Mental health topic 3 = Alternatives to the medical model Flashcards
3 non medical approaches for explanations of mental illness
Behaviourist
Cognitive
Humanist
3 behaviourist explanations for mental illness
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Social learning theory
What mental illness are we looking at based on behaviourist explanations for it?
Phobias
Classical conditioning explanation for phobia
Phobias are learn via association between a neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus that causes averse feeling
This occurs at same time so conditions an adverse feeling to neutral stimulus
Operant conditioning explanation of phobias (positive reinforcement)
If a phobic response is met with rewards eg comfort then encourages them to repeat behaviour of fear to a stimulus = develops into a. Phobia
Operant conditioning explanation for phobias (negative reinforcement)
If fear response to stimulus is Met with someone removing this stimulus then encourages repetition of aversion to phobia = phobia
Social learning theory explanation for phobias
Observation of adult role models aversion and phobic response causes imitation of same response in child = learnt to develop a phobia
What is cognition?
Ability to think using internal mental processes such as memory and perception and attention
2 cognitive theories to explain mental illness
Beck’s negative cognitive triad
Ellis’s faulty cognitions
What is the negative cognitive triad?
A triad of irrational and negative judgments a depressed person has about themselves, the world, and the future
Formed from dysfunctional beliefs due to dysfunctional cognition
Examples of 3 main dysfunctional beliefs in the negative cognitive triad
I am worthless (self)
Everything i do results in failure (world)
The future is hopeless (future)
How is the negative cognitive triad reinforced?
Confirmation bias caused by faulty cognition
selecting information to confirm negative beliefs that make up the triad and ignoring info that contradicts this
Eg, evidence you did good at something
What does Ellis say is the cause/ sustaining of depression?
3 Irrational beliefs about the world due to faulty cognition:
Because they are irrational, the beliefs arent met so leads to depression
3 Irrational beliefs according to Ellis are the cause of depression
I must be outstandingly competent or i am worthless
Others must treat me considerately or they are rotten
The world should always give me happiness or i will die
Humanistic beliefs on cause of depression
Fixation at certain level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
So idealised self will differ from their real self
Lowers self esteem
Carl Roger’s theory
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Self actualisation
Self esteem
Love and belonging
Safety needs
Physiological needs
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, why is someone’s self esteem lowered?
Factor prevents someone achieving next level in hierarchy so fixation at level
Acts as barrier to achieving self actualisation
Lowers self esteem
Carl Roger’s humanistic theory on cause of depression
If someone’s sense of actualised self is influenced by conditions of worth internalised from a young age
Acts as barrier to achieving true self actualisation
Eg receiving love is based on achieving good grades
Treatment for humanistic approach
Client centred therapy
Method for client centred therapy
No standardised procedure: relies on the relationship between client and therapist
Providing unconditional regard to patient, so it is the patients own free will to improve their life by achieving self actualisation
3 behaviourist treatments
Systematic desensitisation - phobias
Flooding - phobias
Aversion therapy - addiction
Theory behind why systematic desensitisation (behaviourist) works?
Classical conditioning: associate calm response with phobic stimulus instead of a phobic response
Steps for systematic desensitisation
Hierarchy of stimuli from least fear provoking to most
Present client with least fear provoking stimuli (and train to use relaxation techniques)
Eventually when they remain calm, move to next stage of hierarchy
Flooding treatment for a phobia
Present client directly with feared stimulus
This fear response isnt sustainable so client eventually calms down
So eventually associates sstimulus with calm feeling
