failure to function adequately

• Failure to function adequately


  The individual is defined as abnormal if they cannot cope in their daily lives, including their ability to interact with the world and meet their challenges.
• Rosenhan and Seligman's features of failure to function


  • Maladaptive behaviour: individuals behave in ways that go against their long-term interests.
  • Personal anguish: the individual suffers from anxiety and distress.
  • Irrationality: it is difficult to understand the motivation behind the individual's unpredictability.
• + Recognises the subjective experience of the person


  E - This definition is focused on the individual and how they are managing in everyday life from their perspective.

  E - This allows us to view the mental disorder from the point of view of the person experiencing it.

  L - Therefore, if someone feels as though they are struggling they will be deemed abnormal and get help. (could improve economy)
• + Observable behaviour


  E - Failure to function adequately can be seen by others around the individual. E.g. they may not get out of bed on a morning, or be able to hold a job down.

  E - This means that problems can be picked up by others and if the individual is incapable of making a decision or helping themselves others can intervene.

  L - Therefore, it allows people to get the help that they need.
• / Abnormal behaviour might be functional


  E - Abnormality doesn't always stop the person functioning. Abnormal behaviour may depend on the person.

  E - Dysfunctional behaviour may be adaptive and functional for the individual (e.g. staying in bed may make a depressed person feel better).

  L - Therefore, it suggests the idea of not being able to function as being a bad thing, which it is not always.
• / Cultural relativism of failure to function adequately


  E - In certain cultures, naps may be seen as normal. In other cultures, sleeping in the day is abnormal.

  E - What is classified as functioning 'adequately' varies from culture to culture. The ability to cope with everyday life depends on what is seen as normal everyday life.

  L - Therefore, the explanation is not generalisable to different cultures and can be seen as culture bias.