4.1.3 Definitions of Abnormality: Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Deviation from ideal mental health

• This definition assesses mental health in the same way physical health is assessed
• Once it is established how individuals should look when they are psychologically healthy (ideal mental health), then those who deviate from this can be identified
• Marie Jahoda (1958) suggested there are 6 characteristics an individual should display if they have an idea of mental health, these are: 
  
  • Positive attitudes towards one's self 
  • Self actualisation
  • Autonomy
  • Integration
  • Accurate perception  
  • Environment mastery 

Positive attitudes towards one's self	High levels of self-esteem and a strong sense of identity Knowing where you fit in the world
Self Actualisation	Personal growth and development Developing yourself and achieving the goals you set yourself in life E.g. Completing your exams to the best of your ability, buying a house, or getting your dream job
Autonomy	Autonomy and ability to act independently from others, self-regulation Being able to work on your own and work out problems that may arise If you were left on your own, you would be okay and would be able to work things out for yourself
Integration	Resisting stress and being able to cope in stressful situations Although we all face stressful situations, most should have the ability to accept and deal with them Coping with tight deadlines, celebrations, and moving house
Accurate perception of reality	Having a realistic view of the world and not a distorted view Understanding how the world works E.g. If you were to be unsuccessful at a job interview, you could see that it may be that the other candidate was a better fit for the job and it is not about you as a person
Environmental mastery	Meeting the demands of the environment and situation you are in, adapting  This is the ability to adapt to your different environments and act accordingly in them E.g. In a romantic relationship, being loving with your partner whilst at work, maintaining professional relationships with your boss

• Holistic 
  • This definition looks at the whole person and their behaviour, instead of focusing on singular behaviours, this means it is a holistic approach to diagnosing mental health issues
• Comprehensive
  • This definition includes a range of reasons as to why individuals may need help with their mental health, it also includes a range of criteria for distinguishing mental health from illness
• Positive approach 
  • This definition focuses on positive behaviours and what is desirable instead of undesirable behaviours
• Consistent 
  • This definition provides a consistent and standardised measurement for those looking at both positive and negative mental health

• Cultural specific
  • This definition is specific for western cultures, in fact, collectivist cultures would see autonomy as undesirable
• Over demanding criteria 
  • This definition does not take into account that the criteria are often hard to achieve constantly or all of the time
  • For example, most people do not always have personal development or growth, which using this definition would make them abnormal
• Changes over time 
  • This definition does not account for changes over time, behaviours that were once seen as normal are abnormal and vice versa
  • E.g. Seeing visions of God would have been seen as a strong religious commitment, however, now, this would be more likely to lead to a diagnosis of a personality disorder
• Subjective criteria
  • This definition tries to treat mental health in the same way as physical health, however, mental health is much more subjective and needs to be looked at in the context of the patient
  • Diagnosing a patient with mental health is more complex than self questionnaires and often experienced professionals struggle to come up with an accurate diagnosis