Disorders and their characteristics Flashcards
What are the three symptoms associated with disorders?
Behavioural, emotional and cognitive
definition of OCD
An anxiety disorder arising from persistent thoughts and repetitive behaviours
Emotional characteristics of OCD
Intense anxiety
Behavioural Characteristics of OCD
Compulsions (repetitive rituals performed as a result of the anxiety caused by the obsessions)
Cognitive characteristics of OCD
Obsessive- irrational, persistent and intrusive thoughts, images or urges that repeatedly enter the mind
Definition of depression
a mood disorder where an individuals feel a lack of interest in usual activities
Behavioural characteristics of depression
avoiding social events
emotional characteristics of depression
low mood
cognitive characteristics of depression
irrational, negative beliefs
definition of phobias
a group of disorders characterised by high levels of anxiety in response to stimuli
behavioural characteristics of phobias
avoidance of phobic stimulus
emotional characteristics of phobias
intense physiological feeling of fear
cognitive characteristics of phobias
irrational beliefs
definition of deviation from social norms
behaviour is abnormal if it goes against/ deviates from what society would consider the norm
apply deviation from social norms to OCD
society has an unwritten rule that it is unacceptable/ unnecessary to engage in behaviour which is repetitive our realistic ie avoiding shaking somebody’s hand
apply deviation from social norms to depression
society has an unwritten rule that it is unacceptable to have persistent low mood ie refusing getting out of bed is not helpful for work
evaluation of deviation of social norms
x-the deviation from social norms definition is accused of being culturally relative
x-the definition is also era dependent
x-social norms are context dependent
definition of failure to function adequately
behaviour is abnormal if it prevents a person from leading a normal, everyday life and oping with everyday activities. This causes the individual personal stress and discomfort because of their failure to cope
what did rosenhan and seligman argue that behaviour becomes abnormal when it becomes
maladaptive, irrrational, unpredictable and causes observer discomfort
Who says that failure to function adequately involves unconventional and immoral behaviour
Rosenhan and Seligman
what is maladaptive behaviour?
the behaviour stops a person from reaching life goals, both socially and occupationally
apply failure to function to OCD
a compulsive hand-washer may scrub the skin off their hands through excessive hand washing. This creates observer discomfort
apply failure to function to depression
a depressive could be self-loafing and suicidial. This could be irrational as the individual could appear to be successful and happy
apply failure to function to phobias
an individual could freeze or panic infant of their obit object/situation. this could be maladaptive as it stops them from going out
evaluation of failure to function
x-one criticism of this definition is that adequate functioning is based on subjective judgements
x-failing to function adequately is culturally relative
x-failure to function is not a defining feature of abnormality
definition of deviation from ideal mental health
behaviour is abnormal if it lacks the signs of what people consider to be the ideal mental health. `it is the absence of particular (ideal) characteristics
What did Johada propose
that there are 6 characteristics of optimal living. She suggested that abnormal behaviour is defined by the absence of any of the characteristics that are associated with ideal mental health
what are the 6 characteristics johada proposed are associated with ideal mental health?
(1) attitude toward own self; (2) growth, development, and self-actualization; (3) integration; (4) autonomy; (5) perception of reality; and (6) environmental mastery.
apply deviation from ideal mental health to OCD
perception of reality-obsessions and irrationality
apply deviation from ideal mental health to OCD
positive attitudes towards self-depression characterised by low self esteem and feelings of worthlessness
apply deviation from ideal mental health to phobias
environmental mastery-anxiety and panic in the presence of everyday objects
evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health
:)-this definition of abnormality takes a positive approach to behaviour
x-ideal mental health is based on subjective judgements
x-the criteria for ideal mental health is unrealistic
definition of statistical infrequency
behaviour is abnormal if it is considered rare/ uncommon in the general population, or not seen very often in society
apply statistical infrequency to OCD
approximately 0.5% of adults are classified as having OCD, therefore a minority suffer from OCD making it rare
apply statistical infrequency to phobias
approximately 1.9% of US adults are classified as having a severe specific phobia. Therefore a minority of people suffer from a phobia making it rare
evaluation of statistical infrequency
:)-compared to other definitions, statistical infrequency is more objective
x-statisitical infrequency is not necessarily a defining feature of abnormality
x-this definition is era dependent
