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ALevel AQA Psychology > Psychopathology > Flashcards

Psychopathology Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the strengths of deviation from social norms?

A

Flexible depending on situation and age

Gives clarity- if you’ve lived within a culture for a long time, you’ll be aware of what is/ is not acceptable

Helps society by adhering to social norms

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2
Q

What are the limitations of deviations from social norms

A

Changes over time- changes in societal attitudes and legislation means social norms are dependent on the time. Can lead to generational divides in what is considered as a social norm

Deviance often relies on the context of behaviours

Cultural differences- can’t be generalised as it depends on what is normal within that culture

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3
Q

Strengths of statistical infrequency

A

Intuitive- idea that abnormality is when something doesn’t occur

Objective- distinguishable between what is abnormal/ not

Useful overview- takes the whole population into account (population validity) and gives useful insight

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4
Q

Limitations of statistical infrequency

A

Some abnormal behaviours are desirable- therefore using Si to define abnormality means that we are unable to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour

Subjective cut off point- difficult to define abnormality in terms of SI

Abnormal behaviours can occur frequently- 25% of the population will experience a mental health issue (which is abnormal)

No consideration of cultural differences/ variances between cultures are not considered

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5
Q

Examples of failure to function adequately

A

Intelligence disability disorder

- Evidence for signs that someone cannot cope with everyday life

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6
Q

Strengths of failure to function adequately

A

Dependent on context- allows for the context and experience of the patient to be taken into account

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7
Q

Limitations of failure to function adequately

A

Cultural relativism- ethnocentric explanation
Adaptive/ maladaptive- what is functional for one may be maladaptive for another
Subjectivity- who judges what is functional or not?

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8
Q

What does deviations from ideal mental health suggest?

A

mental illnesses can be diagnosed the same way that physical illnesses can be

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9
Q

Strengths of deviations from ideal mental health

A

Positive approach

Comprehensive- covers a wide range of criteria for mental health

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10
Q

Limitations of deviations from ideal mental health

A

Cultural relativism
Mental health and physical health are different and should be diagnosed differently
Difficult to meet all criteria- suggests there are very few psychologically healthy people

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11
Q

What does defining someone as abnormal imply?

A

Their behaviour is undesirable and requires change

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12
Q

What are the three most common mental disorders

A

Depression 2.6%
Phobias 2.6%
OCD 1.3%

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13
Q

What are the three categories that phobias can be placed into

A

Behavioural- Phobic stimulus is either avoided or responded to with great anxiety

Emotional- exposure to the phobic stimulus nearly always produces a rapid anxiety response

Cognitive- A person would recognise that the fear is excessive (conscious about phobia)

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14
Q

What are specific phobias

A

Phobia of an object such as an animal or body part or a situation such as phobias or having an infection

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15
Q

What are social phobias

A

Phobia of social situations

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16
Q

Behaviourist approach to phobias

A

Focus on external behaviours
Learning through conditioning and social learning
Reinforcing maladaptive behaviours

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17
Q

Classical conditioning- initiation

A

Phobia is acquired through association

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18
Q

Classical conditioning- initiation- Little Albert

A

UCS- loud noise
UCR- fear

Association produced a CR with the phobia as the CS
Showed generalisation

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19
Q

Classical conditioning- initiation

+

A

+
Research support
Importance of CC- people can recall a specific incidents where the phobia occurred

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20
Q

Classical conditioning- initiation

-

A

-

CC doesn’t explain the maintenance of phobias only the development of phobias

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21
Q

Operant conditioning- maintenance

+Key study associated

A

Phobias are learnt through reinforcement

Skinners rat

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22
Q

Operant conditioning- maintenance

+

A

Research support- Skinner’s rat box

Explains why a phobia is maintained ( more you come into contact, the more fear is produced)

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23
Q

Operant conditioning- maintenance

-

A

Doesn’t explain why a phobia occurs

Ignores cognitive processes

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24
Q

Social Learning Theory

A

Phobias acquired through the modelling the behaviours of others

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25
Q

Evaluation of SLT

A

+
Research support- Bandura and Rosenthan- modelling

-
Incomplete explanation

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26
Q

Two process model

A

Theory that explains the two processes that lead to the development of phobias

Before- unconditioned stimulus -> unconditioned response

During- neutral stimulus -> unconditioned stimulus

After- Conditioned stimulus -> conditioned response

27
Q

Evaluations of Two process model

A

+
High validity

  • Deterministic- Suggests we are programmed by environmental experiences and ignores free will

Reductionistic- Complex mental disorders caused by association and rewards and punishment
Ignores childhood and biology

28
Q

What are the two behavioural methods used in the treatment of phobias

A

Systemic desensitisation

Flooding

29
Q

SD- Wolpe

A

Based on CC, counterconditioning and reciprocal inhibition
Therapy aims to gradually anxiety through counterconditioning
Phobia (CS) + Fear (CR)
CS + relaxation (new CR)

30
Q

Reciprocal inhibition

A

Not possible to be afraid to be afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one emotion prevents the other

31
Q

Two types of SD

A

Covert desensitisation- imagining

In vert- actual contact

32
Q

3 SD processes

A

Anxiety hierarchy
Relaxation techniques
Exposure to phobic stimulus while using relaxation techniques

33
Q

What do Individuals who suffer from mental disorders have? (according to the cognitive approach)

A

They have distorted and irrational thinking and this may cause maladaptive behaviour

34
Q

What is the main assumption about the thinking process that occurs with those with mental disorders ? (according to the cognitive approach)

A

According to the cognitive approach , its the way you think about the problem rather than the problem itself which causes the disorders

35
Q

How can Individuals overcome psychological disorders?

