--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't use the word normal anymore…" description: "\"We can't use the word normal anymore because it's sort of come to be politically incorrect, because normal implies a classification, and categorization..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/darold-treffert-20114_behavior_we-can-t-use-the-word-normal-anymore-bec_2685355.jpg" --- # We can't use the word normal anymore because it's sort of… ![“We can't use the word normal anymore because it's sort of come to be politically incorrect, because normal implies a classification, and categorizations, and exclusions, and so forth. So neurotypical is the word that we now have to use for what I call normal behavior. Neurotypical behaviors are…” quote by Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/darold-treffert-20114_behavior_we-can-t-use-the-word-normal-anymore-bec_2685355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/darold-treffert-20114_behavior_we-can-t-use-the-word-normal-anymore-bec_2685355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/383/darold-treffert-20114_behavior_we-can-t-use-the-word-normal-anymore-bec_2685355.jpg) > “We can't use the word normal anymore because it's sort of come to be politically incorrect, because normal implies a classification, and categorizations, and exclusions, and so forth. So neurotypical is the word that we now have to use for what I call normal behavior. Neurotypical behaviors are those kinds of behaviors within the range of usual human conduct that do not rise to the level of a disorder.” [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “normal” is now seen as exclusionary; “neurotypical” replaces it to describe typical behavior without stigma. **In simple terms:** Replace “normal” with “neurotypical”. Key Takeaway Use inclusive language. Themes language inclusion neurodiversity social norms politics Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - workplace policies - media reporting - public discourse Key Concepts terminology social construction Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape perception of difference? - What steps ensure true inclusion? A Different Perspective Changing language alone may not change underlying biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Classification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classification/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Politically incorrect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politically-incorrect/) ## Related quotes > [“It has helped me to see more clearly how, as politically incorrect as it may sound, our understanding of “normal” behavior for children has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-gnaulati/it-has-helped-me-to-see-more-clearly-how-as-politically-incorrect-as/) Enrico Gnaulati > [When girls walk home we put on lippy and makeup. We chat. Sometimes we pretend to be hunchbacks. But that is it. Perfectly normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rennison/when-girls-walk-home-we-put-on-lippy-and-makeup-we-chat-sometimes-we/) [Louise Rennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rennison/) > [The violation of some laws is a normal part of the behavior of every citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/the-violation-of-some-laws-is-a-normal-part-of-the-behavior-of-every/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [“The child who lives with autism may look “normal,” but his behavior can be perplexing and downright unruly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look-normal-but-his-behavior-can/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) > [To be told that our child's behavior is "normal" offers little solace when our feelings are badly hurt, or when we worry that hisactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-bettelheim/to-be-told-that-our-child-s-behavior-is-normal-offers-little-solace/) [Bruno Bettelheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-bettelheim/) > [“Normal behavior, therefore, is when we collectively believe that the circumstances justify the behavior. Likewise, abnormal behavior is when we don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/normal-behavior-therefore-is-when-we-collectively-believe-that-the/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/an-abnormal-reaction-to-an-abnormal-situation-is-normal-behavior/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [As far as this categorization of books, the way I see it is there are really a hundred-odd categories of books plus one, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/as-far-as-this-categorization-of-books-the-way-i-see-it-is-there-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Humans like nothing more than to pigeonhole the events & phenomena that punctuate their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/humans-like-nothing-more-than-to-pigeonhole-the-events-phenomena-that/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [“There are underwater cables that seem to emerge and interweave the various objects drifting and rotating in space. I can imagine their intersections and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/there-are-underwater-cables-that-seem-to-emerge-and-interweave-the/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The human compulsion to group people and objects together was ingrained in our being since we evolved. We need to group things, group the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-caruso/the-human-compulsion-to-group-people-and-objects-together-was/) [Charlie Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-caruso/) > [A categorization implies a hierarchical way of seeing things. Life is really relational, not hierarchical. Hierarchical is a human way of looking at things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-categorization-implies-a-hierarchical-way-of-seeing-things-life-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I have worked really hard to defy categorization, to break down a taxonomy whenever it comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/i-have-worked-really-hard-to-defy-categorization-to-break-down-a/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [Maturity is having the ability to escape categorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rexroth/maturity-is-having-the-ability-to-escape-categorization/) [Kenneth Rexroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rexroth/) > [“I don't categorize things merely to simplify my understanding. I'd rather delve into the process of unlearning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-sharda/i-don-t-categorize-things-merely-to-simplify-my-understanding-i-d/) [Nikhil Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-sharda/) ## More by Darold Treffert > [The ways in which acquired savants show up are usually the same ways that congenital, or non-acquired, savant syndrome shows up. They tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/the-ways-in-which-acquired-savants-show-up-are-usually-the-same-ways/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [Not only when one does meditation one is getting into a different realm, cognitively, but if you look at the imaging that's done on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/not-only-when-one-does-meditation-one-is-getting-into-a-different/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [When I met my first savant in 1962, I was impressed by the abilities in these youngsters who had severe disabilities. They appeared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/when-i-met-my-first-savant-in-1962-i-was-impressed-by-the-abilities/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [I have a fairly strict definition of early infantile autism. That is not to say that people who don't meet that classic description don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/i-have-a-fairly-strict-definition-of-early-infantile-autism-that-is/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [What happens is most of us are so busy in our lives with our families and our vocation which we should be, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/what-happens-is-most-of-us-are-so-busy-in-our-lives-with-our-families/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [With respect to why some acquired savants are musical, and some are good at the arts, and some are mathematical, why aren't they all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/with-respect-to-why-some-acquired-savants-are-musical-and-some-are/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [Savant syndrome and autism, I think, are not disorders of brain structure, but they're disorders of brain function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/savant-syndrome-and-autism-i-think-are-not-disorders-of-brain/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [Savant syndrome, characteristically, consists of left hemisphere dysfunction coupled with right hemisphere emergence, and what you see in the savant are basically right brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/savant-syndrome-characteristically-consists-of-left-hemisphere/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [I think one of the problems with the definition of autism is we keep expanding it. It started as "early infantile autism", and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/i-think-one-of-the-problems-with-the-definition-of-autism-is-we-keep/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names in research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/the-beginning-of-wisdom-is-to-call-things-by-their-right-names-in/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [We should probably start searching around a little earlier in our lives for what I call parallel activities, because most of us get entrenched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/we-should-probably-start-searching-around-a-little-earlier-in-our/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [Sometimes along the way, when people are actively working, they will start to do a search for their roots and maybe get really interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/sometimes-along-the-way-when-people-are-actively-working-they-will/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [To some extent, we all have quirks or idiosyncrasies, and some geniuses, because of how bright they are and how focused they are, may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/to-some-extent-we-all-have-quirks-or-idiosyncrasies-and-some-geniuses/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [When we come to research, if we want to find out the cause of autism, we're going to have to be much more specific,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/when-we-come-to-research-if-we-want-to-find-out-the-cause-of-autism/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [When you first try to learn to ride a bike, you work very carefully at keeping your balance, and trying to keep one pedal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/when-you-first-try-to-learn-to-ride-a-bike-you-work-very-carefully-at/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) [Explore all 31 Darold Treffert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can't use the word normal anymore because it's sort of come to be politically incorrect, because normal implies a classification, and categorizations, and exclusions, and so forth. So neurotypical is the word that we now have to use for what I call normal behavior. 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