deviation from ideal mental health Flashcards
what are the 4 explanations of abnormality?
deviation from social norms
deviation from ideal mental health
statistical infrequency
failure to function adeuqately
what is the definition for deviation from
ideal mental health?
if a person deviates from ideal mental health they are considered abnormal
what is the criteria of ideal mental health
no personal distress
we are rational and perceive ourselves and the world accurately
we self actualise (achieve our potential)
resilient- we can cope with stress
we have high self esteem
autonomy- we are independent and dont rely on other people (environmental mastery)
what is an example of deviating from having no personal distress?
depression, anxiety, fear, angry outburts
what is an example of deviating from being rational and perceiving ourselves and the world accurately
thinking the future is pointless
reactions to phobic stimuli
hallucinations
what is an example of deviating from having self actualisation?
maldaptive behaviours e.g missing work
dont try with difficult tasks
what is an example of deviating from being resilient and coping with stress?
cant cope with stress or failure
e.g depressed after bad exam score
what is an example of deviating from having high self esteem?
feeling bad about yourself
e.g saying you never look nice
what is an example of deviating from having autonomy and environmental mastery?
unable to make decisions and care for themselves e.g old and has never lived on their own
rely on other people
feel the need to be with someone all the time
need reminders from other people to do simple tasks
Cultural differences
in an individualistic culture the focus is om the individual and what they want or need
This is unusual in some cultures where the focus is the family or community
In collectivistic cultures self actualisation would be considered self indulgent
in collectivistic cultures people may be expected to reply on others e.g parents
what are the practical applications of deviation from ideal mental health
it can link mental health disorders with deviations from criterias
OCD and phobias are identifiable from the criteria e.g in most cases patients arent free from personal distress and may not perceive the world accurately
so definition is useful as it has practical applications
advantage of deviation from mental health - holistic
takes into account many areas of wellbeing e.g lifestyle, thought processes, self esteem
this is a more well rounded definition than statistical infrequency as it takes more factors into account so it may be a more valid way to define someone as abnormal
advantage: the definition focuses on how to be well rather than just identifying signs you are unwell
clinicians can identify patient needs more easily e,g need increased self esteem
and helps set goals and target care plans towards them
disadvantage: criteria may be considered unrealistic
the criteria are very difficult to achieve
it could lead to the majority of the population being considered as abnormal
the definiton may not be fit for its purpose and may be invalid
