Def of Abnormality 2

Question 1

Failure to function adequately:

Answer 1

Occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living.

Question 2

Deviation from ideal mental health:

Answer 2

When someone does not meet a set criteria for good mental health.

Question 3

Criteria of Failing to Function Adequately:

Answer 3

Proposed by Rosenhan and Seligman:
1. When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules, maintaining eye contact and respecting personal space.
2. Experiences severe personal distress.
3. A person’s behaviour is irrational or dangerous to themselves or others.

Question 4

Example: FTFA Intellectual disorder

Answer 4

1. One criteria was having a very low IQ.
2. A diagnosis would not be made on this basis alone, and individual must be FTFA-ing before a diagnosis would be given.

Question 5

Ideal Mental Health: Jahoda

Answer 5

1. No symptoms or distress.
2. Are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately.
3. We self-actualise (reach our potential).
4. We can cope with stress.
5. We have a realistic view of the world.
6. We have good self-esteem and lack guilt.
7. We are independent of others.
8. We can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure.

Question 6

E: Patient’s Perspective FTFA

Answer 6

1. Does attempt to include the subjective experience of the individual.
2. May not be an entirely satisfactory approach, because it is difficult to asses distress.
3. It at least acknowledges that the experience of the patient is important.
4. The definition captures the experience of many people who need help, suggests it is a useful criterion.

Question 7

E: Are they FTFA or deviating?

Answer 7

1. In practice, it can be hard to say that they are FTFA or are just deviating from social norms.
2. We might consider not having a job or permanent address as a FTFA. They might have an alternative lifestyle, where they choose not to have those things.
3. Those who play extreme sports may be described as behaving in a maladaptive way, those with religious or supernatural beliefs may be seen as irrational.
4. If we define those as FTFA, we risk limiting personal freedom and discriminating against minority groups.

Question 8

E: Subjective judgements FTFA

Answer 8

1. When deciding if someone if FTFA, someone has to judge whether or not they are distressed.
2. Some patients may say they are distressed, but may be judged as not suffering.
3. There are ways to make the judgements as objective as possible, including checklists like Global Assessment of Functioning Scale.
4. The principle remains that someone has the right to make this judgement.

Question 9

E: Comprehensive Definition (deviation from ideal)

Answer 9

1. It is very comprehensive It covers a broad range of criteria for mental health.
2. Probably covers most of the reasons someone would seek help from mental health services or be referred for help.
3. The sheer range of factors make it a good toll for thinking about mental health.

Question 10

E: Cultural Relativism (DFIMH)

Answer 10

1. Some of the ideas in Jahoda’s classification of ideal mental health are specific to Western European and North American cultures (culture-bound).
2. The emphasis on personal achievement in the the concept of self-actualisation would be considered self-indulgent in much of the world because the emphasis is so much on the individual rather than the family or community.
3. Similarly they would see independence from other people as a bad thing.

Question 11

E: Sets an unrealistic standard for mental health (DFIMH)

Answer 11

1. Very few of us attain all Jahoda’s criteria and none of us could achieve all of them at the same time for very long.
2. This approach sees pretty much everyone as abnormal, can be positive or negative.
3. On the positive side it makes it clear to people they ways in which they would benefit from seeking treatment for mental health.
4. At the other extreme, deviation from ideal mental health is probably of no value in thinking about who might benefit from treatment against their will.