Biraj: We all have different perspectives on what we really consider 'meaningful'. To me the ability to walk to my bathroom, dress by myself, take care of my kids, financially provide for my family are all 'meaningful' and I must be 'functional' (physically, mentally, emotionally/ socially) be able to do so......My 'function' here is 'occupation' as this is extremely meaningful to me. And, my "occupation" fits in Maslow's lowest level of needs- security (to take care of my family and self), and physiologically (to physically and mentally perform as a human being, father and earning member of the society).
As in my earlier post, we are probably researching 'linguistic' implications of the words 'function' and 'occupation' as being implied by language experts, occupational scientists, and us- the occupational therapists of today, who see the word 'function' turfed by every health care professional. To me 'tango' could be a function (by description an action that I am either suited for or 'am employed) that becomes my 'occupation' for leisure. But I am 'functioning' as a 'tango-er' while indulging in 'tangoing'...... I do recognize the fact that 'occupation' is a bigger word in the sense it encompasses evey aspect of functioning and not merely parts- e.g. sleep (a normally thought of 'non- functioning' part of the day is yet an 'occupation' for normal physiological functioning). Again, just my thoughts. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Incandescent" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 8:45 PM Subject: Re: [OTlist] what is OT? > Hi Jimmie: > > My understanding of "functional" has been that they are those activities which > an individual needs to do, is required to or expected to do - thus functional. > And since you used the terms "occupational" and "functional" interchangeably (at > least that is how I interpreted it) my contention was that they are not > interchangeable terms. Because the idea of occupational activities has a > *meaning* aspect to it. For example if wanting to learn the tango is important > to someone, or perhaps writing (as in a published writer), or inline skating, or > something similar, these would be considered "occupational" and not "functional" > activities. However, they may serve a function or a purpose. My point was > simply that occupational activities mean more than "functional" activities to > the individual, but strictly speaking they are more than "functional" > activities, because the function here is almost incidental, even if not quite. > However, "functional" activities cannot be "occupational" activities, while the > reverse may be true. Thus the two terms cannot be used interchangeably. > > To amplify what I mean, if we were to view "occupational" activities as distinct > from "functional" activities I would consider interpreting the two in terms of > Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In this hierarchy of needs, "occupational" > activities would fall more within the Esteem or even the Self-Actualization > needs in certain cases. Whereas "functional" activities would fall more within > the lower needs i.e. "Security" or "Safety" needs. > > Hope this helps to explain what I had meant initially. > > > Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: > > Self-Actualization > > Esteem > > Love and Belongingness > > Safety > > Security or Physiological > > > Best, > > Biraj > > > > > Jimmie Arcenaux wrote: > > > Biraj, > > > > Are you implying that "activities which an individual needs to do or is > > expected to do" are not functional? I agree that occupation is a broader > > concept, but I believe what is occupational is also functional. Occupation > > to me is the work of living as a human being. A functional activity by its > > definition has meaning and relevance to the individual's life. > > > > Thanks Brian for the reference to the roots of OT. I could not agree with > > you more. > > > > Jimmie > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Incandescent [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 9:04 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Re: [OTlist] what is OT? > > > > Hi Jimmie: > > > > Not to put too fine a point on this but my sense is that when viewed from > > the > > perspective of activities "Occupational" is a distinct and larger concept > > than > > "functional". The former also includes within it what is meaningful to the > > individual, whereas "functional" as the word implies refers to those aspects > > of > > activities which an individual needs to do or is expected to do - thus > > functional. > > > > What do others think? > > > > Biraj > > > > Jimmie Arcenaux wrote: > > > > > I believe also that the use of occupational or "functional" (I hate using > > > that term because it is coined well too often by OTs) activities as the > > > primary treatment modality is a hallmark of occupational therapy. It is > > > what the professions history is based upon. > > > Jimmie > > > > *****************************��********************************** > > > > To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > In the message's *body*, put the following text: > > > > unsubscribe OTlist > > > > - > > > > List messages are archived at: > > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > *****************************��*********************************** > > > > *****************************��********************************** > > > > To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > In the message's *body*, put the following text: > > > > unsubscribe OTlist > > > > - > > > > List messages are archived at: > > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > *****************************��*********************************** > > > > > *****************************��********************************** > > To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > In the message's *body*, put the following text: > > unsubscribe OTlist > > - > > List messages are archived at: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > *****************************��*********************************** > *****************************��********************************** To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist - List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] *****************************��***********************************
