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abnormality Flashcards

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1
Q

Definition 1: deviation from social norms

A

All societies have norms or standards, these are appropriate behaviour patterns However if someone continuously acts differently to these norms you may be considered “abnormal”.

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2
Q

Definition 1: deviation from social norms limitations

A

societies moral standards are era dependent, bound by culture, most individuals have behaved in ways society disapproves of, there’s no fixed definition of abnormal behaviour.

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3
Q

definition 2: A failure to function adequately

A

Rosenhan & Seligman argue If someones mood, behaviour or thinking seriously effects their:
-well being
-safety of themselves or others
then they are abnormal.

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4
Q

definition 2: A failure to function adequately strengths

A

It’s the only definition that looks at whether people should seek help- this is good because if applied, people should seek help and be able to get better.

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5
Q

definition 2: A failure to function adequately limitations

A

The definition is a judgement from others as they’ll be seen as mentally ill, most of the psychiatrists are middle class males, it’s unclear and there’s no clear cut off point between normal and abnormal, no cause and effect-the inability to cope could be the cause of the mental disorder rather than the other way round.

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6
Q

definition 3: A deviation from ideal mental health

A

Jahoda said these criteria’s make you normal:
-POSITIVE SELF ATTITUDE-high self esteem and personal identity
-SELF ACTUALISATION- developing to your full capabilities
-INTEGRATION- being able to cope with stressful situations
-AUTONOMY-being independent and able to look after yourself
-ACCURATE PERCEPTION OF REALITY- seeing life like it really is and not someone else’s perspective of it.
-MASTERY OF THE ENVIROMENT- being able to adjust to new environments.
Jahoda said is you lack any of these you’re abnormal.

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7
Q

definition 3: A deviation from ideal mental health limitations

A

Very demanding criteria, cultural realism- most of the criteria only applies to western people but not other cultures, can’t be applied to children as they aren’t fully independent, it’s too idealistic and the standards are too high so most people are likely to fall short. Ethnocentric: Most definitions of psychological abnormality are devised by white, middle class men.

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8
Q

biological model

A

Sees mental disorders as caused by abnormal processes such as genetic and biomedical factors- argues abnormality is a disease.

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9
Q

biological model key features

A

It’s believed that all mental disorders will have an underlying cause as they are all related to the physical structure of the brain.

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10
Q

how does the biological model approach abnormality

A

the same way that you approach physical illness-

  • classify the disorder as a recognized symptom by identifying the signs and symptoms.
  • identify the underlying cause.
  • Prescribe an appropriate treatment/therapy.
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11
Q

biological model- assumptions

A

BING

  • BRAIN DAMAGE- once this happens there is little that can be done to stop it.
  • INFECTION- Can give rise to mental illness, e.g flu can cause schizophrenia
  • NEUROANATOMY- Neurotransmitters are out of balance in nervous systems of people with psychological disorders.
  • GENES- Some people may be at genetic risk of developing a mental disorder- to investigate this researchers carry out family, twin and adoption studies.
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12
Q

biological model- strengths

A

Scientific- A lot of research has been carried out that has increased our understanding of it- McGriffin et al on concordance rates in MZ and DZ twins. N
No blame- Implies the person is not responsible for their abnormality so they won’t punish themselves.

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13
Q

biological model- weaknesses

A

Passive- encourages people to be passive patients and hand over their recovery to professionals, Reductionist- It’s more lively that disorders are caused by leaner patterns of behaviour, experiences and biological factors. suggesting there’s always a cure can lead to incorrect diagnosis and wrong treatment- can’t explain phobias. Stigma- the assumption mentally ill people are different can lead to labelling and prejudice.

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14
Q

Biological treatments for abnormality- Drugs

A

Anti depressant- full title: Monoamine-oxidise inhibitors, they influence the serotonin by increasing their availability by blocking the enzymes action that breaks them down- improves mood.
Anti psychotic drugs- phenothiazine’s treat schizophrenia by reducing dopamine by blocking the D2 receptor through it- this helps reduce hallucinations and delusions.

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15
Q

Biological treatments for abnormality- Drugs strength

A

effective in relieving mental disorder symptoms

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16
Q

Biological treatments for abnormality- Drugs limitations

A

it could be a placebo effect, side effects, they treat the symptoms and not the cause- Ethics- right to refuse?

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17
Q

Biological treatments for abnormality- ECT

A

Patient lies on a bed and is given an aesthetic and a muscle relaxant. A current is passed through their brain (the non-dominant hemisphere) through the use of electrodes- it’s unclear why it works. It normally treats schizophrenia and depression.

