deviation from ideal mental health

• this approach considers what makes someone 'normal'. when we know what good mental health is like then we can start to consider poor psychological health.
• Jahoda (1958) criteria for good mental health?


  -positive attitude towards the self = good level of self-esteem, so the individual feels happy with themselves.

  -self-actualisation = being in a state of contentment, feeling you have become the best you can be.

  -autonomy = having independence and self-reliance, not depending on others.

  -resistance to stress = handle them competently.

  -environmental mastery = can adapt to new situations and be at ease in all situations in life.

  -accurate perception of reality = how they see the world around them should be similar to the people around them.
• evaluations points (AO3)

  -Jahoda’s criteria remain important in modern clinical practise = high temporal validity.

  -cultural relativism = individualistic cultures (personal achievements matter) / collectivist cultures (focus on family and community not independence)

  -more positive and holistic approach to diagnosis = positive (it focuses on one desirable behaviour) / holistic (it looks at the whole person and all of their behaviours rather than focusing on one behaviour)