4.1: Deviation from the ideal mental health definition

Question 1

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, how?

Answer 1

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health

Question 2

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example what?

Answer 2

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature

Question 3

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, what is any deviation away from what is seen as normal classed as?

Answer 3

Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal

Question 4

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 4

Deviation from ideal mental health is the failure to meet the criteria for perfect psychological wellbeing

Question 5

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Who (what year) devised the concept of ideal mental health?

Answer 5

Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health

Question 6

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
What are the 6 characteristics of ideal mental health?

Answer 6

The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are:

1. A positive attitude towards oneself
2. Self-actualisation
3. Autonomy
4. Resisting stress
5. Accurate perception of reality
6. Environmental mastery

Question 7

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
1. What does a positive attitude towards oneself mean/

Answer 7

A positive attitude towards oneself means having:

1. Self-respect
2. A positive self-concept (self-esteem)

Question 8

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
2. What does self-actualisation mean?

Answer 8

Self-actualisation means:

1. Experiencing personal growth
2. Developing to their full capabilities and potential

Question 9

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
3. What does autonomy mean?

Answer 9

Autonomy means:

1. Being independent and self-reliant
2. Able to make personal decisions

Question 10

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
4. What does resisting stress mean?

Answer 10

Resisting stress means:

1. Having effective coping strategies
2. Being able to cope with everyday anxiety-provoking and stressful situations

Question 11

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
5. What does an accurate perception of reality mean?

Answer 11

An accurate perception of reality means:

1. Perceiving the world in a non-distorted fashion
2. Having an objective and realistic view of the world

Question 12

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
6. What does environmental mastery mean?

Answer 12

Environmental mastery means:

1. Being competent in all aspects of life and being able to meet the demands of any situation
2. Having the flexibility to adapt to changing life circumstances

Question 13

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
The more characteristics individuals fail to meet and the further they are away from realising individual characteristics, the more what?

Answer 13

The more characteristics individuals fail to meet and the further they are away from realising individual characteristics, the more abnormal they are

Question 14

The deviation from the ideal mental health definition perceives abnormality in a similar way to how physical health is assessed, by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, for example the correct body temperature.
Therefore, any deviation away from what is seen as normal is classed as abnormal.
Marie Jahoda (1958) devised the concept of ideal mental health.
An absence of any of the 6 characteristics indicates individuals as being abnormal and displaying deviation from ideal mental health.
The 6 characteristics of ideal mental health are a positive attitude towards oneself, self-actualisation, autonomy, resisting stress, accurate perception of reality and environmental mastery.
The more characteristics individuals fail to meet and the further they are away from realising individual characteristics, the more abnormal they are.
Like the deviation from social norms and the failure to function adequately definitions, what does this definition focus on?

Answer 14

Like the deviation from social norms and the failure to function adequately definitions, this definition focuses on:
1. Behaviours
2. Characteristics
seen as desirable, rather than what is undesirable

Question 15

Strengths:
1. Positivity.
The deviation from the ideal mental health definition emphasises positive achievements rather than failures and distress and stresses a positive approach to mental problems by focusing on what is desirable, not undesirable.
2. Targets areas of dysfunction.
The deviation from the ideal mental health definition allows for the targeting of which areas to work on when treating abnormality.
This could be important when treating different types of disorders, such as focusing upon specific problem areas a person with depression has.
3. Holistic.
The deviation from the ideal mental definition considers an individual as a whole person rather than focusing on individual areas of their behaviour.
4. Goal setting.
The deviation from the ideal mental definition permits identification of exactly what is needed to achieve normality, allowing creation of personal goals to work towards and achieve, thus facilitating self-growth.

Answer 15

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Question 16

Weaknesses:
1. Over-demanding criteria.
Who can achieve all the criteria?
Most people do not meet all the ideals.
For example, everyone has bad or ‘off’ days and few people experience personal growth all the time.
Therefore, according to this definition, most people are abnormal.
Thus, the criteria may actually be ideals (how you would like to be), rather than actualities (how you actually are).
2. Subjective criteria.
Is mental health the same as physical health?
Jahoda used the same method of diagnosing abnormal behaviour as for physical illnesses, but can the same method be used?
Many of the criteria are vague and difficult to measure.
Measuring physical health is more objective, using methods like X-rays and blood tests.
Diagnosing mental health is more subjective, relying largely on self-reports of patients, who may be mentally ill and not reliable.
3. Contextual effects.
Mental health criteria are affected by context.
Spitting while out jogging is quite normal, but it is not considered normal in the college cafeteria.
4. Changes over time.
The perceptions of reality change over time.
Once seeing visions was a positive sign of religious commitment, but now it would be perceived as a sign of schizophrenia.
5. Cultural variation.
The criteria used to judge mental health are culturally relative and should not be used to judge others of different cultures.
Some types of abnormality exist only in certain cultures, like Koro, which is a syndrome found in South East Asia, China and Africa, where a man believes that his penis is fatally retracting into his body.
6. Cultural relativism.
The criteria mainly apply to Western and middle class cultures.
Self-actualisation is relevant to individualistic, but not collectivist, cultures, because they strive for common good, rather than individual attainment, goals and independent success.
Collectivist cultures also stress communal goals and behaviours and see autonomy as undesirable.
Therefore, the deviation from ideal mental health definition is culturally biased.

Answer 16

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