Individual Differences Flashcards
Explain how deviation from social norms would identify someone with an abnormality.
Deviation from social norms is not doing what is seen as ‘normal’ in the eyes of society, therefore someone who washes there hands over and over for an hour would not be seen as normal and may be classed, OCD.
What are the limitations of the deviation from social norms definition?
Some people are just eccentric
Social norms change all the time something that may have been seen as abnormal once isn’t any more, homosexuality.
What is the definition of failure to function adequately and give an example of someone who would fail to function adequately.
Failure to function adequately explains abnormal behaviour as behaviour which stop someone from going about their usual everyday business. An example would be someone with depression.
What are the limitations of the failure to function adequately definition.
Abnormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction, so one may appear to be functioning adequately but may be depressed.
Normal abnormality, sometimes people may not be functioning adequately but not have a mental disorder, e.g. If someone is grieving.
Deviation from ideal mental health (Marie Jahoda)
List the six factors…..
accurate PERCEPTION of reality PARAMS AUTONOMY RESISTANCE to stress positive ATTITUDES towards self MASTERY of the environment SELF-ACTUALISATION of your potential
Explain what perception means in the deviation from ideal mental health definition.
Being able to see the environment as it is, without hearing voices or seeing things which don’t exist. (an example of someone not meeting this factor, someone with schizophrenia)
Explain what autonomy means in the deviation from ideal mental health definition.
Having control of your own future and being able to do what you want.
(an example of someone not meeting this factor, someone with schizophrenia or OCD)
Explain what Resistance means in the deviation from ideal mental health definition.
Being able to get over periods of stress, e.g. Moving house, studying for exams, ect. An example of someone not meeting this factor, someone with schizophrenia or depression.
Explain what attitudes means in the deviation from ideal mental health definition.
Being able to think positively about yourself. You can accept you faults but generally like the person you are. An example of someone not meeting this factor, someone with depression.
Explain what mastery means in the deviation from ideal mental health definition.
Being able to react to changes in the environment and adapt yourself accordingly. An example of someone not meeting this factor would be someone with depression.
Explain what self-actualisation means in the deviation from ideal mental health definition.
Being able to fulfil your potential and not waste your life doing things you don’t want to do. An example of someone not meeting this factor, someone with depression or schizophrenia.
What are limitations of the deviation from ideal mental health definition?
Over-demanding criteria, not everyone makes the most of their potential, but don’t have a mental disorder.
Cultural variation, in some cultures people don’t meet the six criteria, because of there norms.
Behavioural approach to psychopathology key assumptions.
People are born as ‘blank slates’ and acquire abnormalities through experience.
Abnormalities are learned through classical conditioning, operant conditioning and/or social learning theory.
Only observable behaviours should be measured.
Classical conditioning
Learning through__________
Association
Mainly explains phobias.
John Watson
Little Albert 1920
Albert was first presented with a white rat, which he played with. He later repeatedly paired the white rat with a loud banging noises right behind Alberts head, Albert became sever,y distressed.
In the end the presentation of the rat alone was enough to make Albert distressed.
Operant conditioning
Learning through __________
Rewards and Punishments
Mainly explains depression
Martin Seligman
Had two groups of dogs. Half the dogs were given a task to do and punished if they failed. The other half were punished regardless of their success. When give the opportunity to avoid shocks by escaping the later task, the second group of dogs didn’t bother and just accepted the shocks. This is learned helplessness.
Social learning theory
Learning a mental disorder through________
The one reservation of others
The main type of disorder it explains is antisocial personality disorder
Albert Bandura
Conducted the famous bobo doll study which children aged 3-6 into 2 groups. One group watched an adult play nicely with a bunch of toys ( including a giant bobo doll), the second group watched an adult play aggressively with the toys and doll. The second group imitated what they had seen and acted aggressively towards the bobo doll.
Name the three ways of defining abnormality.
Deviation from social norms
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health
What are the key assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?
Mental disorders are caused by unresolved unconscious conflicts.
Our conscious is made up of an ‘id’, ‘ego’, ‘superego’. Mental disorder is caused by conflicts between these features of our psyche.
The roots of mental disorders usually lie in childhood events.
Conflict leads to the use of defence mechanisms.
What does the id want?
To exploit the selfish part of you.
Pleasure seeking
If it is dominant then you are driven by your own desires, can lead to addictions.
What does the ego want?
To balance the id and the super ego.
What does the superego want?
To uphold good morals and values. (Passed on from parents).
If the superego is dominant then the person is filled by anxiety because they constantly fear being punished.
