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Psychology > Abnormality - Explanations > Flashcards

Abnormality - Explanations Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 2 key assumptions of the BIOLOGICAL approach to abnormality?

A
  1. All behaviour, normal and abnormal, is rooted in our biology, in particular our brain
  2. Abnormality is an illness or disease and is often referred to as the medical model
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2
Q

What are the 3 features/causes of the BIOLOGICAL approach?

A
  1. Genetics
  2. Imbalance in brain chemistry
  3. Brain structural abnormality
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3
Q

Explain ‘brain damage’ in terms of the BIOLOGICAL explanation to abnormality

A

That the structure of the brain effects behaviour, and once the disease / brain damage has caused mental health, there is little to be done to cure it.

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4
Q

Give an example of how brain damage can lead to abnormality in regards to the BIOLOGICAL approach

A

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia caused by a malformation and loss of cells in a number of areas of the nervous system

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5
Q

Explain ‘genetics’ in terms of the BIOLOGICAL explanation to abnormality

A

Some people may be genetically more at risk than others of developing a mental disorders (but so far this only relates to conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar depression.

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6
Q

Explain ‘biochemistry’ in terms of the BIOLOGICAL explanation to abnormality

A

Neurotransmitters are thought to be out of balance in nervous systems of those with psychological disorders

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7
Q

Give an example of how biochemistry can lead to abnormality in regards to the BIOLOGICAL approach

A

Schizophrenia is thought to be associated with excess dopamine, and depression with decreased availability of serotonin

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8
Q

Give 2 ways in which genetic explanations are investigated

A
  1. Twin studies

2. Adoption studies

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9
Q

How do twin studies work?

A

They compare concordance rates of MZ twins (identical) and DZ twins (non-identical) for specific disorders.

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10
Q

What is the difference between MZ twins and DZ twins?

A

MZ twins share 100% genes and the same environment, whereas DZ twins share 50% genes and the same environment

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11
Q

How do adoption studies work?

A

They separate genes and the environment: adopted children who develop mental disorders are compared with biological and adopted parents. Genetic abnormality would expect the adopted child to inherit abnormality from the biological parent, despite not sharing the same environment.

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12
Q

What is an evaluative point about Twin studies?

A

It hard to distinguish between the genetic effect and the environmental effect; the more genetically similar twins are, arguably the more environmentally similar they are.

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13
Q

Name and explain the findings of a piece of research evidence in support of the BIOLOGICAL approach in reference to genes

A

McGuffin et al
Found 46% concordance in MZ twins compared to 20% in DZ twins for depression (shows that genes are a component in depression)

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14
Q

Name and explain the findings of a piece of research evidence in support of the BIOLOGICAL approach in reference to brain structure

A

Goldstein
Found that when comparing schizophrenic patients with healthy adults using a matched pairs design, several areas of the cortex were significantly smaller than the control group.

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15
Q

List 3 weaknesses of the BIOLOGICAL approach

A
  1. Issue of cause and effect (brain chemistry)
  2. Stigma
  3. Reductionist
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16
Q

Explain the issue of cause and effect in regards to the BIOLOGICAL approach to abnormality

A

You can’t determine that the biochemical imbalance causes the disorder, or if the disorder causes the imbalance (don’t know what came first)

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17
Q

Explain Stigma in regards to the BIOLOGICAL approach to abnormality

A

The biological model labels people with mental illnesses as having a ‘disease’ resulting in them being treated differently due to people being afraid of that illness

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18
Q

Explain reductionism in regards to the BIOLOGICAL approach to abnormality

A

Reduces abnormal behaviour to biological factors, when in reality there are other factors such as social factors or life events

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19
Q

What are the 3 key features to the PSYCHODYNAMIC approach to abnormality

A
  1. The model of the personality
  2. Stages of psychosexual development
  3. Defence mechanisms
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20
Q

What is the ID in the PSYCHODYNAMIC approach?

A

The unconscious, instinctive aspect of personality.
Demands satisfaction and will not tolerate delay or wishes
Based on pleasure principal present from birth

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21
Q

What is the Ego in the PSYCHODYNAMIC approach?

A

Based on reality principal
Partly conscious, partly unconscious
Rational and calculating, developing through life experiences
Learning of consequences of actions

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22
Q

What is the Super Ego in the PSYCHODYNAMIC approach?

