psychology paper 1 psychopathology

Question 1

definitions of abnormality

Answer 1

• statistical infrequency
• deviation from social norms
• failure to function adequately
• deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

statistical infrequency (definition)

Answer 2

a behaviour is abnormal if it is statistically unlikely, top or bottom 2% of a normally distributed graph

Question 3

statistical infrequency (evaluation)

Answer 3

• cannot distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours
  + cut of point is objective, important for deciding who gets treatment
• cannot be used to identify mental illnesses, usually too common to be infrequent
• cultural relavatism

Question 4

deviation from social norm (definition)

Answer 4

the majority decides the norms of society, these are standards of what behaviour is acceptable, deviation from such is considered “abnormal”

Question 5

deviation from soicial norm (evaluation)

Answer 5

• susceptible to abuse
• related to context and decree
  + distinguishes desirable and non desirable characteristics
• cultural relavatism

Question 6

failure to function adequately (definition)

Answer 6

being unable to manage every day life, lack of ability causing distress to yourself or others, defined as abnormal

Question 7

failure to function adequately (criteria)

Answer 7

unpredictability, maladaptive behaviour, personal distress, irrationality, observer discomfort, violation of moral standards and unconventionality

Question 8

failure to function adequately (evaluation)

Answer 8

• distress may be judged subjectively
  + criteria gives subjective way to measure abnormality
• cultural relativism

Question 9

deviation from ideal mental health (defenition

Answer 9

deviation from the criteria set by Jahoda resulted in being labelled as abnormal

Question 10

deviation from ideal mental health (criteria)

Answer 10

attitude towards the self, self actualisation, integration, autonomy, perception of reality, environmental mastery

Question 11

deviation from ideal mental health (evaluation)

Answer 11

• unrealistic criteria, very few have all
• equates mental health to physical health
• culture bound criteria

Question 12

phobias (characteristics)

Answer 12

emotional: excessive fear, anxiety and or panic cued by a certain object or situation
behavioural: avoidance, faint or freeze, interference with everyday life
cognitive: not helped by rational arguments, self awareness of unreasonable level of fear

Question 13

depression (characteristics)

Answer 13

emotional: negative emotions- sadness, loss of interest and sometimes anger
behavioural: reduced or increased activity related to energy levels, sleep and or eating
cognitive: irrational, negative thoughts and self beliefs that are self fulfilling

Question 14

OCD (characteristics)

Answer 14

emotional: anxiety and distress, and awareness that this is excessive, leading to shame
cognitive: intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions), more than everyday worries
behavioural: compulsive behaviours (to reduce obsessions, though not related in realistic way)

Question 15

explaining phobias (behavioural approach)

Answer 15

the two process model:
-classical conditioning, phobia is ACQUIRED by association between NS and UCR NS becomes CS, producing fear

-little Albert

-operant conditioning, MAINTAINS the phobia by negative reinforcement, individual avoids fear

-social learning phobic behaviours of others is modelled

Question 16

explaining phobias (behavioural approach) (evaluation)

Answer 16

• sue et al, found only some reports of a specific incident leading to the development of their phobia, may only apply to some types of phobias
• diathesis model, not every one who is bitten by a dog develops a phobia, could depend on genetic vulnerability for phobias
  + social learning theory, Bandura and Rosenthal
  -biological preparedness, phobias more likely with ancient fears, conditioning cannot explain all phobias
• two process model is reductionist as it ignores cognitive factors

Question 17

treating phobias (behavioural approach)

Answer 17

systematic desensitisation, counter conditioning, the phobic stimulus is associated with a new response or relaxation
reciprocal inhibition, relaxation counters the anxiety (cannot feel stress and relaxation simultaneously)
desensitisation hierarchy, from least to most fearful relaxation practiced at every step
flooding, one long session with the most fearful stimulus, continues until anxiety subsides and relaxation is complete

Question 18

treating phobias (behavioural approach) (evaluation)

Answer 18

+ effectiveness, 75% success, found a combination of techniques improves results
- doesn’t work for all phobias, doesn’t work as well for ancient fears
+behavioural therapies are fast and require less effort than CBT, can be self administered
- flooding can be traumatic and relaxation may not be necessary, creating a new expectation of coping may help more
+ flooding has been found to be fore effective than SD and quicker

Question 19

explaining depression (cognitive approach)

Answer 19

ellis ABC model, activating event, leads to irrational belief, resulting in consequences.
Mustabatory thinking, thinking you MUST do something or achieve something, leading to disappointment and depression.
becks negative triad

Question 20

explaining depression (cognitive approach) (evaluation)

Answer 20

+support for role of irrational thinking- Hammen and Krantz found depressed people make more errors in logic
- blames individual and ignores situational variables (important for recovery)
- practical applications to CBT
- biological explanation, low serotonin due to genes, supported by use of SSRI’s

Question 21

treating depression (cognitive approach)

Answer 21

CBT, ellis ABCDEF model, D stands for disrupting irrational beliefs, logical, empirical, pragmatic. E and F for effects of disrupting and Feelings that are produced.
participants are given “homework” to to try out new behaviours and test irrational beliefs.
behavioural activation, encouraging re-engagement with pleasurable activities.
unconditional positive regard, reduces sense of worthlessness

Question 22

treating depression (cognitive approach) (evaluation)

Answer 22

+ research support, 90% success over 27 sessions
- individual differences, CBT is not suitable to those with rigid irrational beliefs, those whose stressors cannot be changed and those who don’t want direct advice
+ behavioural activation, depressed clients in an exercise group had lower relapse after 6 months
- drug therapy is much more time and effort efficient, can be used in combination with CBT

Question 23

explaining OCD (biological approach)

Answer 23

genetic explanations, COMPT gene that controls dopamine (high levels), SERT gene which controls serotonin (low levels),
diathesis stress, same genes linked to disorders or to no disorders at all, suggesting genes create a vulnerability
neural explanations, dopamine levels high in OCD, serotonin levels low in OCD, worry circuit: damaged caudate nucleus doesn’t suppress worry signals from OFC to thalamus, serotonin and dopamine linked to activity in these parts of the frontal lobe

Question 24

explaining OCD (biological approach) (evaluation)

Answer 24

+ studies of twins and relatives concordance rates
- concordance rate never 100%
- genes are not specific to OCD, also linked to tourettes and autism
+ evidence from brain scans
+ real world application, use of neurotransmitter repressors as treatment

Question 25

treating OCD (biological approach)

Answer 25

drug therapy, antidepressants to increase serotonin, SSRI’s
tricyclics to precent re-uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin (severe side effects)
anti anxiety drugs, BZ’s enhance GABA slowing down the nervous system
D- cycloserine, reduces anxiety

Question 26

treating OCD (biological approach) (evaluation)

Answer 26

+effectiveness, SSRIS’s were found to be more effective in the long term then placebo’s
+ less time and effort than CBT
- side effects, not so severe with SSRI’s but more severe with tricyclics and BZ’s
- not a lasting cure, patients relapse when treatment stops, making CBT possibly preferable
- publication bias, more studies with positive results published which may bias doctors preferences, (due to sponsorship of studies by drug companies)