Failure to function adequately

• Failure to function adequately

  • Inability to cope with everyday living
  • Person may cross the line between normal and abnormal when they cannot deal with everyday life (not being abled to hold a job, hygiene, nutrition)
• Rosenham proposed signs of failure to cope


  When a person no longer conforms to interpersonal rules, experiences personal distress or acts irrationally
• Failure to function adequately

  Recognises the patient's perspective
• This may not be satisfactory because it's hard to assess stress
• This acknowledges that the patient's experience is valid
• This captures the experience of any people who need help and helps with assessing abnormality
• Defining abnormality as failure to function adequately

  Is the same as deviation from social norms
• It's difficult to say if someone is failing to function or is deviating from social norms
• People who live extreme lifestyles could be seen as behaving maladaptively
• If we label this as failures, we limit freedom