways that respond to the needs of diverse communities and demonstrating an openness to new ideas that may align with different cultural ideas, beliefs, and values