On the opposite side of the continuum from normalizing is pathologizing. Pathologizing is classifying something as abnormal or deviant. Without critical awareness, we might believe that the social-community expectations are attainable. Individually, it is easy for us to believe that we are the only person who doesn’t meet the expectations; therefore, there is something abnormal or deviant about us. If we’re going to develop and practice critical awareness, we have to be able to normalize experiences to the point of knowing we’re not alone.
