Lesson 4: Deviation From Ideal Mental Health (DIMH)

Question 1

What is DIMH?

Answer 1

• definition based on not judging abnormality as such but looking at what normality is, thus normality is showing good mental health and can be seen in the same way that we look at good physical health so individuals who are not mentally healthy must therefore be abnormal

Question 2

Jahoda (1958)

Answer 2

• pointed out that we define physical illness in part by looking at the absence of signs of physical health and suggested mental health can be defined in the same way and put forward a criteria that individuals must meet in order to be mentally healthy

Question 3

Jahoda criteria (PAPERS)

Answer 3

1. Positive attitudes towards oneself
2. Autonomy
3. Perception of reality must be accurate
4. Environmental mastery
5. Resistance to stress
6. Self-actualisation

Question 4

Strengths of DIMH (comprehensive)

Answer 4

• It is a comprehensive definition that covers a broad range of criteria for mental health including most of the reasons someone would seek help from mental health services. For example, if someone,someone does not have an accurate perception of reality so they see themselves as passing an exam when in reality the failed this person clearly needs help

Question 5

Strengths of DIMH (achievement)

Answer 5

• the idea of set criteria allows for clear goals to be set and focused upon to achieve ideal mental health and in Jahoda’s opinion to achieve normality.
• it therefore allows the individual to be aspirational. For example, focusing on the future and achieving self-actualisation is a very positive thing for the individual and allows them to focus and achieve e.g. someone may want to become a doctor - this definition allows for the individual to follow the criteria of ideal mental health and achieve their goal of becoming a doctor

Question 6

Weakness of DIMH (achievement)

Answer 6

• according to the criteria, most of us are abnormal to some degree. No one shows all the criteria at all times for example, we are not always resistant to stress or we don’t always have a high self esteem therefore the definition is too ideal as no one can be mentally healthy at all times

Question 7

Weakness of DIMH (cultural relativism)

Answer 7

• many of the criteria are culturally specific
• the criteria in this definition would not apply to non-western cultures but that does not mean that individuals from these cultures are not mentally healthy. For example, the idea of self-actualisation May not apply to countries where just having food and a roof over their head it’s important and education is not a necessity - people in these countries may have a different view of self-actualisation

Question 8

Weakness of DIMH (subjectivity)

Answer 8

• many of the criteria that Jahoda outlines are vague and therefore very difficult to measure. This makes the decision as to whether someone fulfils the criteria difficult to make. For example, how can you judge if someone has a high self esteem or is resistant to stress? These features can only really be judged by the individual themselves - making the criteria very subjective