A

Can overcome psychological disorders by learning to use more appropriate cognitions e.g. learning a new way of thinking

36
Q

What is a Schema ?

A
  • An organized pattern of thought or behaviour
  • A structured cluster of pre-conceived ideas
  • Schema can be hard to incorporate new information into our schemas
37
Q

Aims of Weissman and Beck (1978) - Research study

A

To investigate the thought processes of depressed people to establish if they make use of negative schema

38
Q

Method of Weissman and Beck (1978) research study into the role of schema in depression

A

Thought processes were measured using the dysfunctional attitude scale , participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire by ticking whether they agreed or disagreed with a set of statements
- For example , ‘ people will probably think less of me if i make a mistake’

39
Q

What were the results from Weissman and Beck research study and what can we conclude from these results ?

A
  • Depressed participants made more negative assessments than non-depressed people
  • However improvement was seen when therapy had been undergone
  • From this we can conclude than depression involves the use of negative schema
39
Q

Evaluation of Beck’s theory (strengths)

A
  • The view that depression and irrational thinking is supported by research , Hammen and Krantz (1976) found that depressed participants made more errors in logic when asked to interpret written material than non-depressed participants
  • Practical applications in therapy (CBT)
40
Q

Evaluation of Beck’s theory (Limitations)

A
  • Blames the client rather than situational factors
  • The biological approach believes that mental disorders suggests genes and neurotransmitters that cause depression rather than irrational thinking
41
Q

What did Ellis propose that good mental health is the result of ?

A

Rational thinking

42
Q

What is the activating event (ABC model ) ?

A

According to Ellis depression occurs when we experience negative events , such as failing a important test or ending a relationship

43
Q

What is the Beliefs about what happened ?(ABC model)

A

An activating event triggers irrational beliefs

44
Q

What is the consequence of the irrational belief formed through the activating event ? (ABC model)

A

When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequences
- such as if you belief you must always succeed and then you fail at something , the consequence is depression

45
Q

Evaluation of Ellis ABC model (strengths)

A
  • some irrational beliefs may be realistic
  • Alloy and Abramson (1979) suggests that depressive realists tend to see things for what they are and not through ‘rose tinted glasses’ , they also found that depressed people are more accurate estimates of the likelihood of a disaster than ‘normal’
46
Q

Evaluation of Ellis ABC model (limitation)

A

Doesn’t explain all aspects off depression as there isnt always a activating event as not all depression arises as a result of an obvious case and cannot be generalised to all types of depression

47
Q

How do Patients and therapists work together in CBT?

A
  • They work together to clarify the patients problems

- They identify where there might be negative/irrational thoughts that should be challenged

48
Q

How are patients encouraged into taking a active role in their therapy ?

A
  • patients are encouraged to challenge their negative thoughts
  • patients are also encouraged to test the reality of their irrational beliefs
49
Q

What are the steps of Beck’s cognitive therapy ?

A
  1. First the client will be assessed to discover the severity of their conditions
  2. The therapist will establish a baseline prior to treatment
  3. The therapist would use a process of reality testing
  4. The therapist might ask the client to do something to demonstrate their ability to succeed
50
Q

What did Ellis argue is the main cause of all types of emotional distress and disorders?

A

Irrational thoughts

51
Q

what does REBT extend the ABC model to?

A

It extends the ABC model to the ABCDEF model

52
Q

What is the empirical argument ?

A

Disputing whether there is evidence to support the irrational beliefs

53
Q

What is the logical argument within REBT ?

A

Disputing whether the negative thoughts actually follow the facts

54
Q

What does REBT challenge the client to prove ?

A

challenges the client to prove any irrational thoughts and then replace them with more reasonable and realistic statements

55
Q

What did Ellis believe was the most important ingredient in successful therapy ?

A

Convincing the client of their value , as if the client believes they are worthless they will be less willing to change their behaviour

56
Q

What must a therapist provides during therapy and how will this help the client ?

A

The therapist must provide respect and appreciation regardless of what the client does as this will facilltate a change in beliefs and attitudes

57
Q

What are the similarities between Beck’s and Ellis’s approaches to depression ?

A
  • Both cognitive explanations
  • Both client centered approachs
  • Both challenges irrational beliefs
  • Both seek evidence to challenge the beliefs
58
Q

What are the differences between Beck’s and Ellis’s approaches to depression ?

A
  • CBT puts the client at the centre more than REBT
  • Ellis suggests the challenge of belief can be vigorous and led by both client and therapist
  • Beck sets homework
  • Ellis uses empirical evidence to dictate what is real
59
Q

What are the Candidate genes ?

A

SERT gene

COMT gene

60
Q

What is OCD in terms of genes ?

A

OCD is polygenic

61
Q

What is the neural explanation ?

A
  • Dopamine levels are high in OCD , dopamine increases brain activity , these high levels can increase the severity of the OCD
  • Serotonin levels low in OCD , this increases irrational thinking as without serotonin emotions do not stablise
62
Q

What are the three alternatives to SSRIs ?

A
  • Tricyclics
  • GABA (anti-anxiety drugs)
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
63
Q

What is GABA and what does it do ?

A

Anti-anxiety drugs , a neurotransmitter that regulates excitement in the nervous system and acts like a natural form of anxiety reducer

ALevel AQA Psychology (5 decks)

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