Limitations of Failure to Function adequately
1) The definition and Rosenhan’s indicators requires subjective judgement. For example, what
causes observer discomfort to one person may not to another, what one sees as irrational,
another may not. Therefore, the definition may not be reliable as different people will make
different decisions about abnormality.
2) Some apparently dysfunctional behaviour can actually be adaptive and functional for the
individual. For example, some mental disorders such as anorexia or depression may lead to
the individual getting extra attention. This may be welcome and lead to them getting
treatment and so may NOT be bad for survival, going against what the definition says.
3) It is culturally relative
4) Failure to function may not be linked to a psychological disorder. E.g. unemployment or
economic conditions may mean a person does not have a job. This means the definition is
not always useful.
5) Strength- This definition recognises the subjective experience of the patient, allowing us to
view the disorder from the point of view of the person experiencing it.
Limitations of Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
1) Jahoda’s criteria are vague and difficult to measure objectively compared to physical illness.
Therefore, what one person sees as environmental mastery, another may disagree with.
Consequently, the definition will not be reliable.
2) Societies and cultures will disagree on what is ‘ideal mental health’. In our culture it is
viewed as important yet other cultures do not see this as the ultimate aim in life. E.g.
Individualist cultures like the UK are concerned with individual achievement and goals,
whereas collectivist cultures like China strive for the greater good of the community and not
individual achievement. Therefore, personal growth, self-attitudes and autonomy will not
be important in these cultures. Consequently the usefulness of the definition may be
limited. (these parts go into the boxes on the booklet)
3) Would anyone be deemed normal? Very few people would match all the criteria e.g.
personal growth, so most people would be considered abnormal. This is therefore useless
as a definition.
4) Strength-This is a positive approach to defining abnormality as it focuses on what is
desirable rather than undesirable.
Cultural Relativism
Meaning – some aspects of psychology vary from culture to culture and so definitions of abnormality
are culturally specific
Deviation from social norms is culturally relative as what is unacceptable varies over time. E.g.
homosexuality was classed as a mental disorder in DSM I (Diagnostic and statistical manual of
mental disorders), in version II it was a sexual deviation and it version III (1980) it was no longer a
mental disorder.
Sun dancing is a Native American religious ceremony where people go without food or drink and
dance for days. Towards the end they attach a rope to a slit in their skin and dance until it rips. If
they hallucinate they are seen to be favoured by the spirits, yet in our culture this would be seen as
a sign of mental illness.
Therefore, what is considered abnormal is relative to the cultural context.
Failure to function adequately is culturally relative because what is standard in terms of everyday
activities will vary from culture to culture and so what is dysfunctional behaviour will also vary. E.g.
in some cultures not going out to work will be usual (although certain aspects MIGHT be universal
such as eating). Therefore, this definition is not useful in different cultures.