Psychopathology - 01 Definitions of abnormality (4-Deviation from ideal mental health)

Question 1

Who put forward the notion of ideal mental health?

Answer 1

Jahoda (1958)

Question 2

How is deviation from ideal mental health used?

Answer 2

First we define what is normal and anything that deviates from this is regarded as abnormal.

Question 3

What were the 6 major criteria for optimal living that Jahoda identified?

Answer 3

1-positive attitudes towards the self
2-self-actualisation of one’s potential
3-resistance to stress
4-personal autonomy
5-accurate perception of reality
6-environmental mastery

Question 4

Explain what positive attitudes towards the self is?

Answer 4

-Having a positive self-concept and sense of identity.
-Mentally healthy attitudes towards the self includes self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance and self-acceptance.

Question 5

Explain what self-actualisation of ones potential is?

Answer 5

-First developed by Maslow (1988)
-we all have potential and that we constantly strive to fulfil this potential
-Mental problems occur when we are prevented from fulfilling our potential

Question 6

Explain what resistance to stress is?

Answer 6

Develop good coping strategies for dealing with stressful situations

Question 7

Explain what personal autonomy is?

Answer 7

-Self-contained and dependant on their own resources
-Jahoda describes it as an ability to make our own decisions on the basis of what is right for ourselves, rather than to satisfy others

Question 8

Explain what accurate perception of reality is?

Answer 8

Seeing oneself and the world in realistic terms, rather than through rose-tinted glasses or in an overly pessimistic manor

Question 9

Explain what environmental mastery is?

Answer 9

Being competent in all areas of life and involves being flexible and being able to adapt and adjust to change

Question 10

One limitation of ideal mental health as a definition (how many criteria?)

Answer 10

-Jahoda does not say how many of the 6 criteria we need to lack to be deemed abnormal
-makes it impossible to judge who is abnormal and not
-means it is useless in the real world

Question 11

One limitation of ideal mental health as a definition (bar set too high)

Answer 11

-So few people actually meet all of the criteria so everyone is classified as abnormal
-especially for self-actualisation as in reality very few people achieve their full potential in life
-so it is too idealistic and cannot be used to accurately distinguish who is abnormal and not

Question 12

One limitation of ideal mental health as a definition (stress can be useful)

Answer 12

-stress before and during exams can help to motivate people to revise and therefore perform better
-so resistance to stress is not an appropriate criteria for all situations as stress is not always negative

Question 12

One limitation of ideal mental health as a definition (cultural issues)

Answer 12

-Some of the ideas are specific to Western European and North American cultures
-E.g. emphasis on personal achievement (self-actualisation) considered self-indulgent in much of the world
-such traits are typical of individualistic cultures, in collective cultures the family and community come first
-limited generalisability as it cannot be applied to collectivist societies