Literally, any departure from the norm or the
normal. The term is largely used to denote deviant behavior patterns in
individuals. Although this latter reference has been the dominant one in
psychology for a long time, there has been some reluctance recently on the part
of clinicians to use it. For example, within classical psychoanalysis,
homosexuality is classified as abnormal; within a social learning theory
analysis it is not. Also, Einstein would of necessity be called abnormal. The
years have layered onto this term too many value judgments; any of a number of
synonyms are preferable -- maladaptive, maladjusted, deviant, dysfunctional,
etc.