P1: Psychopathology Flashcards
Define Statistical infrequencies in terms of abnormality
Abnormality: No. of times it is observed. Behaviour that is rarely seen = abnormal. E.g. Low/High IQ
Define Deviations from Social Norms
Abnormality is based on social context. (collective judgement) Depends on cultural, historical context E.g.Homosexuality, Anti-social disorder = abnormal ∵ deviate from social norms
Evaluate Definitions of Abnormality
+ Practical Application: All assessments of mental disorders involves comparison to statistical norms.
- Unusual sometimes= good:E.g.high IQ. No treatment needed ∴ cannot be used solely for diagnosis
- No benefit from abnormal labelling:e.g. Low IQ, but happy life= no need for diagnosis. Might cause negative effect from being labelled
- Culturally relative:E.g.Hearing voices= weird in UK, accepted in other cultures = Problem using another groups standards
- Possible abuse of social norms: Over reliance= abuse.e.g.black slaves trying to escape,Nymphomania(hyper sexuality). Purpose to maintain control over minority ethnic groups
Define failure to function adequately in terms of definitions of abnormality
Inability to cope with everyday living.e.g. Maintaining job. Signs of failure to cope: 1)No longer conform to interpersonal rules, 2)Experience personal distress, 3) behaviour= irrational or dangerous.e.g.
-Intellectual disability disorder= failure to function adequately n inability to cope with demands of everyday life = failure to function adequately.
Define deviation from ideal mental health
Changing the emphasis. Jahoda’s ideal mental health criteria: 1)no symptoms/distress 2) Rational/accurate deception of self 3) Self-actulise 4)Copes with stress 5) Realistc view of world 6)Good self-esteem/lack guilt 7)Independent 8)successful work, love, enjoys leisure
Evaluate definitions of abnormality (Failure to function adequately n deviation from ideal mental health)
- Requirement of patient’s perspective: Difficult to assess distress, but understands personal experiences are important
- Deviation vs failure to function:E.g.Extreme sports, may limit freedom if behaviour treated as failures
- Subjective judgement: Hard to tell if they are distressed.e.g. failure to diagnose
- Culturally relative: Johoda’s classification applies to western Euro cultures .e.g.self-actulisation= self-indulgent in collectivist culture
- Unrealistic standard for mental health:V few ppl will meet requirements ∴ abnormal, but it makes it clear how to improve
Define Phobia
Behavioural: Panic , Avoidance
Emotional: Anxiety , unreasonable emotional response
Cognitive: Selective attention, irrational beliefs
Define Depression
Behavioural: Self-harm/aggression, Low activity levels
Emotional: Low mood, anger
Cognitive: Poor concentration, dwell on negative
Define OCD:
Behavioural: Compulsions , avoidance
Emotional: Anxiety, Guilt/disgust
Cognitive: Obsessive thoughts, use coping strats
Explain what phobias are using the behavioural approach
learnt by classical conditioning, maintained by operant conditioning.UCS-UCR,NS+UCS-UCR,NS-CS,CS-CR
E.g. Little Albert Case, Fear of rats conditioning = generalised to other white furry objects
Evaluate the Behavioural Approach to explaining Phobias
+ Application: Good explanation power= use in therapy,
- Incomplete explanation: Biological drive(Instincts)?, innate fear for certain things, evolution prep ∴ more to acquiring phobias than conditioning
- Bad EXP ≠ phobia: Sometimes no phobia formed, maybe forms where vulnerability exists
- Cognition Ignored: Focused on behavioural side, cognition not adequately addressed
Explain the Behavioural Approach to treating Phobias
-Systematic Desensitisation(SD):
AIM: Counter-condition.CS paired with relaxation.
Reciprocal Inhibition: Cannot be afraid n relaxed at once. Creation of anxiety hierarchy. Relaxation techniques practiced at each stage.
-Flooding:
Immediate exposure to phobic stimulus (Bombarding)
Learns through Extinction, Without avoidance learns its harmless via exhaustion.
Informed consent involved
Evaluate Behavioural approaches to treating Phobias
+ SD effective: 42 patients followed up= long-lasting n effective, reduces anxiety.
+ SD seems acceptable: When given choice, SD preferred ∵less trauma. Reflected in low refusal rates n low attribution rates(Dropping out)
- Flooding is traumatic: ppl often unwilling to finish completely ∴ ineffective, waste time n money.
- Flooding less effective for some: Less effective for complex phobias.e.g.Social phobias ∵ cognitive aspect ∴ more benefit from Cognitive therapy ∵ take irrational thinking
Explain the cognitive approach to explain Depression
-Beck’s Cognitive theory of Depression:
Faulty info processing= some ppl more prone to depression.e.g.Black n white thinking
Depressed ppl have Negative schemas= interpret world negatively.
Negative triad: Negative views of SELF,WORLD,FUTURE
-Ellis’s ABC Model:
A-Activating Event: Arises from irrational thoughts, occurs from experiencing negative event
B-Beliefs: Negative events tigger irrational beliefs.
e.g. Musterbation belief we must always succeed
C-consequences: Emotional n behavioural consequences
e.g. Musterbation-> fail-> consequence= depression
Evaluate the cognitive approach to explaining Depression
+ Supporting Evidence: 65 preggo women tested for cognitive vulnerability/depression b4 n after birth, vulnerable= more likely to suffer post-natal depression ∴ cognition cane seen b4 depression develops
+ Practical evidence:Beck’s explanation forms basis of CBT. Negative triad, identified n challenged ∴ translates to successful therapy
- Explanation power: cannot explain all aspects of depression.e.g.extreme anger ∴ limited
-Partial Explanation: Ellis explains reactive depression. Cannot explain depression that arises without an obvious cause
