Definitions of abnormality (2)

Question 1

What is meant by failure to function adequately?

Answer 1

• When someone is unable to cope with demand of everyday life (nutrition & hygiene) > can’t maintain friendships or job

Question 2

What two people proposed certain indicators for when someone is not coping and what are they?

Answer 2

Rosenhan & Seligman (1989)
- when a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules (maintaining eye contact)
- person experiences personal distress
- person’s behaviour becomes irrational to themselves or others

Question 3

What is a strength of the failure to function adequately definition?

Answer 3

• criterion represents a threshold for when people need professional help
• According to mental health charity Mind, 25% of people in the UK will experience a mental health problem in any given year
• helps others to notice and refer other people
• treatments can be targeted to those who need in most

Question 4

What is a limitation of the failure to function adequately definition?

Answer 4

• Labels non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal e.g. not having a job or permanent address = abnormal» but people with alternative lifestyles chose to live “off-grid”
• those who favour high risk activities or unusable spiritual practices would be classed as a danger to self
• means people who make unusual choices are at risk of being labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice may be restricted

Question 5

What is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 5

• When someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health

Question 6

Who proposed a criteria for good mental health and what does the criteria contain?

Answer 6

• Jahoda
• we self-actualise
• environmental mastery
• high self esteem
• autonomy
• resisting stress
• accurate perception of reality (rational)

Question 7

What is a strength of deviation from ideal mental health definition?

Answer 7

• highly comprehensive
• Distinguishes mental health from illness > covers why we might seek or be referred for help with mental health
• means individuals health can be discussed meaningfully with a range of professionals who have different theoretical views (e.g. humanistic who make focus on self-actualisation)
  >provides checklist in which we can assess ourselves & others

Question 8

What is limitation of deviation from ideal mental health definition?

Answer 8

• not equally applicable to all culture
• Criteria for IMH located in the context of US and Europe e.g. self actualisation > dismissed as self- indulgent in collectivist cultures such as India and China
• westerns place high value on independences & what defines success differs in different cultures e.g. could be working, social life or love life
• difficult to apply IMH criteria from one culture to another