Final answer:
Abnormal behavior cannot be determined solely by distress and interference with life; cultural context and deviation from societal norms must also be considered, highlighting the importance of cultural relativity in determining what constitutes abnormal behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
To ascertain abnormal behavior, being distressful and interfering with life isn't enough. Additional criteria include deviation from statistical norms, cultural relativity, subjective distress, violation of societal norms, or psychological impairment. However, cultural relativity is essential, as what's considered distressing or abnormal in one culture might be perfectly normal in another due to different cultural concepts of distress (CCD). CCD is how a culture explains and communicates suffering or troubling thoughts. Therefore, considering the cultural context is critical when evaluating if a behavior is abnormal.
The context in which behavior occurs can greatly affect perceptions of normalcy. Norms and values, which vary greatly across societies and situations, form the basis of what's considered acceptable. Thus, behavior may only be deemed abnormal when it significantly deviates from what a particular society considers the norm, cannot be understood within any cultural framework, or violates rule-based, established norms which lead to formal sanctions.
It's important to note that while deviance may hint at abnormality, not all deviant acts are seen as indicative of an underlying psychological disorder. A broad perspective must be used, considering manifestations of behaviors and CCD, societal norms, and personal distress when evaluating abnormality.