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Psychology > P1: Psychopathology > Flashcards

P1: Psychopathology Flashcards

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1
Q

What does abnormal mean?

A

Something that is undesirable and requires change

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2
Q

What definition of abnormality is this?

Any behaviour which breaks the unwritten rules of society.

A

Deviation of social norms

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3
Q

What are the weaknesses of deviation from social norms?

A

Lacks cultural bias- ethnocentric bias in diagnosis
Norms change over time
Ignores context
Subjective definition

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4
Q

What are the strengths of deviation from social norms?

A

Easy to distinguish normal from abnormal
Allows the consideration of the social dimensions of behaviour
Allows for an understanding that a behaviour may be normal in one situation but not another

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5
Q

What definition of abnormality is this?
Statistically uncommon, rare or anomalous behaviours.
Depends on normal distribution; most people around the mean.

A

Statistical infrequency

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6
Q

What are the weaknesses of statistical infrequency definition?

A

Lacks cultural bias
Not all infrequent behaviours are abnormal, some are actually desirable; high IQ/ Not all abnormal behaviours are infrequent eg. depression is experienced by around 10% of the population
Labelling causes distress

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7
Q

What are the strengths of statisical infrequency definition?

A

Objective, value free measure of the level of mental disability
Real life application
Clearly appropriate for many mental illnesses where statistical criteria is available

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8
Q

What definition of abnormality is this?
Jahoda’s 6 criteria needs to be met to be ‘normal’ (self-attitude, self-actualisation, integration, autonomy, reality, integration).

A

Deviation from ‘ideal mental health’

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9
Q

What is Jahoda’s 6 criteria for ideal mental health?

A

Self- attitude, Self- actualisation, Integration, Autonomy, Reality, Mastery
The more of the criteria the individual fails to meet, the further away from normality they are

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10
Q

What are the weaknesses of deviation from ‘ideal mental health’?

A

Difficult to measure
Culture bias- mental health criteria vary across cultures;
Collectivist societies- reject the importance of individual autonomt for mental health
Reality changes over time
Over demanding criteria- at any one moment most people do not meet all ideals- we are all ‘abnormal’

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11
Q

What are the strengths of deviation from ‘ideal mental health’?

A

Can be used as an aspiration- positive approach to mental problems
Focus on desirables rather than undesirables

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12
Q

What definition of abnormality is this?

Unable to cope with the demands of daily life.

A

Failure to function adequately

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13
Q

What are the weaknesses of failure to function adequately definition?

A

Difficult to define, issues with who has the right to define abnormal as dysfunctional
Ignores context
Abormality is not always accompanied by dysfunction
eg. psychopaths can commit murder and still appear normal

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14
Q

What are the strengths of failure to function adequately definition?

A

Real life application
Takes into account the experiences of the patient, allowing assessment to be made from the point of view of the person experiencing it
Relatively easy to judge objectively- assessment criteria

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15
Q

Explain the Two process model (Mowrer)- explanation of phobias

A

We acquire phobias through classical conditioning and maintain them through operant conditioning. When an individual avoids a situation that is unpleasant the behaviour results in a pleasant consequence which means the behaviour is likely to be repeated.

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16
Q

What are the strengths of the two process model?

A

Watson and Rayner: Little Albert research- real life application
The loud noise is an unconditioned stimulus and Albert’s response to it is an unconditioned response. Before conditioning the rat was a neutral stimulus.
By the third trial Albert showed fear whenever he saw the rat.
The rat was now a conditioned stimulus and Albert’s fear was a conditioned response.

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17
Q

What are the weaknesses of the two process model?

A

Ignores cognition and evolution

Does not account for the fact that some phobias are far more frequent.

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18
Q

Explain Systematic desensitisation- Treatment of phobias

A

Clients create an anxiety hierarchy and are taught relaxation techniques and gradually exposed to their fear- the body can’t sustain high arousal for long.
This is a gradual proces which includes counter-conditioning.

19
Q

Weaknesses of SD as a treatments of phobias

A

SD is time consuming. Ignores cognition behind phobias. Not suitable for all people.

20
Q

Explain Flooding- Treatment of phobias

A

Immediate exposure over 2-3hrs. Clients are exposed to their phobias after learning relaxation techniques until it no longer fears them (extinction).

21
Q

Strengths of Flooding as a treatment of phobias

A

Effective in results. Flooding is cost-effective.

