deviation from ideal mental health

• Jahoda 1958 suggested that abnormal behaviour should be defined by the absence of particular (ideal) characteristics
• behaviours which deviate from ideal mental health
• she proposed six principles of ideal mental health
• 1

  having a positive view of yourself (high self esteem) with strong sense of identity
• 2


  being capable of personal growth and self-actualisation
• 3

  being independent of others (autonomous) and self regulating
• 4

  having accurate view of reality
• 5


  being able to integrate and resist stress
• 6

  being able to master environment (love, friendship, work, leisure time)
• if an individual does not demonstrate one of these criteria, they would be seen as abnormal eg. someone with depression
• positive self attitude


  when a person feels good about themself
• independence

  when a person is able to do things by themself without relying on others
• self actualisation


  if they are constantly trying to learn and improve themself
• resistance to stress

  when someone is able to cope with small hassles and stress in everyday life
• accurate perception of reality

  when someone sees the world that is similar to others around them
• environmental mastery

  adjusting to new situations easily
• AO3 unrealistic criteria


  according to the ideal mental health criteria, most people are abnormal
• AO3 unrealistic criteria

  Jahoda presented them as ideal criteria but how many need to be lacking before a person would be judged as abnormal. criteria are quite difficult to measure, assessing capacity for personal growth
• AO3 unrealistic criteria

  this approach may be interesting but not useable when identifying abnormality
• AO3 positive approach

  definition offers an alternative perspective on mental disorders that focuses on positives rather than negatives
• AO3 positive approach

  even though Jahoda's ideas were never really taken up by mental health professionals, ideas have had some influence and are in accord with 'positive psychology' movement
• AO3 positive approach

  a strength of this approach, therefore, lies in its positive outlook and its influence on humanistic approaches
• strength of the deviation from ideal mental health definition is that it enables patients who are diagnosed as abnormal to set themselves clear goals for achieving ideal mental health