PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Flashcards
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health
Definitions of abnormality
Deviation from social norms
Social norms are unwritten social rules that society is expected to follow
Deviation from them is seen as abnormal
Definitions of abnormality
Limitation of deviation from social norms
Cultural bias
Different cultures have different social norms
Definitions of abnormality
Limitation of deviation from social norms
Temporally relative
Social norms change over time
e.g. homosexuality used to be illegal
Definitions of abnormality
Statistical infrequency
Uses a bell graph where the outliers are the anomalies
This statistically rare behaviour is seen as abnormal
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Culture bias
Things that are rare in one culture may be common in another
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Gender bias
This effects sample size
e.g. women more likely to visit a GP then men
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Age
Normal at one age, not at another
e.g. thumb sucking is normal at 2, but abnormal at 20
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Desirability of behaviour
Rare behaviours can be desirable, so difficult to decide how far you must deviate from the average to be abnormal
e.g. high IQ
Definitions of abnormality
Failure to function adequately
Failure to cope with day- to- day living Causing distress and suffering to to the individual and those around them WHODAS Understanding & communicating Getting around Self care Ability for engaging in life activities Mixing with others Participation in society Ranked from 1- 5 to assess abnormality
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of failure to function adequately
Subjective
Difficult to measure the extent to which people conform to the criteria
Self- reporting
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of failure to function adequately
Is ‘dysfunctional’ behaviour always dysfunctional?
Some dysfunctional behaviour IS functional for the individual
e.g. a man who cross dresses for work
Definitions of abnormality
Deviation from ideal mental health
Jahoda stated 6 criteria that a person must have in order to be mentally healthy
Self attitudes- high self esteem
Personal growth/ self actualisation- achieve full potential
Integration- being able to cope with stressful situations
Autonomy- Making own decisions & being in control
Accurate perception of reality
Adaptation to environment- Ability to love & solve problems
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
Cultural bias
Self- actualisation
Desired in individualistic cultures, not in collectivist cultures
Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
Subjective
Difficult to measure the extent to which people conform to the criteria
Phobias
Which approach??
Behaviourist
Phobias
What model explains phobias?
Two- process model
Phobias
Who proposed the two- process model?
Mowrer
Phobias
Step 1 of the two- process model
Phobia is acquired through classical conditioning
Phobias
Step 2 of the two- process model
Phobia is maintained through operant conditioning
Avoidance of the feared item reduces anxiety -> negative reinforcement
Phobias
Who conducted the study into phobias?
Watson
Phobias
What was the name of the study into phobias?
Little Albert
Phobias
Procedure of Little Albert study
Before, during and afar conditioning
Before: rat (NS), loud noise (UCS), fear (UCR)
During: rat and loud noise consistently paired
After: rat (CS), loud noise (CR)
