Psychopathologies

Question 1

Describe statistical deviation

Answer 1

The infrequency of the population that deviates from the majority of other people

Question 2

Give a real world example of statistical deviation

Answer 2

IDD- an abnormally low IQ

Question 3

What is a positive of using statistical infrequency to measure abnormality?

Answer 3

RWA- can be used in clinical practice to diagnose psychological illness and asses their severity. This shows that statistical infrequency provides an outline for comparison and can be applied to real world problems.

Some people may benefit from being labeled abnormal: eg an abnormally high IQ ain’t bad, and could benefit someone’s academics.

Question 4

What are the negatives of using statistical deviation to measure abnormality?

Answer 4

Not all unusual characteristics are abnormal: infrequent characteristic can be beneficial unlike what this explanation suggests. Shows that statistical deviation can be used for diagnosis, not not as the sole definition for abnormality.

Someone may be labeled as abnormal: this can cause social stigma, and could potentially lead to human right abuses if one is abnormal- eg nymphomania being used as an excuse to control women.

Question 5

Describe what is meant by deviation from social norms

Answer 5

When someone deviates away from what is seen as normal in society.

Question 6

Give a real life example of deviation from social norms

Answer 6

APD: when someone deviates away from pro-social standards due to failure to conform to culturally normative behavior.

Question 7

What are positives of using deviation from social norms in real life?

Answer 7

Can be used in real life: can be used for diagnosing illness as it provides an outline of what is not socially ‘normal’ behavior. Shows that deviation is useful in psychiatry.

Question 8

What are negatives of using deviation from social norms to define abnormality?

Answer 8

Labeling leaves room open for judgement and human rights abuses and unfair treatment. This shows that a single detention can’t be used for ‘normal’ and can cause harm to others.

Cultural differences may determine what is considered socially normal: hearing voices for example is seen as ancestors calling to you in some cultures, but in others could be considered strange and not normal. Shows that deviation from social norms can’t apply to all situations and cultures.

Question 9

Briefly explain what is meant by failure to function adequately

Answer 9

When someone is unable to cope with the everyday basic demands of life, such as holding down a job or taking care of personal hygiene.

Question 10

Briefly describe 3 aspects of Rosenhan and Seigman’s criteria for someone failing to function adequately.

Answer 10

• when someone does not follow interpersonal rules
• when someone’s behavior becomes so erratic that they are a danger to themselves and others
  -when someone experiences severe distress.

Question 11

What are positive of using failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality

Answer 11

Useful in identifying severity of condition, which can then be used to seek help. This shows that the criteria provided can make treatment more available to people who need it the most.

This can also be used in the case bearvement- ffa triggered by a certain life event. In this case, people may need professional help to overcome it.

Question 12

What are negatives of using ffa as a definition for abnormality?

Answer 12

• can lead to discrimination and social control: easy to label non standard lifestyle habits as a failure to function properly- eg someone may not be bathing (failure to function as neglecting hygiene) but its because they don’t have access to clean water.
• ffa can be confused for bearverment: when people ffa after a life event eg a death of a loved one. This may leave them vulnerable to labeling when it might not actually be ffa.

Question 13

Briefly describe what deviation from ideal mental health is using Jahoda’s criteria

Answer 13

1. When one can self actualise
2. No symptoms of distress
3. Realistic world view
4. We have good self esteem and a lack of guilt.

Question 14

What are the positives of using dimh for a definition of abnormality

Answer 14

• very comprehensive: range of criteria, and can be used by a different varying range of psychiatrists to diagnose and relate to it. Shows that it can be used to asses people and help people seek help and has practical value.

Question 15

What are negatives for using DIMH as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 15

• culture bound: only really useful for western psychology because of its individualist culture (self actualization eg) whereas this could be considered selfish in collectivist society. Shows that it’s hard to apply to every situation.
• very high expectation list: most of us can’t maintain this all the time.
• also made in the 90s, where humanistic psychology was more accepted, so could be biased.

Question 16

Name the behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 16

• panic: eg crying, screaming
• avoidance: eg doing anything in your power to avoid the source/ the phobia itself.

Question 17

Name the cognitive characterisitcs of phobias

Answer 17

• selective attention- not being able to pay attention to anything else but the phobia.
• irrational beliefs

Question 18

Describe how phobias are acquired using the 2 process model.

Answer 18

• classical conditioning
• an association is created between a neutral and unconditioned stimulus, creating a fear response.
• the phobia is the now conditioned stimulus, and causes the fear response.

Question 19

Describe how a phobia is maintained by the 2 process model

Answer 19

• operant conditioning
• eg through negative reinforcement between the ‘fear’ response (in this case, the punishment, thus the task (avoidance) is carried out to avoid punishment (fear)

Question 20

Evaluate the 2-process model as an explanation for phobias.

Answer 20

+: helped develop treatments around it - eg systematic desensitisation helping people form new associations with the phobia.
+ Little Albert case study support - where the white rat became a conditioned stimulus due to being paired with a loud bang
-: doesn’t explain why people have negative experiences, yet don’t develop phobias - thus behaviourism might be a reductionist explanation as it ignores the interaction between several different components - eg cognitions, biology etc.

Question 21

Describe the process of systematic desensitisation (4)

Answer 21

• involves different stages rated at different hierarchies.
• between each stage, relaxation techniques are taught and emphasised.
• only when each stage is cleared, the patient moves onto a next stage.
• this eventually causes different associations with the original phobia, using principles of classical conditioning.

Question 22

Evaluate systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias.

Answer 22

+: considered a more ethical treatment for phobias compared to flooding because the exposure is gradual, so patient is kept away from mental harm.
-: there might be alternative therapies that may work better for an individual patient, and the individual phobia, eg CBT works better for social phobias. Shows that systematic desensitisation might not work for everyone.

Question 23

Describe flooding as a treatment for phobias.

Answer 23

• involves immediate and direct exposure to the phobic stimulus
• thus patients are unable to avoid their phobia until their anxiety levels eventually decrease.

Question 24

Evaluate flooding as a treatment for phobias

Answer 24

• can be traumatic, as anxiety levels might become too high, thus drop out rate might be higher than SD. Shows its not for everyone.
  +: might be cheaper, as fewer sessions needed than SD. Shows that flooding might help bring treatment for lower income individuals who suffer with phobias.

Question 25

Describe behavioural, emotional and cognitive symptoms of depression

Answer 25

Behavioural:
- change in activity levels/withdrawal from activities that were previously enjoyed
- sleep disruption
- lack of personal hygiene
Emotional:
- worthlessness
- low mood
Cognitive:
- poor concentration
- negative schemas

Question 26

Describe Beck’s negative triad for depression

Answer 26

• when thinking is biased towards negative interpretations of the world, self and future.
• suggested that this is maintained by negative schemas and cognitive distortions.

Question 27

Describe Ellis’ ABC model of depression

Answer 27

• A: activating event
• B: belief
• C: consequence