Lesson 4 - Definition Of Abnormality: Deviation From Ideal Mental Health

Question 1

Ao1: deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 1

• definition stems from the Humanist approach which focuses on motivation and self development, e.g. Maslow devised the “Hierarchy of needs”
• Abnormality is related to the lack of “contented existence.”
• Thus, people who deviate from having an ideal or, “optimal” mental health can be classed as abnormal
• “Self actualisation” means that humans should strive to reach their full potential
• Normal people would strive to achieve a series of goals or needs in order to reach self actualisation
• Abnormality could occur if a person fails to achieve their goals or meet the necessary criteria.

Question 2

How many criteria are there for positive mental health? Who devised this? What’s the anagram?

Answer 2

6
Marie Jahoda
APPIES

Question 3

What’s the A in APPIES?

Answer 3

Autonomy - degree to which individual is independent of social influences & can make own decidions

Question 4

What’s P in APPIES?
(1)

Answer 4

Perception of reality - a prime factor whereby mentally healthy people don’t distort their reality: not too optimistic/pessimistic. Show signs of empathy to others

Question 5

What’s P in APPIES?
(2)

Answer 5

Personal growth - extent of an individual’s growth, development/self actualisation: becoming type of person you want to be

Question 6

What’s I in APPIES?

Answer 6

Integration - integrates criteria of self attitude & personal growth together. Person must be able to cope well with stressful situations

Question 7

What’s E in APPIES?

Answer 7

Environmental mastery - extent to which an individual is successful and well adapted.
- includes ability to love, adequacy at work and play, good interpersonal relations, efficient problem solving and capacity for adjustment

Question 8

Whats S in APPIES?

Answer 8

Self attitudes - high self esteem & strong sense of identity

Question 9

Ao3: strength of deviation from ideal mental health
(Viewed as positive & productive)

Answer 9

• focuses on ideal or optimal criteria that we should all aim and strive for in order to be psychologically healthy
• could be seen as a therapeutic goal that humans should strive for and aim to achieve
• Self actualisation is a positive trait that every human should try to accomplish if possible

Question 10

Ao3: strength of deviation from ideal mental health
(Highlight & target areas of dysfunction)

Answer 10

• patient can work on and improve in their life
• can be very important when treating different types of disorders, e.g. people who do not possess the criteria of “self attitudes” (and therefore might not have a positive self attitude) might showing signs of depression
• thus, highlight area of dysfunction to both the patient and the psychologist

Question 11

Ao3: weakness of deviation from ideal mental health
(Viewed as problematic)

Answer 11

• 6 criteria based on abstract concepts and ideals, and are difficult to define and measure
• how much “environmental mastery” or “self attitudes” do we need in order to be judged as psychologically healthy?
• at what point could we say that the criteria have not been met and therefore the person could be classed as abnormal?
• model is not very objective or scientific

Question 12

Ao3: weakness of deviation from ideal mental health
(Problematic - few people can actually achieve all 6 at same time)

Answer 12

• thus, many of us would be classed as abnormal; and we could argue that it would be “normal” to be “abnormal.”
• To sustain and meet all of the 6 criteria at any one time could be deemed as quite impossible or very difficult
• would be an ideal that would be very hard to meet