Determining Normalcy and Anomalies

Those in power shaping educational curriculums define what is considered 'normal' and, subsequently, what falls outside this 'norm' as an 'anomaly.' This categorization leads to the labeling of individuals who deviate from the norm, encouraging conformity. Foucault emphasizes that such social labels contribute to maintaining power dynamics by creating a system where diverging too far from the norm results in negative judgments and societal backlash. This control over defining norms influences behavioral regulation and self-policing to align with societal expectations, as individuals fear being stigmatized or labeled as extremists, failures, mentally ill, or erratic for straying too far from established norms.