P1 Section D (Psychopathology) Flashcards
What is statistical infrequency
Statistical deviation is when a person has a less common characteristic compared to the rest of the population.
What is a problem with statistical infrequency (AO3) - no requirement
A problem with statistical infrequency is that there is sometimes no requirement for an unusual trait to be deemed abnormal such as high IQ.
What is a problem with statistical infrequency (AO3) - subjective (cut-throat)
A problem with statistical infrequency is that there is a cut-off point which determines whether something is abnormal and the norm, this cut-off point is subjective.
What is deviation from ideal mental health
Deviation from ideal mental health is a humanistic definition by Jahoda which defines features of ideal mental health and deviation from them indicates abnormality
What are six features of Jahodas (1958) deviation ideal mental health
Six features of Jahoda’s (1958) deviation from ideal mental health are environmental mastery, autonomy, resistance to stress, self-actualisation, positive self attitude and accurate perception of reality.
What is a problem with deviation from ideal mental health (AO3)
A problem with deviation from ideal mental health is that Jahoda’s criterion are culturally biased to western individualistic societies as many cultures don’t value autonomy or personal success focusing more on their social role in a collectivist culture and also few people who can achieve all these goals so it suggests no one is psychologically healthy
What are social norms
Social norms are expectations of how to act according to a particular social group
What is deviation from social norms
Deviation from social norms is when people break social norms by behaving in an unusual way and are seen as abnormal
What is a problem with deviation from social norms
A problem with deviation from social norms is that Cochrane found it was culturally biased as black people were more likely to be diagnosed with SZ than white or Asian but in Jamaica, the population of those diagnosed with SZ is very low - suggesting cultural values influence diagnosis
What is failure to function adequately
Failure to function adequately is a measure of someone unable to cope with everyday life in the opinion of another.
What is a problem with failure to function adequately
a problem with failure to function adequately is that in the case of Harold Shipman, he was clearly abnormal as he killed over 200 of his patients as a doctor, but he displayed no observable dysfunctional traits, so failure to function adequately isn’t a holistic approach to explaining abnormality
What is a positive of failure to function adequately
a positive of failure to functional adequately is that it is often measured by a WHODAS scale and so people can compared to a checklist to improve
What is a WHODAS scale (difficulties, scale)
A WHODAS scale is a measurement by patients rating daily difficulties on a scale of 1- 6
What is DSM-5 and what does it stand for
DSM-5 is a medical dictionary listing symptoms for mental disorders and it stands for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
What is DSMs diagnostic criteria for phobias
DSMs diagnostic criteria for phobias is unreasonable and excessive fear, immediate anxiety response, recognition that fear is irrational, avoidance of extreme distress, lifestyle limiting, six months duration and not caused by another disorder
What is an example of a social phobia
an example of a social phobia is agoraphobia (a fear of public spaces)
What is an example of specific phobias
an example of specific phobias is arachnophobia
What are behavioural characteristics of phobias
Behavioural characteristics of phobias are avoidance of phobic stimulus and not able to complete normal tasks
What are emotional characteristics of phobia
emotional characteristics of phobia are high levels of anxiety and fear
What are cognitive characteristics of phobias
cognitive characteristics of phobias are irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus and a reduced cognitive capacity (recognise own beliefs are unreasonable)
What is depression
Depression is a mood disorder causing feeling of extreme sadness and low mood and can reduce sufferers ability to function normally
How is depression episodic
Depression is episodic as it’s symptoms are typically present at their full magnitude for a period then gradually reduce
What are behavioural characteristics of depression
behavioural characteristics of depression are weight loss or gain, low energy, self-harm and poor personal hygiene
What are emotional characteristics of depression
emotional characteristics of depression are persistent low mood, sadness, reduced sense of self-worth and extreme guilt
What are cognitive characteristics of depression
cognitive characteristics of depression are poor concentration, suicidal ideation (thoughts of death) and poor self-esteem and negative schema
what is the biological explanation of depression
biological explanation of depression is it is caused by abnormal activity in amygdala and the prefrontal cortex or due to high levels of the stress hormone - cortisol
What is OCD
OCD is a disorder whereby a person experiences obsessions and compulsions
What are obsessions and what are examples
Obsessions are thoughts and urges which are intrusive and unwanted and persistent and unpleasant such as concerns about germs, order and symmetry
What are compulsions and what are examples
Compulsions are the need to engage in repetitive behaviours or mental acts to minimise the distress or to reduce the likelihood of the feared event like hand washing, cleaning, counting and checking
How are obsessions and compulsions often linked
Obsessions and compulsions are often linked as a person with a fear of catching illness (obsession) may spend hours a day washing their hands (compulsions)
What are cognitive characteristics of OCD
Cognitive characteristics of OCD are obsessions and awareness behaviour is irrational
What are behavioural characteristics of OCD
Behavioural characteristics of OCD are compulsions.
What are emotional characteristics of OCD
emotional characteristics of OCD are severe anxiety relating to the obsessions and also guilt after a particular episode
What is the behavioural approach to phobias
The behavioural approach to phobias is that people develop phobias due to a combination of classical and operant conditioning known as the two-process model.
How did Watson and Rayner (1920) show phobia learnt by classical conditioning (little albert)
Watson and Rayner (1920) showed phobia learnt by classical conditioning on 11-month old little Albert by presenting him a rat and making a clash with metal causing him to cry. Through classical conditioning, Watson and Rayner (1920) caused little Albert to fear the rat he previously liked
What is Mowrers (1947) two-process model
Mowrers (1947) two-process model is an origin of phobia by classical and operant conditioning.
How does classical conditioning work in Mowrers (1947) two-process model
Classical conditioning in Mowrers (1947) two-process model works by causing the initial association between a previously neutral stimulus with fear
How does operant conditioning work in Mowrers (1947) two-process model
opertant conditioning in Mowrers (1947) two-process model works by reinforcing the fear because every time a person avoids the fear, they feel calmer (negative reinforcement)
What is counterconditioning
Counterconditioning is where a client learns a new response to a stimulus which previously elicited an undesirable behaviour
What are the two types of counterconditioning
Two types of counterconditioning are aversive conditioning and exposure therapy
What is aversive conditioning
Aversive conditioning is when an unpleasant stimulus is used to stop an undesirable behaviour like smoking and nail biting.