Definition of Abn: deviation from ideal mental health

• AO1: how deviation from ideal mental health defines abnormality

  Marie Jahoda suggested that we are in good mental health if we meet the following criteria:

  • we have no symptoms of distress
  • We are rational and can perceive ourselves accurately
  • We can self actualise
  • We can cope with stress
  • we have a realistic view of the world
  • We have good self-esteem and lack guilt
  • We are independent of other people
  • We can successfully work, love and enjoy our leisure
• AO1:

  there is some overlap between what we might deviation from ideal mental health and what we might call failure to function adequately so we can think someone’s inability to keep a job as he was a failure to cope with the pressures of work or as a deviation from the idea of successfully working
• AO3:

  • One of the main criticisms of the deviation from ideal mental health definition is that it is unrealistic.
  • This is because the definition sets out a number of criteria for ideal mental health that very few people would actually meet.
  • For example, it is unlikely that many people ‘self-actualize’ and fully reach their potential

  because there are usually barriers which prevent us.

  • As such, by this definition, pretty much all of us would be considered mentally unhealthy and abnormal.
• AO3:

  • Another limitation - cultural relativism and cultural bias.
  • It could be argued that the criteria set out for ideal mental health are based on Western (e.g. UK/USA/Europe) individualistic values such as the pursuit of individual happiness and individual goals (e.g. self-actualization).
  • However, in other cultures (e.g. Asian cultures) the collective goals of the community are often seen as more important than the individual person.
• AO3 continued

  • As such, the criteria set out by Jahoda do not take into account that ‘ideal mental health’ in some cultures is different to what it might be in other cultures. It assumes we all have the same ideals.
• AO3:

  • One strength of this definition is that it offers an alternative perspective on mental disorder.
  • The definition focusses on the positives rather than negatives
  • For example, the definition focuses on what is desirable rather than what is undesirable
  • Even though Jahoda’s ideas were never really taken up by health professionals, the ideas have had some influence in some areas of psychology
• AO1:


  • A very different way to look at normality and abnormality is to ignore the issue of what makes someone abnormal but instead about what makes anyone normal. In other words we consider deviation from ideal mental health once we have a picture of how we should be psychologically healthy then we can begin to identify what deviate from this ideal.