Definition of abnormality: Failure to function adequately

• AO1:

  • This definition of abnormality focuses on the everyday behaviour of an individual. Most people aim to be able to cope with day-to-day living e.g. going to work, maintain friendships, get dressed etc.
  • Abnormality then can be judged in terms of not being able to cope with day-to-day living.
  • So, ‘failure to function adequately’ refers to the individual’s ability (or inability) to cope with day-to-day living.
• AO1:

  • A classic example would be depression which can lead to inertia (inactivity) and apathy. As such, the depressed person may be ‘abnormal’ because they are unable to hold down a job.
  • There may be situations where a person is not coping with everyday life in a ‘normal’ way – for example, a person may be content living in unwashed clothes and not having a regular job. If this doesn’t cause distress to self or others then a judgement of abnormality is inappropriate.
• AO1:

  • For example, if you are depressed this is acceptable as long as you can continue to work, eat meals, wash your clothes and generally go about day-to-day living.
• Rosenhan & Seligman (1989) suggest some of the following characteristics can define failure to function adequately:

  • When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules, e.g. maintaining eye contact and respecting personal space
  • When a person experiences severe personal distress
  • When a person’s behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others
• AO3:

  • A limitation of the failure to function adequately definition is that someone needs to decide whether this is actually the case
  • Sometimes people experience personal distress and recognise that their behaviour is undesirable
  • However, sometimes people are content with their behaviour and it is others who are distressed by it
  • This means that whether ta behaviour is defined as abnormal or not depends on who is making the judgement
• A03:

  • One limitation of the failure to function adequately definition is that some apparently abnormal behaviours can be functional
  • For example depression may lead to extra attention for the individual
  • this attention is rewarding and therefore has a function
  • This means that failure to function adequately is an incomplete definition as it fails to distinguish between behaviours that are dysfunctional and those that have some function for the individual
• AO3:

  • A limitation of the failure to function adequately definition is that of cultural relativism
  • For example, the definition is based on Western culture’s ideals and beliefs
  • Applying them to members of non-Western cultures would be inappropriate
  • This means the definition is culture-bound in that it may apply only to individual in Western cultures