Lesson 2 - Failure to Function Adequately Flashcards
What is ‘failure to function adequately’?
This definition of abnormality measures how capable an individual is of coping with a day to day life. This includes being able to have a job, and interact well with others. If they are experiencing psychological distress and discomfort, then there may be negative effects on their ability to function adequately.
What is the scale called that measures how capable an individual is at functioning adequately?
Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF)
Who made the 7 criteria used in this definition?
Rosenhan and Seligman
What are the 7 criteria?
Suffering - A person might be psychologically or physically suffering because they have a psychological abnormality that is having a negative effect on them.
Unpredictability and loss of control - This is when an individual simply acts in a way that we would not expect from anyone.
Maladaptiveness - This is when someone is actively inhibiting their own progress.
Observer Discomfort - This is where other people may experience negative emotions when observing the individual.
Vividness and Unconventiality - The behaviour is just odd and completely different from social norms
Irrationality and Incomprehensibility - This is where someone talks in a way or acts in a way that is simply not understandable.
Violation of moral and ideal standards - This is where someone acts in a way that is simply not acceptable societally. This could be something that even breaks the law.
How do the 7 criteria work?
A psychologist will rate the participant on each of the categories, and rank them from 0-7 within each category. The lower the number, the more normal the person is (0 is the lowest), and the higher the number the more abnormal (7 is the highest). If several of these criteria are present within the individual at the same time, then this person could be classed as abnormal. This is good as we can see the degree to which someone is abnormal.
Evaluation of Failure to Function Adequately (Weakness) - Assumptions that abnormality equates to dysfunction.
This definition is assuming that when someone is abnormal, this links in with dysfunction. This is not always the case. This can be seen through serial killers such as Harold Shipman and Ted Bundy, who people saw as normal, despite them being very abnormal. This also may operate both ways, as if someone is having a bad day, they may act in dysfunction, but actually they are perfectly normal.
Evaluation of Failure to Function Adequately (Weakness) - The criteria is subjective and non scientific
The criteria are very difficult to measure and analyse. We cannot exactly measure how much someone is suffering, and this makes the criteria extremely subjective. This means it is not scientific at all. Psychologists may also interpret the same patient differently, showing the definition’s subjectiveness.
Evaluation of Failure to Function Adequately (Weakness) - The criteria may sometimes be socially correct
There are some situations where some of the criteria that are listed should be adhered to, as it is the normal emotion. In fact, in some situations, if someone does not act by adhering to these criteria and displaying some of them, that would be abnormal. For example, if someone was at a funeral of their close relative, and they were laughing and not showing signs of suffering, then this would be abnormal.
