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Definitions of Abnormality
Failure to function adequately
Evaluation
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Created by
Billy Dudden
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Cards (2)
Represents a
threshold
for help
One
strength
of the failure to function criterion is that it represents a
sensible threshold
for when
professional help
is needed:
According to Mind,
25%
of people in the UK will experience a
mental health problem
at some point, but most press on
It's at the point that we
cease to function properly
that people seek
professional help
Therefore,
treatment
and
services
can be directed to those who need them
Discrimination
and
social control
One
limitation
of the failure to function criterion is that it is easy to label
non-standard
lifestyle choices as
abnormal
:
It can be hard to tell whether someone is
failing to function
or is simply
deviating from social norms
e.g.
spiritualists
or
base jumpers
Therefore, people who make
unusual choices
are at risk of being labelled
abnormal
and their
freedom of choice
may be
restricted