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18
Q

Biological treatments for abnormality- ECT- Johnstone

A

Found in 1999 over 11,000 patients in England and wales were given ETC- 2/3 were women

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19
Q

Biological treatments for abnormality- ECT strengths

A

Efficiency- quick compared to drugs
Ethics- Mental health act states ECT is only prohibited if the patient is able to accept it and it can’t be treated on 16 and 17 year olds.

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20
Q

Biological treatments for abnormality- ECT weaknesses

A

It’s unclear how it works, It has side effects-bone fractures and memory loss, Ethics- it was used to punish and control patients in mental hospitals.

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21
Q

behavioural model experiment

A

Watson and Rayner- 11 yr old boy participant, white rabbit, white rat and cotton wool didn’t scare him. Striking a 4 ft steel bar with a hammer scared him. Put the 2 together and struck the bar whenever he tried to touch the rat- scared him, he was now scared of all the objects-generalisation. It shows that phobias can be the result of classical conditioning and can lead to

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22
Q

behavioural model

A

It claims abnormal behaviour is learned through past experiences- classical conditioning

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23
Q

behavioural model- classical conditioning

A

A stimulus results in a physiological reaction in an individual, the event and reaction are forged into an association- phobias can develop this way for example a fear of heights could stem from someone climbing to the top of a building and experiencing nausea when looking down.

24
Q

behavioural model assumptions

A

BULS:
-BEHAVIOUR- It assumes the mind is an unnecessary concept and only observable behaviour is important
-UNDERSTANDING- It assumes that if we can learn behaviour we can also unlearn it.
–LEARNING- all behaviour is learned through classical and operant conditioning.
SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY- Behaviour might be learned via observing and imitating other people, especially role models.

25
Q

behavioural model- operant conditioning

A

Skinner explained how our behaviour is influenced by the consequences of our actions. We learn at an early age which of out actions are rewarded and which are punished. So the more rewarded something is, the more likely it will be repeated.

26
Q

behavioural model strengths

A

It’s been tested in a lab situation, behavioural therapies can be successful, especially with phobias and the approach deals with the present rather than delving into the past.

27
Q

behavioural model weaknesses

A

It doesn’t take free will or personality into account, it underestimates the contribution of society and much of it’s principles have been tested on animals so it may not be applicable to humans.

28
Q

behavioural model treatments-systematic desensitisation

A

uses reverse conditioning and aims to replace a maladaptive response through relaxing the patient through muscle relaxation, creating a hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations in which the individual goes through each one and ends when the client completes them and is desensitised. It works because of reverse conditioning and positive reinforcement.

29
Q

behavioural model treatments-systematic desensitisation strengths

A
  • Emmelkamp shows that it reduces anxiety

- There’s little evidence to support it’s criticism.

30
Q

behavioural model treatments-systematic desensitisation weaknesses

A

It depends on the ability to imagine which not everyone can do, there are quicker alternatives like flooding, and some psychiatrists argue that it will create another phobia if it works.

31
Q

behavioural model treatments-Aversion theory

A

Uses classical conditioning to get rid of something by pairing it with unpleasant consequences so they are associated together - alcohol, emetic, vomit.

32
Q

behavioural model treatments-Aversion theory strengths

A

It is supported by some studies like Baker and Brandon, and it offers a window of opportunity when other more appropriate behaviours are learned.

33
Q

behavioural model treatments-Aversion theory weaknesses

A

Ethics- even when consent is given participants can’t always anticipate what will happen- it can inflict pain.

34
Q

cognitive model assumptions

A

Assumes abnormality is caused by faulty thinking and attitudes, the issue is not the problem itself but the way you think about it, e.g over generalisations- a conclusion based on one event (failed test-failed life) or magnifying failures and minimizing success.It assumes an individual is in control and abnormality is faulty control and a change in thinking patterns will lead to a change in behaviour.

35
Q

cognitive model strengths

A

Doesn’t delve into the past and focuses on the individuals current thoughts, it emphasises internal factors, and it is very influential as it is favoured in many fields of psychology.

36
Q

cognitive model weaknesses

A

Unscientific as some thoughts can’t be observed, it ignores biological influences on behaviour, there’s no cause and effect (irrational beliefs could cause it) and it suggests blame will be put on the individual.

37
Q

cognitive model treatments CBT

A

It’s aim is to encourage clients to examine their beliefs and unhappiness and replace their negative thoughts with positive ones- there’s a cognitive and behavioural part to this. The cognitive part involves allowing clients to become aware of their negative thoughts that are causing them to become un well, the behavioural part involves checking these negative thoughts in reality so the clients can realise they were thinking faulty so they can change.

38
Q

what types of abnormal behaviour is CBT suitable for

A

Phobias, anxiety disorders, depression and OCD.

