Strengths - Failure to Function Adequately:
- This definition acknowledges the subjective experience of the individual. EG: whether they are feeling distressed because the behaviour is a problem for them. It allows for harmless eccentricity, however unusual, to be considered normal.
Limitations - Failure to Function Adequately:
- Judgements of adequate functioning must be made in context, and may not be clear-cut. EG: low levels of functioning and high levels of distress may be experienced following bereavement: in this case, we would need to consider the severity, duration and reasons for poor functioning in determining whether the grieving is normal or abnormal.
- It is unclear who is best placed to make the judgement on levels of functioning, and what should happen if there is a disagreement. EG: a doctor or relatives may view extreme hoarding as interfering with normal functioning, while the hoarder themselves is quite content. This definition can be criticised for relying too heavily on subjective judgement.
- Some abnormal individuals have generally high levels of functioning. EG: murderers such as Harold Shipman, or some addicts, may manage to hold down a job and normal family life despite their abnormality, so appear to themselves and others to be functioning very well. While their underlying problem is clearly harmful, they would be difficult to spot if we were using this definition of abnormality alone.