A

Based on morality principal

Voice of parents/society, formed from our experiences of restriction

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23
Q

What age does the Ego develop?

A

3 years

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24
Q

What age does the Super Ego develop?

A

5 years

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25
Q

Define a strong Ego

A

A well adjusted person who can cope with demands of the ID and Super Ego

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26
Q

Define unchecked ID impulses

A

Where ID impulses might be expressed in a destructive or immoral way

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27
Q

Define a too powerful Super Ego

A

Where the rigidity of the superego might overpower the ID so that the person is deprived of social pleasure

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28
Q

Give 3 example of psychological disorders that could be caused by unchecked ID impulses

A
  1. psychopath
  2. rapist
  3. exhibitionism
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29
Q

Give an example of a psychological disorder that could be caused by a too powerful super ego

A

OCD

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30
Q

What are the key experiences of the oral stage in the psychosexual stages of development?

A

Sucking initially, then as teeth develop, biting.

Breast feeding

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31
Q

What are the key experiences of the anal stage in the psychosexual stages of development?

A

Toilet training; retaining and expelling faeces

32
Q

What is the phallic stage?

A

Noticing gender differences

Most importantly the Oedipus complex

33
Q

Explain the Oedipus complex

A

boys proposing their sexual curiosity and close physical contact with their mums leads to intense affection and desire, developing rivalry with their father. Resolved by absorbing his father’s moral attitudes, founding the superego.

34
Q

What is the Latency stage?

A

Focus on social rather than psychosexual development.

35
Q

How are the psychosexual stages related to abnormality?

A

Abnormality occurs from fixation (failure to resolve one of the stages)

36
Q

How can fixation of the oral stage lead to abnormal behaviour? Give 2 ways

A

If undergratified at a yound age, fixation can lead to adult habits such as smoking/drinking.

Because gratification at the oral stageinvolves complete dependancy for the infant, it can lead to over-dependancy in future relationships

37
Q

How can fixation at the anal stage lead to abnormal behaviour?

A

If one retained faeces at a young age, it could lead to an obesssion with hygiene and cleanliness / OCD
If one expelled faeces a lot at a young age, it could lead to being overly messy later in life.

38
Q

How can fixation at the phallic stage lead to abnormal behaviour?

A

Could lead to gender identity disorder / homosexuality

39
Q

List 3 defence mechanisms in the PSYCHODYNAMIC approach

A
  1. Projection
  2. Denial
  3. Displacement
40
Q

Explain Projection as a defence mechanism

A

When someone’s own faults or wishes are attributed to someone else, e.g accusing someone of something that you are actually feeling

41
Q

Explain Denial as a defense mechanism

A

When someone refuses to believe events or not admitting they are experiencing certain emotions that provoke anxiety

42
Q

Explain Displacement as a defense mechanism

A

Diverting emotions on to someone else, e.g if someone does bad in a test they might blame their teacher

43
Q

Name 2 pieces of research for the PSYCHODYNAMIC approach to abnormality

A
  1. Massie and Szajnberg

2. Pate and Gabbard

44
Q

State the procedure and findings of Massie and Szajnberg

A

Followed the development of 76 people from birth to the age of 30. They assessed quality of parental control and traumatic events. At 30 the mental health of participants was assessed.
They found mental health problems were moderately associated with poor parents relationships and strongly associated with traumatic events in childhood

45
Q

State a strength and a weakness of Massie and Szajnberg’s study

A

Strength: Same procedure for all participants - reliable and fair
Weakness: The measure of mental health relies on self-report - not a reliable form of measurement.

46
Q

State the procedure and conclusions of Pate and Gabbert’s case study

A

Observed Mr A who they believed to have infantilism. He had been adopted.
Supports the psychodynamic model; Freud would have said that Mr A got stuck in a stage resulting in abnormality, or a response to a traumatic childhood.

47
Q

State one weakness of Pate and Gabbard’s case study

A

Data relies on self-analysis; interpretation of what Mr A said in therapy - not reliable data

48
Q

Explain classical conditioning

A

An unconditioned stimulus results in an unconditionsed response.
When the unconditioned stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus, it still results in a unconditioned response.
After conditioning, the conditioned stimuls (originally the neutral stimulus) will lead to the conditioned response (the original response).

49
Q

How is classical conditioning linked to abnormality?

A

It can be the accquisition of a phobia, e.g associating an object at the place of a traumatic event with fear.

