PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - Deviation from Ideal Mental Health Flashcards
Deviation form ideal mental health definition
Where individuals who deviate from having an ideal or optimal mental health can be classed as abnormal.
Deviation from ideal mental health AO1
- Deviation from ideal mental health stems from the Humanist approach which focuses on motivation and self development
- Related to Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of need’ where humans seek to have their basic needs met first such as sleep and shelter and then move up from there
- Abnormality could occur if a person fails to self-actualise; they fail to achieve their goals/reach their full potential
- Marie Jahoda argued that concepts of abnormality are too vague
- …so she devised 6 criteria that are required for a person to have positive mental health and to be normal
- If all 6 of these criteria are not fulfilled at the same time then that person is abnormal
What is self-actualisation?
The strive to reach one’s full potential
What does Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ dictate?
humans seek to have their basic needs met first such as sleep and shelter and then move up from there when seeking fulfillment
What were Marie Jahoda’s criticisms of other definitions of abnormality?
they were not useful as they were too vague and general
What are the 6 criteria outlined by Marie Jahoda in the ‘Deviation from ideal health’ definition of abnormality? (APPIES)
- Autonomy
- Perception of reality
- Personal growth
- Integration
- Environmental mastery
- Self attitudes
Describe ‘autonomy’ as one of the 6 criteria outlined by Marie Jahoda.
The degree to which an individual is independent of social influences and can make their own decisions
Describe ‘perception of reality’ as one of the 6 criteria outlined by Marie Jahoda.
Where the perception of reality is not distorted; thinking is not too optimistic or pessimistic
Describe ‘personal growth’ as one of the 6 criteria outlined by Marie Jahoda.
The extent of an individual’s growth, development or self-actualisation (becoming the type of person that you aim to be)
Describe ‘integreation’ as one of the 6 criteria outlined by Marie Jahoda.
The ability of an individual to cope with stressful and anxiety- provoking situations
Describe ‘environmental mastery’ as one of the 6 criteria outlined by Marie Jahoda.
The extent to which an individual is successful and well-adapted; their ability to love, work, have good interpersonal relationships and capacity for adjustment
Describe ‘self attitudes’ as one of the 6 criteria outlined by Marie Jahoda.
The idea of having high self esteem and a strong sense of identity
What are the advantages of ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ as a definition of abnormality?
1) A strength of Marie Jahoda’s model is that it can be viewed as being positive and productive. It focuses on ideal or optimal criteria that we should all aim and strive for in order to be psychologically healthy. It 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.
2) Deviation from ideal mental health has the advantage that it can highlight and target areas of dysfunction that the patient can work on and improve in their life. This can be very important when treating different types of disorders, for instance people who do not possess the criteria of “self attitudes” (and therefore might not have a positive self attitude) might be showing signs of depression. This can therefore highlight the area of dysfunction to both the patient and the psychologist.
What are the disadvantages of ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ as a definition of abnormality?
3) Deviation from ideal mental health can be viewed as problematic. The six criteria are based on abstract concepts and ideals, and are difficult to define and measure. For instance, 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? The model is not very objective or scientific.
4) Deviation from ideal mental health is problematic in the fact that very few people can actually achieve all of the six criteria at any one time. Therefore 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, and it would be an ideal that would be very hard to meet.