39
Q

cognitive model treatments CBT-Beck

A

To deal with depression clients become aware of the situation where they make negative assumptions, these are then challenged so the client eventually accepts the previous thinking was unrealistic- people weren’t avoiding her.

40
Q

cognitive model treatments REBT- Ellis

A

Using the ABC model (activation, beliefs, consequences) clients learn ways of curing themselves by setting new goals that they can incorporate in everyday life.

41
Q

cognitive model treatments CBT combined with drugs

A

Fava et al shows that CBT can reduce relapse rates when following drug treatment- just drugs-80% relapse rate, drugs and CBT- 25% relapse rate

42
Q

cognitive model treatments CBT strengths

A

It is popular and diverse and are becoming the most widely used therapy by the National health service. research backs it up-Fava

43
Q

cognitive model treatments CBT weaknesses

A

Doesn’t address underlying causes and clients can get dependent on their therapist - the psychiatrist holds all the power to make the client better.

44
Q

psychodynamic model

A

developed by Freud and argues that mental illness is driven by unsolved unconscious conflicts in childhood-
has 3 parts to it: the structure of personality, stages of psychosexual development, defence mechanism.

45
Q

psychodynamic model- structure of personality

A
  • The id: impulsive part concerned with survival, it works on the pleasure principle in seeking pleasure and avoiding pain and is unconscious.
  • The ego: Operates according to the reality principle, tries to balance the demand of the id with what is possible, it’s the rational and logical part of personality. It also attempts to balance the demands of the id and superego by defence mechanisms
  • The superego: operates according to the morality principle and is the part of the unconscious mind which acts as society or a parental figure.
46
Q

psychodynamic model- stages of development

A 
Freud called these the psychosexual stages:
ORAL STAGE (0-1 years) the mouth is the primary focus for pleasure-can lead to smoking, nail biting or over eating
ANAL STAGE (1-3 years) the anus is the primary focus of pleasure through excreting- successful potty training helps complete this stage.
PUBLIC STAGE (3-6 years)- genitals are PFoP, children show an interest in their parents genitals, boys have an Oedipus complex and girls have an Electra complex.
LATENCY STAGE (6yrs- puberty) -Children focus on social activities rather than physical.
GENITAL STAGE (puberty onwards) focused on developing relationships with opposite sex.
47
Q

psychodynamic model-defence mechanisms

A

These are unconscious mental processes which are triggered as a response to anxiety, they protect the individual from stressful situations, e.g repression is facing disturbing events into the unconscious mind, or displacement is taking out an emotional response from one object to a safer one (kicking a chair).

48
Q

psychodynamic model assumptions

A

CUPE
CHILDHOOD- Freud believes the origin of mental disorders live in unsolved unconscious conflicts in childhood.
UNCONCIOUS- Although the unconscious mind is not accessible, it plays a major role in determining behaviour.
PERSONALITY- conflicts between id, ego and superego create anxiety, the ego has to protect itself through defence mechanisms.
EARLY EXPIRIENCES- In childhood, the ego is not developed enough to deal with traumas and therefore, they are not repressed.

49
Q

psychodynamic model strengths

A

It’s influential as it’s forms of treatment are still used today, and it considers psychological factors.

50
Q

psychodynamic model disadvantages

A

Difficult to prove scientifically, how do we know the structure exists, fails to consider current adult difficulties someone may be facing, it suggests we have limited conscious involvement with our own development.

51
Q

psychodynamic model treatments- psychoanalysis - Dream analysis

A

Freud believed that repressed memories and impulses appeared in dreams in disguised form.

52
Q

psychodynamic model treatments- psychoanalysis - free association

A

Clients are encouraged to let their thoughts run and say whatever comes to their mind without censorship, the analyst then pieces together these thoughts and interprets them which leads to memories being brought to conscious awareness.

53
Q

psychodynamic model treatments- psychoanalysis - transference

A

Client transfers onto analyst, the analyst is associated with the characteristics of other people that the client has repressed feelings towards, then they direct these feelings towards analyst, if repeated the feelings slowly disappear.

54
Q

psychodynamic model treatments- psychoanalysis aims

A

Bring repressed impulses and memories into conscious awareness, facilitate insight into the conflicts and anxieties that are the underlying causes of abnormal behaviour and cure neurotic symptoms, e.g phobias.

55
Q

psychodynamic model treatments- psychoanalysis strength

A

Bergin found it worked 83% of the time.

56
Q

psychodynamic model treatments- psychoanalysis weaknesses

A

time consuming, expensive, only suitable for certain types of disorders e.g anxiety but not schizophrenia, difficult to evaluate it’s effectiveness, Low ethics as therapist has all the power and might abuse it and behaviourists say it’s better to change the problem rather than delving into the past.

Psychology 2 (20 decks)

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