Paper 1: Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the definitions of abnormality?
- Deviation from social norms
- Failure to function adequately
- Statistical infrequency
- Deviation from ideal mental health
(AO1) - Deviation from social norms?
- Social norm = unwritten societal rule
- Indivi. seen as abnormal if they violate the rules + give and example…
(AO3) - points for deviation from social norms?
1) Cultural relativism. 75 countries homo. still illegal - abnormal. Rest world it normal. No global standard for defining.
2) Hindsight bias. Change overtime. UK - homo. mental. till 1973 - instituitilsation. Now violation rights. Theory not acknowledge change.
3) How far some1 deviates depend on context + severity. Some1 break rule norm once, may not deviate, persistent they are. Give example - beach clothes in office. Fails explain in its own right.
(AO1) - Failure to function adequately?
- abnormal if unable to cope with everyday + live independently in society
- Personal suffering or distress to others.
(AO3) - Points for failure to function adequately
1) Indivi. differences - Person OCD excessive rituals preventing them, but others ritual but still on time. Each person diagnosed diff despite behavioural + psychological similars.. according to def. - low validity.
2) Considers subjective personal experiences - Considers thoughts + feelings patient experience issue. Not simply make judge. without personal viewpoint into consider. Useful model for assessing psychological behaviour.
3) Confusion distinguishing failure & deviation - e.g. not able go to work may also be deviation by choosing live alternative lifestyle. Labels as ‘failures’ ignoring person. freedom. squashed.
4) Gender issues - societies stereotype men. Dont seek psycho help.
(AO1) - Statistical infrequency
- Statistically uncommon or not seen often
- Distribution of particular behaviour within society
- Normal distribution curve can be used to show proportions of pop. who share parti. characteristic.
(AO3) - Points for Statistical infrequency
1) Issue misdiagnosis - e.g. 10% pop. experience depression making it ‘normal’. High IQ uncommon. ‘abnormal’. - Desirable trait. Serious drawback on adopting + shouldn’t be used alone for diagnosis.
2) Labelling indivi. as abnormal unhelpful - e.g. some1 low IQ but able live happy life without harm/distress self or others. Label contribute poor self-image or discrimination = harm. Labelling could cause more distress.
3) Someone labelled as normal could be desirable - e.g.high IQ. Depression common. Def. needs to identify these avoid pitfall
4) Gender issues - females more likely to consult GP than males.
5) Cultural issues - Jewish mourn by tearing clothes. India mentally ill thought be cursed. USA 48% treated - make them ‘normal’
(AO1) - Deviation from ideal mental health
- Jahoda (1958), 6 principles:
1. High self-esteem, strength sense of identity
2. Personal growth & self-actualisation
3. Autonomous & self-regulating
4. Accurate view of reality
5. integrate & resist stress
6. Master environ. - If not demonstrate one = abnormal. give example e.g. depression negative view on self.
(AO3) - Points for deviation from ideal mental health
1) Unrealistic criteria - times everyone experience stress + negativity. Abnormal irrespective of circumstances outside of their control. High standards - How many need be absent for diagnosis???
2) Takes positive and holistic stance. Focus on pos./desirable behaviours rather than opposite. Secondly, considers whole person, take into account multitude factors could effect health. Strength, it is comprehensive covering broad range of criteria.
3) Cultural relativism - Western origin criteria - may be overtly self-centred in other countries favour community. Indepen. within collectivist cultures not fostered thus making def. cultural bound.
4) Nomothetic - everyone individually. some perhaps idiographic more suitable or
Ethnocentricity - ‘being independent + self-regulating’ applies particularly to individual. society. not selfish.
(AO1) - Define behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias.
- Abnormal behaviour can be caused by:
1. Classical conditioning
2. Operant conditioning
3. Social learning theory
(AO1) - Psychologist for Behavioural approach to explain and treating phobias?
Mower (1947):
- Two-process model = Behaviours learned through classical and maintained through operant
(AO1) - Define classical conditioning.
- Learning associated with two stimuli.
- Associate something we do not fear (neutral stimulus) with something which triggers a fear response (unconditioned stimulus).
- After association formed, conditioned stimulus causes response of fear (conditioned response).
(AO1) - Key study for Behavioural approach?
Watson & Raynor (1920)
Aim: Wether fear response learned classical.
Method: 11 month baby. ‘Little Albert’. No fear to white rat. Struck metal bar with hammer behind head - very loud noise - startled him, when reach for rat. 3x.
Results: showed white rat he cried
Conclusion: Fear response can be induced by classical. Induced/generalised fear to other white fluffy things e.g. santa’s beard
(AO1) - Define operant conditioning.
- Phobias maintained through it
- Phobias can be negatively reinforced
- Unpleasant consequence is removed e.g. going up stairs to avoid lifts (Avoidance)
(AO3) - Points for Behavioural approach to explain and treating phobias?
1) Support - ‘Little Albert’ explain it.
CP: Case study - difficult to generalise.
2) Application to therapy - used develop SD and Flooding. Explain them… using principles of classical and negative reinforcement. Effective in treating, support theory.
3) Ignores role of cognition - irrational thinking, not just learning. e.g. irrational some1 claustrophobic + being trapped in lift. Further., led to development of CBT, far more successful than behaviourist ones.
4) Not complete explanation of phobias - evolutionaryy psycho. factors may play role. Parituclary avoidance of particular stimuluses e.g. snakes. could caused death or pain to ancestors. Some innate - called Biological preparedness . Cast doubt on two-process.
