Paper 1 - Psychopthaology Flashcards
A01: Deviations from ideal mental health
6 key criteria to reach:
. Autonomy
. Resistance to stress
. Mastery of the environment
. Self- Attitudes
.Self- Actualisation
. Reality
Failure to meet one or more criteria suggests abnormality
Strength: Deviations from ideal mental health
Takes a positive approach to abnormality as it focuses on the characteristics that make up “normal” behaviour rather than those characteristics that makes an individual abnormal (failure to function adequately). Therefore, more appropriate way to define abnormality.
Weakness: Deviations from ideal mental health
limited by cultural relativism as different cultures have different expectations about ideal mental health e.g. collectivist cultures self-acutalisation would be considered self-indulgent because the focus is on the individual not the community. Therefore, not appropriate to use beyond a specific culture (Western).
A01: Deviations from Social Norms
- Standards of executable behaviour set by social group
- Behaviour could e explicit
- Anything that deviates from acceptable behavior deemed abnormal
Strength: Deviations from Social Norms
This definition differentiates between desirable + undesirable behavior based on social norms within a culture unlike statistical infrequency which suggests if your behavior is not rare you are abnormal even if the behaviour is desirable (high IQ). Appropriate definition of abnormality.
Weakness: Deviations from Social Norms
Deviation from social norms is limited by cultural relativism as different cultures have different expectations of behaviour e.g. messages from spirits could be a symptom of schizophrenia in Western cultures but is classed as a gist in other cultures. Therefore, not appropriate to define abnormality beyond specific cultures (Western).
A01: Failure to Function Adequately
- Not being able to cope with the demands of everyday life
- Looks at abnormal behaviour that interfere with everyday life e..g unable to maintain personal hygiene
. Signs of a personal failing to function adequately: maladaptive behaviour
. irrational behaviour
. severe personal distress
Weakness: Failure to Function Adequately
A weakness of failure to function adequately is that it is subjective. Because diagnosis relies on the individual’s or doctor’s opinion rather than taking an objective (factual) measure. Therefore, leading to an inaccuracy when diagnosing abnormality limiting the overall validity.
Weakness: Failure to Function Adequately
A weakness is that the failure to function adequately is limited by cultural relativism as different cultures have different views about what it failing to function. E.g. in Greece showing symptoms of depression in a widows life is not seen as abnormal or an inability to cope but in other cultures this would lead to depression diagnosis. Therefore, not appropriate to use beyond specific cultures (Western).
A01: Statistical Infrequency
- Looks at behaviour which is typical (normal) in the general population
- Bhevaiour which is rare (not shown by many) is abnormal
- On the distribution curve behaviour 2 or more standard deviations from the mean is statistically rare.
Strength: Statistical Infrequency
The research uses scientific methods because it is based on objective (factual) measurements rather than subjective (opinion) based measurements. E.g. if any person behaves in a way that is 2 standard deviations away from the mean they are clearly abnormal. Therefore, statistical infrequent is a well respected definition of abnormality.
Weakness: Statistical Infrequency
Statistical infrequency is limited by cultural relativism as a given behaviour may be statistically rare in one culture but more common in another. E.g. Chippewa culture having visions is common however in Western cultures it is rare and would be seen as a possible symptom for schizophrenia. Therefore, not appropriate to use outside Western cultures.
Definition of Phobias:
Extreme fear or anxiety activated by an object, place or situation. The fear is irrational and often out of proportion to any real danger.
A01: Explaining Phobias (Behavioral + Cognitive + Emotional)
Behavioural - Avoidance (make a conscious effort to avoid contact with feared stimulus) + Panic (Screaming +. crying + freezing/fainting)
Cognitive - Irrational beliefs + Selective Attention (find it difficult to look away from feared stimulus)
Emotional - Anxiety (causes stress + worry) + Fear ( causes terror)
A01: Behavioural Approach to Explaining Phobias:
- Approach = Phobias are a learned behaviour
- Phobias are initially learnt through operant conditioning + classical conditioning = two - process model
A01: Classical conditioning + Study:
- Learning though association
- Initially NO fear (neutral stimulus) something triggers feared response (unconditioned stimulus) FEAR response triggered when in contact with stimulus.
LITTLE ALBERT STUDY: Noise = unconditioned stimulus causing the unconditioned response: FEAR
RAT = neutral stimulus presented with loud bang so Albert associated them TOGETHER
Rat now a CONDITIONED STIMULUS causing the conditioned response: FEAR (when see’s the rat).
A01: Operant conditioning:
- Phobias are maintained through operant conditioning
- By continuing to avoid feared stimulus - negatively reinforced (avoiding) reducing the anxiety
- Explains why phobias are long lasting
Strength: Behavioural approach explaining PHOBIAS:
The behavioral approach has practical applications. Suggesting phobias are learnt through classical conditioning and therefore can be unlearnt through classical conditioning. The theory was used to create the treatment systematic desensitization where you teach a patient relaxation techniques + gradually expose them to phobic stimulus so they learn to associate it with relaxation rather than fear to extinguish the phobia. This helps to treat people in the real world therefore the two-process model is important for applied psychology.
Strength: Behavioural approach explaining PHOBIAS:
Resreach to support the behaviourist explanation come from a study by AD De Jongh who found 73% of people who fear dental treatment had a traumatic experience. This was compared to a control group with low dental anxiety only 21% had experienced a traumatic event this conforms the association between stimulus (dentistry) + unconditioned response (pain) leads to the development of the phobia. Therefore, supporting the behaviourist explanation.
Weakness: Behaviourist approach explaining PHOBIAS:
The behaviourist approach to explaining phobias can be criticised by environmental reductionism. Reduces the complex human behaviour of phobias down to simple basic units of learning phobias through stimulus response and maintaining a phobia through reinforcements neglecting a holistic approach that takes into account how a persons culture + social context would influence phobias. Therefore, the behavioral explanation may lack validity as it doesn’t allow us to understand behaviour in context.
Weakness: Behaviouist approach explaining PHOBIAS:
However, not all bad experiences lead to phobias. E.g. in AD De Jongh’s study 21% of people had a traumatic experience involving dentistry and didn’t develop a phobia. Some people have phobias of stimuli they have never encountered or had a bad experience with. Suggesting that explanations other than the behaviourist should be considered when understanding phobias.
