--- publish: true permalink: aberrant-behaviour descrition: why aberrant is a good word and why we should not use it! alias: Aberant Behaviour --- Aberrant is a term I would use if it was an accessible term for others. It is a great term IMHO however let us look at the term. The term "aberrant" generally refers to something that deviates from the norm or is considered abnormal or irregular. It can be used in various contexts, such as biology, physics and relevant to us behaviour from psychology. In biology, aberrant typically refers to cells, genes, or chromosomes that have undergone abnormal changes or mutations, which may lead to disease or abnormal development. For example, an aberrant cell division may result in a tumor formation or abnormal growth of tissues. In physics, aberration refers to the deviation of light rays from their expected path due to the motion of the observer or the source. This effect can cause visual distortion or errors in measurements. In our world which includes psychology, aberrant behavior or thoughts are those that deviate from the societal or cultural norms and are considered inappropriate or unacceptable. This may include behaviours that may be out of place such as aggression, substance abuse, or conditions that are not normal such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are many terms that are used by others for inappropriate behaviour such as [[Challenging Behaviour - An Outdated Term|Challenging Behaviour]] however of all the various terms people use I prefer the term **aberrant behaviour**. This does not actually work in the real world as it is not a widely comfortable term for the general population. Our industry has a huge range of people working in it with a broad spectrum of educational and linguistic abilities. In the work we do for this and other reasons we use [[distress]]. References: - "Aberrant." Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Accessed 12 May 2023, [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aberrant](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aberrant). - "Aberrant Cells and Tumors." National Cancer Institute. Accessed 12 May 2023, [https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/aberrant-cells-and-tumors](https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/aberrant-cells-and-tumors). - "Aberrant Behavior." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed 12 May 2023, [https://www.britannica.com/science/aberrant-behavior](https://www.britannica.com/science/aberrant-behavior). - "Aberration." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed 12 May 2023, [https://www.britannica.com/science/aberration-physics](https://www.britannica.com/science/aberration-physics).