Defintions Of Abnormality - Failure To Function Adequately

Question 1

What is the description of failure to function adequately?

Answer 1

Under this definition a person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life. They may be unable to perform the behaviours necessary for day to day living e.g addicts (alcohol, drugs, gambling)

Question 2

What are the 6 criteria for abnormality according to Rosenhan&Seligmans?

Answer 2

Personal distress 
Maladaptive behaviour
Irrationality and incomprehensibility
Unpredictability and loss of control
Observer discomfort
Violation of moral standard

Question 3

What does maladaptive behaviour mean?

Answer 3

Behaviour that prevents an individual from achieving major life goals/unable to carry out everyday activities

Question 4

What does personal distress mean?

Answer 4

The person is visibly upset or distressed

Question 5

What does irrationality and incompressibility mean?

Answer 5

Other cannot understand the behaviour.

There is not good reason why the person should choose to behave that way

Question 6

What does unpredictability and loss of control mean?

Answer 6

Behaviour is unexpected

The person might not be able to manage their emotions

Question 7

What does observer discomfort mean?

Answer 7

A persons behaviour could make others feel uncomfortable

Question 8

What does violation of moral standards mean?

Answer 8

Behaviour that significantly differs from what you would except in a certain situation

Question 9

Give three negative evaluation point of failure to function adequately as a way of defining abnormality?

Answer 9

Some apparently dysfunctional behaviour can actually be adaptive and functional for the individual (cross dressing, some people make a living out of it, although transvestitism is a mental disorder&regarded as abnormal)
Depends who’s making the judgement (patient might think they are fine but others may be uncomfortable)
Some people have psychological disorder but still function adequately (dr Harold shipman, psychopaths)

Question 10

Give a positive evaluation point on failure to function adequately as a way of defining abnormality?

Answer 10

Definition recognises the subjective experiences of the patient; meaning we see the disorder from the POV of the person experiencing it