Abnormal Psychology

Question 1

Anorexia Nervosa**

Answer 1

Warin (2001)

Question 2

Medical Model of Abnormality

Answer 2

Abnormality is a physiological disease caused by biochemical imbalances or brain trauma

Question 3

Biological Factors

Answer 3

• Genetic predisposition
• Inbalance of neurotransmitters (AN and Depression: serotonin)
• Hormones

Question 4

Caspi (2003)

The depressed 5-HTT gene

Answer 4

Investigate relationships between gene and depression

• New Zealand 800 participants
• Self-Reports on depression (cross-checked with relatives and friends)
• Short allele of the 5-HTT gene correlated with increased vulnerability for depression for young adults (20’s)

Question 5

Cognitive Factors

Answer 5

Abnormality is caused by unrealistic, distorted or irrational understanding, perception and thoughts about one self, others of the environment.

Also caused by the difficulty in controlling though processes or using them to control actions (these cause disturbances in mood)

Depressed mood = depressed thoughts

Question 6

Goldapple (2004) Cognitive factor study

Lyon & Woods (1991)**

Answer 6

How cognitive behaviour therapy affects brain changes

Question 7

Sociocultural Factors

Answer 7

Those who break social and cultural norms are defined as abnormal.

• Labelling of people as abnormal (establishing clear norms for appropriate behaviour: conformity)
• SIT: people who are not included in the in-group are defined as abnormal
• Abnormality though cultures: strange visions VS shamanism (abnormal in one culture, sacred in another)
• Way to find a dis positional cause of disruptive behaviour (FAE) (crazy=schizophrenia)

Question 8

Evidence of Sociocultural Factors**

Answer 8

-Existence of culture-bound syndromes (emic and etic approaches)

Question 9

Counter Evidence for Sociocultural Factors **

Answer 9

• Universality of some disorders (etic)

- People who voluntarily seek help because of their problems

Question 10

Defining Abnormality

Answer 10

Can lead to stigma, a negative change in self-concept, the potential of self-fulfilling prophecies and the danger into falling into a ‘sick role’ where one no longer as a productive member of society

Question 11

Validity of Diagnosis**

Answer 11

Whether people are being correctly diagnosed with mental disorders

1. Do diagnostic categories distinguish the mentally ill from the mentally healthy?
2. Do diagnostic categories distinguish conditions from each other?

(The drawing Mr. Marshall always does with the spots and circles)

Question 12

Deciding who’s Mentally ill

Answer 12

Statistical Approach
Social Approach
Biomedical Approach

Question 13

Statistical Approach

Answer 13

Someone who is mentally ill of their thoughts or behaviour are statistically abnormal

Question 14

Social Approach

Answer 14

Someone who is mentally ill if their thoughts or behaviour are socially abnormal
ex. deviate from social norms

Question 15

Definitions of Abnormality **

Answer 15

-Naturalism

Pragmatism