Psychopathology - Deviation From Ideal Mental Health

Question 1

Meaning

Answer 1

Behaviour is abnormal if it fails to meet prescribed criteria for psychological normality

Question 2

Who decided the concept of ideal mental health?

Answer 2

Jahoda

Question 3

What did Jahoda do?

Answer 3

Identified 6 characteristics that individuals should exhibit to be classed as normal. The more criteria individuals fail to meet, the more abnormal they are

Question 4

Jahoda’s 6 characteristics (APPIES)

Answer 4

• autonomy
• perception of reality
  -positive attitudes towards oneself (personal growth)
• resistance to stress (integration)
• environmental mastery
• self attitudes

Question 5

Positive attitudes towards oneself

Answer 5

Having self respect, high self esteem, confidence and a positive self concept

Question 6

Self actualisation

Answer 6

Experience personal growth and development. Reach one’s full potential and feel fulfilled

Question 7

Autonomy

Answer 7

Being independent

Question 8

Integration

Answer 8

Resistance to stress
Having effective coping strategies and being able to manage everyday anxiety-provoking and stressful situations

Question 9

Accurate perception of reality

Answer 9

Perceiving the world in a non-distorted fashion and having an objective and realistic view of the world

Question 10

Environmental mastery

Answer 10

Being competent in all aspects of life and having the ability to meet the demanded of any situation and the flexibility to adapt to changing life circumstances

Question 11

Positive - productive

Answer 11

• positive + productive
• focuses on ideal/optimal criteria we should all aim for
• therapeutic goal to aim to achieve

Question 12

Positive - target

Answer 12

• highlight and target areas of dysfunction where patients can work on and improve in their life
  E.g. someone who does possess the criteria of ‘self attitudes’ may be showing signs of depression

Question 13

Negative - unrealistic

Answer 13

Demanding + unrealistic. Most people don’t meet all the ideals
Not very objective or scientific

Question 14

Negative - vague

Answer 14

Vague and difficult to measure = subjective
How can we tell that someone has reached their full potential?

Question 15

Negative - culture

Answer 15

• Can be accused of cultural bias
• collectivist cultures emphasise communal goals and regard autonomy as undesirable, unlike individualistic cultures.