Definitions of abnormality 2

• AO1 - inability to cope with everyday life (FFA)

  • The failure to function adequately is when a person crosses the line between normal and abnormal to the point that the can’t deal with the demands of everyday life.
  • E.g. not being able to maintain nutrition and hygiene.
• AO1 - Rosenhan and Seligman (FFA)

  They proposed signs of FFA which is:

  • When a person no longer conforms to interpersonal rules, e.g. maintaining eye contact.
  • When a person experiences severe personal distress.
  • When a person behaves in a way that is irrational and dangerous.
• AO1 - intellectual disability disorder (FFA)

  • One of the criteria for intellectual disability disorder is having a very low IQ (a statistical infrequency).
  • However, a diagnosis wouldn’t been made on this basis alone, an individual must also be failing to function adequately.
• AO1 - look at what is normal (DFIMH)

  Deviation from ideal mental health is to look at what makes someone psychologically healthy and identify who deviates from this ideal.
• AO1 - Jahoda (DFIMH)

  Jahoda suggested we are in good mental health if we meet the following criteria:

  • We have no symptoms of distress
  • We are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
  • We self-actualise
  • We have a realistic view of the world
  • We have good self-esteem and lack guilt
  • We are independent
  • We can successfully work, love, and enjoy leisure
  • We can cope with stress
• AO1 - overlap between definitions (DFIMH)

  Someone‘s inability to keep a job may be a sign of FFA or as DFIMH.
• AO3 - ✔️FFA is it‘s a threshold for when people need professional help


  • According to Mind, around 25% of the people in the UK will experience a mental health problem.
  • However, many people still carry on.
  • It tends to be at the point that cease to function adequately that people seek professional help, or are referred for help.
  • Means that the FFA criteria provides a way to target treatment and services to those who need them most.
• AO3 - ✖️FFA is this definition can lead to discrimination and social control


  • It’s hard to distinguish between FFA and a conscious decision to deviate from social norms.
  • E.g. people may choose to live off-grid as part of an alternative lifestyle choice or take part in high-risk leisure activities.
  • Means that people who make unusual choices are at risk of being labelled abnormal and their freedom of choice may be restricted.
• AO3 - ✔️ideal mental health criteria is that it‘s all inclusive 


  • Jahoda’s criteria of the ideal mental health includes a range of ideas for distinguishing mental health from mental disorder.
  • It covers most reasons why we may seek professional help.
  • This means mental health can be discussed meaningfully with a range of professionals.
  • Therefore, ideal mental health provides a checklist against which we can assess ourselves and others.
• AO3 - ✖️ideal mental health criteria is that it may be culture-bound


  • Some of Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health are limited to the USA and Europe.
  • E.g. self-actualisation would be dismissed as self-indulgent in much or the world.
  • Furthermore, even in Europe there are variations in the value placed on independence (high in Germany, low in Italy).
  • Means that it’s difficult to apply the concept of ideal mental health from one culture to another.