Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Deviation from ideal mental health

  • Deviation from ideal mental health (DIMH) is based on the idea that there are distinct markers that signal ‘wellness’ or ideal mental health

  • The DIMH measure assumes that if someone is mentally well then they will possess all of the markers of ideal mental health

    • To diagnose abnormality/mental illness it is only necessary to look for the lack of ideal mental health signals/behaviour in someone

  • Marie Jahoda (1958) suggested a model of mental health in which there are six characteristics an individual should display if they have ideal mental health:

Positive attitudes towards the self

  • High levels of self-esteem and a strong sense of identity

  • Knowing where you fit in the world

Self actualisation

  • Personal growth and development

  • Developing yourself and achieving the goals you set yourself in life

  • E.g. completing your exams to the best of your ability, buying a house, getting a job

Autonomy

  • Autonomy and the ability to act independently from others

  • Self-regulation

  • Being able to work on your own and solve problems that may arise

Resistance to stress

  • Resisting stress and being able to cope in stressful situations

  • E.g., coping with tight deadline, celebrations, and moving house

Accurate perception of reality

  • Having a realistic view of the world and your place in it

  • Understanding how the world works

  • E.g. if you were unsuccessful at a job interview, you could see that it may be that the other candidate was a better fir for the job and it is not about you as a person

Environmental mastery

  • Adapting and meeting the demands of the environment and situation you are in

  • The ability to adapt to your different environments and feel at ease in them

  • E.g. being affectionate towards your partner at home and being professional in your relationship with your boss

Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health

Strengths

  • DIMH is a holistic measure of abnormality as it takes into account all facets and behaviours of a person

    • The person is not viewed simply in terms of their innate, biological traits or their internal cognitions

    • The person’s place in the world, their lifestyle ad their individuality are all components of this measure

  • DIMH is a positive measure of abnormality and has useful real world application

    • This measure can be used as the basis for therapy and treatments with its emphasis on the whole person and on positivemental health and wellbeing

Limitations

  • Jahoda’s (1958) criteria of ideal mental health is almost impossible to live up to as it requires each individual to reach the highest levels of positive mental wellbeing

    • Constantly self-actualising would be exhausting and may ultimately lead to self-doubt and disappointment

    • Being completely free of stress is not particularly desirable as stress is a necessary motivator in daily life

    • Being successful in love, work and leisure time may actually lead people to feel demotivated and low in self-esteem if they do not live up to their own high standards

    • The definition’s unrealistic characteristics would mean that many individuals would be classed as deviating from ideal mental health, and therefore abnormal

  • This measure is also prone to culture bias as it emphasises the importance of the individual which is not aligned with the attitudes and beliefs of collectivist cultures

    • Collectivist cultures values ‘we/us’ rather than ‘I/me’ which means that they emphasise what is best for the group rather than for the individual

    • Some collectivist cultures - particularly those in the Far East - operate according to a modesty bias

      • A modesty bias does not align with ideas of self-actualisation as it would regard the broadcasting of individual achievements as ‘showy’ or disrespectful