Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 1

deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 1

• stems from Humanist approach
• focuses on motivation + self-development
• e.g. Maslow = “hierarchy of needs”
• base needs met first then move up to next level
  abnormality
• related to the lack of ‘contented existence’
  = people who deviate from ‘optimal’ mental health are abnormal

Question 2

self actualisation

Answer 2

‘Self actualisation’ means that we should strive to reach our full potential = achieve a series of goals –> abnormality is if they fail to meet their goals/criteria

Question 3

6 criteria - in order to have positive mental health

Answer 3

• APPIES
• autonomy
• perception of reality
• personal growth
• integration
• environmental mastery
• self attitudes

Question 4

autonomy - 6 criteria

Answer 4

The degree to which an individual is independent of social influences + can make their own decisions

Question 5

perception of reality - 6 criteria

Answer 5

• a prime factor whereby mentally healthy people do not distort their perception of reality
• they are not too optimistic or pessimistic
• They show signs of empathy + social sensitivity to others

Question 6

personal growth - 6 criteria

Answer 6

• the extent of an individual’s growth, development or self actualisation
• becoming the type of person that you aim to be

Question 7

integration - 6 criteria

Answer 7

• this integrates the criteria of self attitude + personal growth together
• the person must be able to cope well with stressful
  situations + anxiety provoking situations

Question 8

environmental mastery - 6 criteria

Answer 8

• the extent to which an individual is successful + well adapted
• includes the ability to love, adequacy at work + play,
  good interpersonal relations, efficient problem solving + capacity for adjustment

Question 9

self attitudes - 6 criteria

Answer 9

High self esteem and a strong sense of
identity

Question 10

ad of deviation to mental health

Answer 10

• it can highlight + target areas of dysfunction
  = work + improve on
• important when treating different types of disorders
  e.g. don’t possess the criteria of ‘self attitudes’
  = maybe showing signs of depression
• therefore highlights the area of dysfunction to both patient + psych

Question 11

disads of deviation from mental health

Answer 11

• abstract
• unrealistic

Question 12

abstract - disads of deviation from mental health

Answer 12

• definition = problematic
• 6 criteria are based on abstract concepts + ideals
  = difficult to define + measure
  e.g. how much ‘environmental mastery’ or ‘self attitudes’ do we need in order to be judged as psychologically healthy?
• at what point are we abnormal + criteria not met?
  = model isn’t objective or scientific

Question 13

unrealistic - disads of deviation from mental health

Answer 13

• very few people actually achieve all of the 6 criteria at any one time
• so we would be classed as abnormal
  = ague that it would be normal to be abnormal
• to sustain + meet all 6 criteria at any one point is unrealistic and impossible