Nadnormální

Nadnormální is a Czech adjective meaning beyond normal or supernormal. It is used to describe something that exceeds standard norms, often to emphasize an excessive or extraordinary quality. The term can function as an ordinary descriptive adjective in both everyday and scholarly language, for example in phrases like nadnormální jev or nadnormální podnět.

In scientific contexts, nadnormální often appears as the translation of the term supernormal stimulus. A nadnormální podnět is a stimulus that elicits a stronger, more persistent, or simpler response than a natural cue would. Ethologists and psychologists use the concept to explain why exaggerated or highly salient stimuli can provoke a greater behavioral reaction than ordinary, ecologically typical signals. The idea highlights how perception and behavior can be biased toward intensified cues, sometimes beyond what is adaptive in the real environment.

Examples commonly discussed include biological scenarios where exaggerated cues trigger stronger responses, such as animals responding to oversized or highly salient stimuli that are not typical in their natural surroundings. In humans, the concept is used to describe how highly intensified cues in advertising, packaging, or displays can capture attention and influence preferences more effectively than normal signals. The term is primarily used in scholarly writing and specialized discussions, though it may appear informally to describe extreme or exceptional conditions.

See also: supernormal stimulus, ethology, psychology.