A03 - FFA

• Strength = subjective experience recognised

  • definition is subjective as takes a patient-centred view by allowing mental disorders to be regarded from perception of person who is mentally ill or their loved ones
  • allows us to view mental disorders from point of view of person experiencing it first hand
  • can encourage someone with a mental illness to seek help even if their behaviour may appear ’normal’ to others
• Limitation = weak abnormality / functionality correlation

  • presence of abnormality doesn’t always result in an inability to function adequately
  • e.g. many people who suffer from depression or anxiety can successfully carry out ‘normal’ lives (such as employment)
  • many examples of public figures who have led successful careers and would not be considered as an individual who is unable to function adequately
  • e.g. David Beckham has OCD
  • definition demonstrates inadequacy in identifying behaviours that may be considered abnormal
• Limitation = dysfunction not always observable

  • abnormality may not always be followed by observable dysfunctional traits
  • e.g. psychopaths can cause great harm to others yet still appear normal
  • e.g. Harold Shipman, an English doctor who murdered over 200 of his patients
  • his cognitions and behaviours were abnormal yet displayed no sign of inability to function
  • does not offer holistic explanation as failing to function adequately doesn’t always correlate with overt displays of dysfunction
• What are the strengths of failure to function adequately?

  1. Recognises subjective experience
• What are the limitations of failure to function adequately?

  1. Weak abnormality / functionality correlation
  2. Dysfunction not always observable