50
Q

Give an example of a case study regarding classical conditioning

A

Little Albert

51
Q

Explain operant conditioning

A

Behaviour is influenced by the consequenceds of our actions; if it is positively or negatively re-inforced then it is likely to be repeated, whereas if it is punished then it is likely to stop

52
Q

How is operant conditioning linked to abnormality?

A

If an abnormal behaviour is positively/negatively re-inforced then the behaviour is likely to persist.

53
Q

Give an example of how operant conditioning can result in abnormal behaviour

A

If someone acts aggressively towards someone and they succum, then the behaviour has been re-inforced and so is likely to be repeated.

54
Q

What is the social learning theory? (SLT)

A

Learning through observation/imitation

55
Q

State the procedure and findings of a study for classical conditioning in regards to the BEHAVIOURAL approach

A

WATSON & RAYNER
Little Albert was classically conditioned to be afraid of rats due to associating the rat with a loud noise (inducing fear) despite having no fear of them before

56
Q

State the procedure and findings of a study for the social learning theory in regards to the BEHAVOURIAL approach

A

Mineka
Studied young monkeys where the parents had a fear of snakes (not genetic). The monkeys observed their parents and eventually developed a phobia of snakes.

57
Q

State 2 weaknesses of the BEHAVOURIAL approach

A
  1. Reductionism

2. Free will

58
Q

What is reductinoism in regards to the BEHAVOURIAL approach?

A

Reduces abnormal behaviour to very basic explanations and doesn’t consider cognitive and emotional contributions.

59
Q

What is free will in regards to the BEHAVOURIAL approach?

A

It is deterministic as it assumes that if a behaviour is reinforced then it will be repeated ect. But this is not always the case; in reality people are entitled to decide when it is appropriate for them to stop or continue.

60
Q

What is the rationale of the COGNITIVE approach?

A

Thinking (cognition) processes that occur between a stimulus and response are responsible for the resulting emotion.

61
Q

What are the 3 stages to the COGNITIVE approach?

A
  1. Environmental stimulus
  2. Cognitive appraisal
  3. Behavourial response
62
Q

Explain the concept of schemata in the COGNITIVE approach

A

Human behaviour is influenced by schemata, relating to how we see ourselves.
Schemata develop on the basis of early experience.
Negative schemata leads to negative automatic thoughts

63
Q

What are negative automatic thoughts?

A

Unconscious and rapid responses to certain situations, leading to the prevention of focussing on the positives.

64
Q

Explain Ellis’s ABC model

A

Activating events (A) are thought of by beliefs (B) which lead to certain consequences (C)

65
Q

State the flow diagram of Ellis’s ABC model

A

A: Activating event
B: Rational/Irrational thuoghts
C: Desirable/Undesirable emotions
Desirable/Undesirable behaviour

66
Q

Give an example of an irrational belief in Ellis’s ABC model

A

‘I must do well in my A levels’

67
Q

What is Ellis’s model based on?

A

Irrational thinking

68
Q

What is Beck’s theory regarding the COGNITIVE approach based on?

A

Negative thinking leading to depression

69
Q

Explain errors in logic (Beck’s theory)

A

Drawing illogical conclusions when they evaluate themselves.
Overgeneralising situations

70
Q

What are the 3 aspects to the Cognitive Triad (Beck’s theory)

A

Negative views of:

  1. The self
  2. The world
  3. The future
71
Q

State the procedure and findings of a study into the COGNITIVE approach

A

Lewinsohn et al
Compared a group of adolescents who had unrelaistic negative thought patterns with those who did not. A year later the negative thinkers were statistically more likely to have developed clinical depression than the control group.

72
Q

Identify a methodological strength of Lewinsohn’s study

A

High ecological validity due to it being a natural experiment.

73
Q

Identify 1 strength of the COGNITIVE approach to abnormality

A

Therapy based on the cognitive model can be very effective for anxiety disorders or depression.

74
Q

Identify 3 weaknesses of the COGNITIVE approach to abnormality

A
  1. Schemata concept is vague and lacking detail
  2. Depression may cause irrational thinking, not the other way round
  3. Doesn’t consider the biological approach (e.g seratonin)
75
Q

State weaknesses of the PSYCHODYNAMIC approach

A
  • Lacks scientific evidence
  • Most evidence is from case studies (hard to generalise)
  • Impossible to prove and disprove (explanations for everything)

Psychology (21 decks)

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