The Global Assessment of Functioning is a clinical diagnostic scale used to rate the subject's level of function in three categories: psychological, social and occupational. Either the symptom severity (anxiety, insomnia) or the level of functioning (can't hold job, neglects personal hygiene) is rated (whichever is lower or "worse").
The scale runs from 100 (superior functioning) to 1 (persistent risk of injury to self or others, suicidal, inability to perform personal care/hygiene).
I'll be honest - not every assessment which I discuss during A to Z can be helpful in crafting characters. (I'm doing my best.) The only use I've found for this one is in grouping common functional levels/symptoms for characters who may be suffering from some sort of psychological or mental impairment. The scale would provide a starting point to describe observable behaviors. For instance, on the 31-40 region of the scale:
Some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g., speech is at times illogical, obscure, or irrelevant) or major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g., depressed adult avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work; child frequently beats up younger children, is defiant at home, and is failing at school).
Find the full GAF scale here.
Adjectives for the day: galliard, gibbous, glabrous, glutinous, goluptious, gormless, graveolent
No need to apologize. This is a really informative series that is looking at all angles of character development. it all adds to the tool box for writers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stu!
DeleteAs a psychiatric nurse, we use GAF all the time, never thought about using for my characters, though. Not a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteI thought it might provide at least a starting point. :-) Thanks for visiting!
DeleteOh, this is a new way of keeping characters consistent. Interesting. Could be helpful!
ReplyDeleteDonna Smith
The A-to-Z Challenge
http://mainelywrite.blogspot.com
Mainely Write
Thanks Donna!
DeleteActually, that test needs to be performed on everyone, as I know some people with no social skills...
ReplyDeleteI agree :-0 I know one or two people who don't seem to function too well in certain areas of their lives! Thanks for stopping by, Alex.
DeleteInteresting test. I wonder what my score would be?
ReplyDeletePrecious Monsters