Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

  Humanistic definition developed by Jahoda (1958), defining features of ideal mental health rather than abnormality
• Jahoda's Features (1958):

  • Environmental Mastery - adapt to environment
  • Positive Attitude to One's self - self esteem
  • Self Actualisation - personal growth
  • Autonomy - independence
  • Integration - resisting stress
  • Accurate Perception of Reality - understanding
• (+) A03: Holistic


  Considers multiple factors of diagnosis and provides suggestions for personal development
• (-) A03: Too Strict


  Criteria is too strict, challenging for an individual to achieve all 6 at once, most people would be defined as abnormal