Failure to function adequately is the failure to cope with day-to-day living.
Example: Unable to maintain basic levels of nutrition and hygiene.
When
Rosenhan & Seligman (1989) suggests that some characteristics which can define failure to function adequately include:
- When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules
- e.g., maintaining eye contact and respecting personal space
- When a person experiences severe personal distress
- When a person’s behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others
Evaluation
No clear definition of what is a normal response
Type: Limitation
- People often experience personal distress and recognise that their behaviour is undesirable
- However, at times people are content with their behaviour and causing others to become distressed by it
- Therefore, meaning that whether a behaviour is defined as normal or abnormal depends on who is making the judgement
Failure to function adequately may be an incomplete definition
Type: Limitation
- Some abnormal behaviours can be functional
- Depression may lead to extra attention for the individual
- The attention is rewarding and therefore has a function
- Therefore failure to function adequately is an incomplete definition as it fails to distinguish between dysfunctional behaviours and those that have some function for the individual
Cultural relativism
Type: Limitation
- Based on Western culture’s ideals and beliefs
- Applying them to non-Western cultures would be inappropriate
- Therefore, the definition is culture-bound in that it may apply