Puzzled or put off by our own or someone else's behavior, we frequently ask ourselves, Is that normal? Yet the question cuts both ways. Either we fail to meet some arbitrarily high standard, or we despair because we are merely normal. This book offers a clear explanation and some useful answers to the question of normalcy, helping readers identify, understand, and value the wide range of differences in the way normal people perceive and respond to the same situation. Drawing on a large body of solid research, psychologists Pearman and Albritton show how our own natural tendencies produce interpersonal blind spots that lead to misunderstandings. They offer practical tips for recognizing the ways other people perceive and respond to situations differently, and for communicating more effectively with others.
Puzzled or put off by our own or someone else's behavior, we frequently ask ourselves, Is that normal? Yet the question cuts both ways. Either we fail to meet some arbitrarily high standard, or we despair because we are merely normal. This book offers a clear explanation and some useful answers to the question of normalcy, helping readers identify, understand, and value the wide range of differences in the way normal people perceive and respond to the same situation. Drawing on a large body of solid research, psychologists Pearman and Albritton show how our own natural tendencies produce interpersonal blind spots that lead to misunderstandings. They offer practical tips for recognizing the ways other people perceive and respond to situations differently, and for communicating more effectively with others.