22
Q

Outline the genetic explanation for OCD

A

Genes are involved in individual vulnerability to OCD.
COMT gene regulates the production of dopamine. SERT gene transports serotonin. If these genes are faulty, it can lead to damanges in the brain.

23
Q

Outline Neural explanations of OCD

A

Genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain
Damaged orbitofrontal cortex leads to ‘worry signals’ looped in the brain.
High dopamine and low serotonin can cause damage.
Thalamus- cleaning and checking behaviours
Overactive thalamus= OCD behaviours

24
Q

What are the Strengths and weaknesses of SD?

A

Ethical- Controlled to protect the patient from harm
Effective- Gilroy et al spider phobia
Can be done in VR
Can be used for people with learning difficulties
Works for a diverse range of phobias

Time consuming and expensive- gradual nature

25
Q

How is SAPAP3 used as an explanation of OCD?

A

Animal studies shows that mice lacking these genes excessively groomed themselves which stopped when given the protein.

26
Q

What are the weaknesses of explanations of OCD?

A

Alternate explanations
Cause or effect
Real life application

27
Q

Outline Drug therapy as a treatment of OCD

A

SSRI’s increase serotonin which can reduce the symptoms of OCD/ synaptic transmissions.
Alternatives to SSRI’s- SNRI’S/ Tricyclics/ Psychosurgery

28
Q

What are the strengths of drug treatment for OCD?

A

Very effective

Quick and effortless

29
Q

What are the weaknesses of treatment for OCD?

A

Drugs take a while to start working

They only treat symptoms rather than the ropt of the issue

30
Q

Ouline Rosenham and Seigman’s seven features of abnormality

A 
Suffering
Maladaptiveness (danger to self)
Vividness and unconventionality (stands out)
Unpredictability and loss of control
Irrationality/ incomprehensibility
Cause observer discomfort
Violates moral/ social standards
The more features are shown, the more abnormal they are
31
Q

What are the strengths of the Behavioural Explanation for phobias?

A

Makes sense and has supporting evidence.
Little Albert learnt to fear white rats and other objects by associating them with the fear he experienced through loud noises.
Well documented study which supports the behavioural explanation.

Phobias come from treatment.
Treatments such as SD and flooding are based on classical conditioning and have been successful.

32
Q

What are criticisms of the Behavioural explanation for phobias?

A

Does not explain where all phobias come from.
Common fears include things such as snakes and spiders that people are unlikely to have a negative experience within the UK.
One explanation may be that we have a biological preparedness to fear these creatures as it was advantageous to be scared of them in our evolutionary.
This criticises the behaviourist theory of how we develop phobias.

Sometimes people develop a phobia without a direct negative experience.
Social Learning Theory- observing parents being afraid.

33
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Flooding?

A

Technically not unethical but an unpleasant experience so informed consent is not neccessary.
Cost effective as it is clinicallt effective and queen

Unpleasant experience

34
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the genetic explanation of OCD?

A

Evidence to suggest there is a genetic component- Twin studies
Bellodi et al (2001) close relatives are more likely to have the disorder than distant relatives

Family studies could include environmental influences
Close relatives of OCD sufferers may have observed and imitated the behaviour

35
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of neural explanations of OCD?

A

Neuroimaging techniques are accurate and scientific
Allowed medication to be developed to help sufferers

Time delay between taking drugs and improvements

36
Q

Outline the functions of Candidate genes- COMT and SERT

A

COMT- Dopmaine- linked to motivation and drive

SERT- Serotonin- Implicated in effective messages in the brain

37
Q

What did Lewis find in his OCD patients and which explanation does this support?

A

37% had parebts with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD.

Genetic explanation

38
Q

How many genes did Taylor find that OCD involves and what does this make it?

A

230 genes- polygenetic

39
Q

What does aetiologically heterigenous mean?

A

That it’s origin has different causes.
A certain set of genes may cause OCD in one person but another group of genes may also cause it in someone else.
Eg. hoarding disease

40
Q

What did Nestadt find in his twin studies of OCD?

A

67% of identical twins, compared to, 31% of non-identical twins share OCD.
Suggests a genetic basis as MZ twins share 100% of genes.

41
Q

What did Cromer find about environmental factors and OCD?

A

Of his OCD patients, over half had experienced trauma in their lives.
There was also a + correlation between amount of traumas and severity of OCD.

42
Q

What is the full name of SSRI’s?

A

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

43
Q

How do SSRI’s work?

A

They prevent the reuptake and breaking down of serotonin by the presynaptic neuron.

Psychology (12 decks)

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