Normal--abnormal--emotional health--emotional illness

The concept of normality is examined from several frames of reference. Some of these suggest it should be broadened, others that it should be abandoned. However, several frames of reference are proposed to enable one to differentiate normal from abnormal, emotional health from emotional illness. For the individual, these are: 1) impinging social and cultural factors; 2) the ego's position vis-a-vis the external and internal environment; 3) the extent to which an individual is reasonably fulfilling his functional capacity; 4) the physical and emotional subjective well-being; 5) the level of habitual responses to stress and modes of mastery; 6) the capacity to permit, as well as to reverse regression and dedifferentiation; and, 7) the capacity of the organizing function of the ego to preserve a harmonious balance between, and among, the various psychic operations.