Failure to function adequately

Based on the Failure to Function Adequately (FFA) definition, individuals are deemed abnormal if they struggle to manage daily life requirements and live autonomously in society. Additionally, to be categorised as abnormal, their actions should result in personal anguish and distress due to their inability to cope. Their behaviour might also cause unease or discomfort to others witnessing it.

For instance, a person experiencing depression could have difficulty getting up in the morning and attending work or face challenges in communicating with loved ones and acquaintances. Consequently, they would be labelled abnormal because their depression leads to a failure to meet everyday obligations (such as working). At the same time, their conduct also brings about distress and unease to relatives and friends.

EVALUATING FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES: Individual differences can pose a problem for the failure to function adequately definition. For example, individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder  (OCD) may display excessive rituals that hinder their ability to function adequately. One person may struggle to maintain employment due to constant absenteeism, while another with the same symptoms may still attend work regularly by finding time to complete their rituals. Therefore, although both individuals exhibit similar psychological and behavioural symptoms, the failure to function adequately definition would yield different diagnoses for each person. This discrepancy casts doubt on the accuracy of this definition.

SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCES: The failure to function adequately definition has a key advantage in that it takes into account the individual's subjective experiences. By acknowledging the thoughts and emotions of the person affected, this definition avoids making hasty judgments without considering the personal perspective of the sufferer. This highlights the usefulness of the failure to function adequately definition in evaluating psychopathological behaviour.

DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS VERSUS FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: Distinguishing between failure to function adequately and deviation from social norms can be challenging. In certain instances, a behaviour that seems to be a failure to function adequately, such as an individual choosing to live outside the societal norms and consequently being unable to work, may also be a deviation from the social norm. In such cases, it becomes difficult to determine whether this behaviour should be considered maladaptive. Labelling such individuals as 'failures' could potentially limit their personal freedom.