On the norm in human mental development

Various approaches and models of the concept of “mental health norm” are analysed: medical (biological), psychological, social normative, based on the principles of mechanistic determinism. As opposed to them, A.B. Cholmogorova advocates biopsychosocial models, which are based on a systemic approach. B.S. Bratus’ singles out the “statistical adaptation approach” and the “adoption of negative criteria of the norm” opposing it, as well as the “cultural relativistic and existential” approaches and the “descriptive criteria of mental health” opposing them. Searching for optimal criteria for the norms of mental development the HUMAN BEING is found to be in the centre of consideration as a result of cultural development in all its diversity: as an individual, personality, subject of activity, the integration of the variety of properties of which is expressed in individuality. The development of a human being within culture leads to the formation of a cultural consciousness, the main criteria of which are freedom, independence, creativity, self sufficiency and conscience. They can be considered as criteria for the normal course of a person’s mental development. An attempt to formulate psychological tools to achieve aims of the mental development of a human being has been made. At the level of individual-personality this role belongs to the directedness of the personality, expressing the relation of an individual to the aims of the activity. At the level of the subject of activity to the individual style of activity. The interaction of these key factors of the development of a human being ensures the internal unity of all levels of the organization of a human being, resulting in the concept of the “integrity of human being”, which fully expresses the psychological content of individuality the bearer of cultural consciousness.