Psychopathology Flashcards
Statistical infrequency
A less common characteristic. The top and bottom 2% are considered abnormal.
Deviation from social norms
Behaviour that is different from society’s expectations.
Failure to function adequately
An inability to deal with the demands of everyday living.
Deviation from ideal mental health
Absence of signs of good mental health.
Cultural relativism
One cannot judge behaviour properly unless it is viewed in the cultural context from which it originated.
Ethnocentrism
The norms of the home culture being used to assess the behaviour of individuals from another culture.
Individualistic culture
Put themselves as more important than others / groups.
Collectivist culture
The group’s needs come above their own needs.
Failure to function adequately criteria (x6)
Own personal distress and anxiety
Observer discomfort
Stops them from working
Stops them from being hygienic
Causing themselves or others harm
Behaviour is maladaptive, irrational or dangerous
Jahoda - Deviation from ideal mental health criteria (x6)
Accurate perception of reality
Positive self-esteem
Self actualisation - reach potential
Resistance to stress
Environmental mastery
Be independent of other people (autonomy)
Phobia
A persistent and irrational fear of a specific situation, object or activity which is consequently either strenuously avoided or endured with marked stress.
Emotional characteristics of phobias (x1)
Anxiety
Behavioural characteristics of phobias (x2)
Panic
Avoidance
Cognitive characteristics of phobias (x2)
Irrational thought processes
Cognitive distortions
Depression
A mental health disorder that is characterised by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities.
Emotional characteristics of depression (x3)
Sadness
Avolition (loss of motivation)
Anger
Behavioural characteristics of depression (x3)
Reduction in energy
Insomnia or increased sleep
Appetite changes
Cognitive characteristics of depression (x3)
Negative thoughts
Poor concentration
Memory bias
OCD
A common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts (internal) and compulsive behaviour (external).
Emotional characteristics of OCD (x2)
Anxiety and distress
Embarrassment and shame
Behavioural characteristics of OCD (x2)
Compulsive behaviours
Avoidance
Cognitive characteristics of OCD (x2)
Obsessive thoughts
Sufferer is aware these obsessive thoughts are irrational
Systematic desensitisation
A counter conditioning procedure (fear is replaced with relaxation) in which exposure is increased gradually to the feared stimulus so it becomes more familiar.
Flooding
Exposing phobic patients to their fear but without a gradual build-up in an anxiety hierarchy.
Behavioural approach to explaining phobias
Phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning
Learning through association.
A neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Neutral stimulus is now a conditioned stimulus producing a conditioned response.