Deviation from Ideal Mental Health (Online Lesson)

This online lesson takes an in-depth look at ideal mental health, and how it may or may not be a good tool for defining abnormality. The session also makes use of culture bias, as one of the key issues and debates in Psychology.

WHAT YOU'LL STUDY IN THIS ONLINE LESSON

• The concept of deviation from ideal mental health and examples to use in exams
• The role of culture bias in psychology and defining normality
• Exam skills and assessments of your learning on this topic

HOW TO USE THIS LESSON

Follow along in order of the activities shown below. Some are interactive game-based activities, designed to test your understanding. Others are based on short videos, that include activities for you to think about and try at home.

If you would like to download a simple worksheet to accompany the video activities, you can download it here. Alternatively, just use a piece of paper.

VIDEO ACTIVITY 1

In this video activity, you will explore what is meant by deviation from ideal mental health and gain insight into each of the 6 criteria proposed by Jahoda.

VIDEO ACTIVITY 2

In this video and activity, you will critically consider the role of culture and bias in our perception of ideal mental health.

Test your understanding of deviation from ideal mental health using this multi-choice quiz.

VIDEO ACTIVITY 3

In this video you will use your evaluation and critical thinking skills to assess ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality.

Take a few minutes to play a quick game. Can you match the key phrases relating to deviation from ideal mental health with their definitions?

VIDEO ACTIVITY 4

In this video you will attempt a variety of exam style questions and assess your answers.

VIDEO ACTIVITY 5

In this video you will complete a variety of revision tasks that also make use of your learning on other definitions of abnormality.

Now try this activity. You will see 16 phrases or terms that have been used in this lesson. Can you connect them into 4 different groups?

Before you finish, try this last activity. You will be given the first part of a question and must eliminate any 'impossible answers'. When the full question is revealed choose the correct answer to score points.

Additional reading for Deviation from Ideal Mental Health

Use this link for some further reading around the concept of ‘self actualisation’ and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as seen in your Approaches topic.

When you have read the article, make a list of examples of people who have supposedly reached self actualisation. Consider whether reaching self actualisation is actually possible, or whether it something that is ongoing throughout life.

ADDITIONAL TEACHER GUIDANCE

This online lesson comprises:

• 5 x video-based activities, totalling around 30 minutes of guided video
• 20-25 minutes (throughout the videos) of "thinking time" and short activities
• 4 interactive games, reviewing knowledge of deviation from ideal mental health - these games can be played several times

If students complete all tasks fully, we would estimate that this online lesson will require around 1.5 hours work.