Failure to function adequately & definition of abnormality

• What does the definition of failure to function adequately emphasize?

  It emphasizes the patient's perspective and experience
• When is an individual considered to have abnormality according to this definition?

  When they feel they cannot cope with everyday living
• What is an example of a situation where someone might feel they cannot cope?

  Holding down a job
• What are the characteristics of not functioning adequately?

  • Maladaptiveness: behavior preventing wellbeing
  • Irrationality: behavior that makes no sense
  • Unpredictability: impulsive and uncontrollable behavior
  • Observer discomfort: behavior causing unease in others
  • Personal distress: excessive emotional impact
• What does maladaptiveness refer to in the context of not functioning adequately?

  Behavior that prevents wellbeing and life goals
• How does irrationality manifest in behavior?

  As behavior that makes no sense to others
• What does unpredictability in behavior indicate?

  Impulsive behavior that seems uncontrollable
• What is observer discomfort in the context of not functioning adequately?

  Behavior that makes other people uneasy
• What does personal distress refer to?

  Being affected by emotion to an excessive degree
• How do the characteristics of not functioning adequately relate to each other?

  They all indicate difficulties in coping with life
• What is a limitation of the definition of functioning adequately?

  It is culturally specific
• Why is the concept of functioning adequately considered subjective?

  Judgment relies on clinician's perspective
• How might cultural differences affect diagnoses of psychological disorders?

  Different lifestyles may be misinterpreted
• What impact does the subjective nature of terms like 'maladaptiveness' have on diagnoses?

  It can lead to incorrect labeling of patients
• Why might lower class and non-white patients be diagnosed more frequently with psychological disorders?

  They may not meet dominant cultural standards
• What is a consequence of using a culturally biased definition of abnormality?

  It leads to unreliable diagnoses
• How does the 'Global Assessment of Functioning Scale' improve the definition of functioning adequately?

  It incorporates the patient's perspective
• What type of measures can be included in the definition of functioning adequately?

  Objective measures like attendance data
• How does the inclusion of objective measures affect the definition of functioning adequately?

  It reduces subjectivity in assessments
• failure to function adequately: strength

  Clinicians using this definition can use the ‘Global Assessment of Functioning Scale’ to help make a more objective diagnosis. The ‘Global Assessment of Functioning Scale’ is used by clinicians to rate an individual’s social, occupational and psychological functioning and is scored on a continuous scale. This is a strength because the scale allows clinicians to clearly judge the degree to which an individual is abnormal rather than just using their own opinion/judgment which would lead to a more reliable and valid diagnosis.
• Failure to function adequately: conclusion

  Reliability or validity of diagnosis is not guaranteed with this definition.  This is a limitation because it may lead to an individual being unnecessarily labelled as abnormal which can have a negative stigma attached to it.  It could also lead to them receiving unnecessary treatment such as drugs that can have negative side effects.