Definitions of abnormality - 2

Question 1

Define the failure to function adequately

Answer 1

• When someone is unable to cope with the ordinary demands of day to day living such as maintaining hygiene and nutrition or attending work and school

Question 2

What are the three symptoms of FTFA.

Answer 2

• They may experience personal distress
• they might have irrational thoughts and act violently towards themselves
• They might not conform to interpersonal rules such as personal space and eye contact

Question 3

Who identified these three symptoms?

Answer 3

Rosenham and Seligman in 1989

Question 4

What is a deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 4

When someone doesn’t meet the criteria for good mental health

Question 5

What is the criteria for ideal mental health

Answer 5

• no symptoms or distress
• rational and perceive themselves accurately
• self-actualising
• coping well with stress
• a realistic view of the world
• good self-esteem and a lack of guilt
• independence from others
• they can successfully work, love and enjoy leisure

Question 6

What is a strength of FTFA?

Answer 6

• it represents an ideal threshold for mental health and these symptoms identified by Rosenham and Seligman can help people seek treatment whilst their ability to function declines

Question 7

What is a weakness of FTFA

Answer 7

• it is easy to identify people with a non standard lifestyle as abnormal even though they choose this specific lifestyle
• For example, some may choose to live off the grid or an extreme sport such as parkour which puts them at danger and may be seen as irrational, however they may function adequately

Question 8

What is the strength of deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 8

• it is comprehensive and people can see if they are mentally fit easily by using jahoda’s criteria as a way to self-assess their mental health

Question 9

What are the two weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 9

• it has very high standards which are almost impossible to live up to, making them disheartening
• They may be culture-bound, for example, self-actualisation and independence may be dismissed in some countries and not a good way of identifying good mental health.
• Jahoda’s criteria is very modern and based on American and European cultures