Psychopathology L4 - Definition Of Abnormality: Deviation From Ideal Mental Health (Marie Jahoda) Flashcards
What is this definition of abnormality based on
The humanist approach - focuses on motivation and self development
Maslow devised the hierarchy of needs whereby humans seek to have basic needs met first then move up to the next level
Abnormality is related to the lack of ‘contented existence’ - so people who deviate from having ideal or ‘optimal’ mental health can be classed as abnormal
What is self actualisation
Humans should strive to reach full potential - for normal people it means striving to achieve a series or goals
Abnormal if fail to achieve goals or necessary criteria
What is needed for people to have ‘positive mental health’ according to Jahoda
6 criteria (APPIES)
Autonomy
Perception of reality
Personal growth
Integration
Environmental mastery
Self attitudes
Autonomy
Description
The degree to which an individual is independent of social influences and can make their own decisions
Example of a normal person not meeting criteria
Any type of conformity e.g. laughing when not understanding joke
Asking for help if stuck with homework
Perception of reality
Description
Prime factor whereby mentally healthy people don’t distort perception of reality
Not too optimistic or pessimistic
Show signs of empathy and social sensitivity to others
Example of a normal person not meeting criteria
Can be optimistic on good day like birthday
If mourning for example, may not be empathetic to others
Personal growth
Description
The extent of an individual’s growth, development or self actualisation.
Becoming the type of person that you aim to be
Example of a normal person not meeting criteria
Academic grades aren’t good enough to move onto next stage e.g. uni
Circumstances e.g may want to leave uni and set up business but family say no
Integration
Description
This integrates the criteria of self attitude and personal growth together. The person must be able to cope well with stressful situations and anxiety provoking situations
Example of a normal person not meeting criteria
Exams - may cry, be sick, faint due to them
Environmental mastery
Description
Extent to which an individual is successful and well adapted, includes ability to love, adequacy to work and play, good interpersonal relations, efficient problem solving and capacity for adjustment
Example of a normal person not meeting criteria
E.g A-levels - may be struggling with them ‘not adequate’ at them
Shy - not great intrapersonal relations
Some don’t have to ability to love easily
Self attitudes
Description
High self esteem and a strong sense of identity
Example of a normal person not meeting criteria
Partner may have just left them - low self esteem
Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health (2 each)
Positives
Can be viewed as positive and productive
Highlight and target areas of dysfunction
Negative
Not objective or scientific
Few people would be normal
Viewed as positive and productive
- A strength of Marie Jahoda’s model is that it can be viewed as being positive and productive
- It focuses on ideal or optimal criteria that we should all aim and strive for in order to be psychologically healthy
- It could be seen as a therapeutic goal that humans should strive for and aim to achieve
- Self actualisation is a positive trait that every human should try to accomplish if possible
Highlight and target areas of dysfunction
- Deviation from ideal mental health has the advantage that it can highlight and target areas of dysfunction that the patient can work on and improve in their life
- This can be very important when treating different types of disorders
- e.g. people who do not possess the criteria of “self attitudes” (and therefore might not have a positive self attitude might be showing signs of depression)
- This can therefore highlight the area of dysfunction to both the patient and the psychologist
Not objective or scientific
- Deviation from ideal mental health can be viewed as problematic
- The six criteria are based on abstract concepts and ideals, and are difficult to define and measure
For instance, how much “environmental mastery” or “self attitudes” do we need in order to be judged as psychologically healthy - At what point could we say that the criteria have not been met and therefore the person could be classed as abnormal
- The model is not very objective or scientific
Hard to be normal
- Deviation from ideal mental health is problematic in the fact that very few people can actually achieve all of the six criteria at any one time
- Therefore many of us would be classed as abnormal; and we could argue that it would be “normal” to be “abnormal.
- To sustain and meet all of the 6 criteria at any one time could be deemed as quite impossible or very difficult, and it would be an ideal that would be very hard to meet
