psychopathology

Question 1

what are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

define deviation from social norms

Answer 2

1. rules of expected behaviour are set by social groups
2. can be explicit or implicit
3. anything that deviates from expected behaviour is considered abnormal

Question 3

what are the AO3 points for deviation from social norms?

Answer 3

• limited by cultural relativism
• differentiates between desirable and undesirable

Question 4

define failure to function adequately

Answer 4

1. not being able to cope with the demands of every day life
2. abnormal behaviour interferes with every day life (example)
3. Rosenhan and Seligman: maladaptive, irrational behaviour that is dangerous

Question 5

give the AO3 for failure to function adequately

Answer 5

• can be used as a measure for when to seek help
• easy to label a non-standard lifestyle as abnormal

Question 6

define deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 6

1. Jahoda has 6 criteria that defines mental healthiness
2. failure to meet one or more suggests an abnormality, more missed=more abnormal
3. say 3 of the criteria

Question 7

what are jahodas 6 criteria?

Answer 7

self attitudes
self actualisation
mastery of environment
resistance to stress
autonomy
reality

Question 8

what are the AO3 points for deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 8

• positive approach
• strict criteria

Question 9

define statistical infrequency

Answer 9

1. suggests we should look at typical behaviours of the population
2. any rare behaviour is abnormal
3. 2 or more standard deviations away from the mean is rare on a distribution curve

Question 10

what are the AO3 points for statistical infrequency?

Answer 10

• practical applications
• does not differentiate between desirable and undesirable

Question 11

what is a behavioural characteristic?

Answer 11

how you act

Question 12

what is an emotional characteristic?

Answer 12

how you feel

Question 13

what is a cognitive characteristic?

Answer 13

how you think

Question 14

what are 2 behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 14

avoidance of feared object
panic

Question 15

explain ‘avoidance’ as a behavioural characteristic for phobias

Answer 15

making a conscious effort to avoid coming in contact with their phobic stimulus

Question 16

explain ‘panic’ as a behavioural characteristic for phobias

Answer 16

crying/screaming/running
or
freezing/fainting

Question 17

what are 2 emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 17

anxiety
fear

Question 18

explain ‘anxiety’ as an emotional characteristic of phobias

Answer 18

exposure to phobic stimulus causes worry or stress

Question 19

explain ‘fear’ as an emotional characteristic of phobias

Answer 19

exposure to phobic stimulus causes terror

Question 20

what are 2 cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 20

persistent irrational beliefs
selective attention

Question 21

explain ‘persistent irrational beliefs’ as a cognitive characteristic of phobias

Answer 21

eg. beliefs that the phobic stimulus will harm you

Question 22

explain ‘selective attention’ as a cognitive characteristic if phobias

Answer 22

keeping attention on phobic stimulus and finding it hard to look away due to ‘danger’

Question 23

what are 3 behavioural characteristics for depression?

Answer 23

change in activity levels
disruption to sleep
disruption to eating behaviour

Question 24

explain ‘change in activity levels’ as a behavioural characteristic for depression

Answer 24

a lack of energy and withdrawal from activities once enjoyed
or
increased activity

Question 25

explain 'disruption to sleep' as a behavioural characteristic for depression

Answer 25

insomnia or hypersomnia

Question 26

explain 'disruption to eating beaviour' as a behavioural characteristic for depression

Answer 26

increased appetite and weight gain or decreased appetite and weight loss

Question 27

what are 2 emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 27

lowered mood anger

Question 28

explain 'lowered mood' as an emotional characteristic for depression

Answer 28

often feeling sad, empty, worthless and numb

Question 29

explain 'anger' as an emotional characteristic for depression

Answer 29

towards self or others

Question 30

what are 3 cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 30

poor levels of concentration negative schema black and white thinkibg

Question 31

explain 'poor levels of concentration' as a cognitive characteristic for depression

Answer 31

unable to stick with a task or make simple decisions, interfering with individual's work

Question 32

explain 'negative schema' as a cognitive characteristic for depression

Answer 32

interpreting all info in a negative way, ignoring the positives

Question 33

explain 'black and white thinking' as a cognitive characteristic for depression

Answer 33

viewing an unfortunate situation as an absolute disaster

Question 34

what are 2 behavioural characteristics for OCD?

Answer 34

compulsions avoidance

Question 35

explain 'compulsions' as a behavioural characteristic for OCD

Answer 35

external behaviours that are repeated to reduce anxiety (eg washing hands)

Question 36

explain 'avoidance' as a behavioural characteristic for OCD

Answer 36

avoiding situations that trigger compulsions (eg shaking hands with somebody)

Question 37

what is an emotional characteristic of OCD?

Answer 37

anxiety and distress

Question 38

explain 'anxiety and distress' as an emotional characteristic for OCD

Answer 38

obsessions are often unpleasant causing distress and urge to perform compulsions cause anxiety

Question 39

what are 3 cognitive characteristics for OCD?

Answer 39

obsessions awareness hypervigilance

Question 40

explain 'obsessions' as a cognitive characteristic for OCD

Answer 40

internal intrusive thoughts that are recurring and unpleasant which cause anxiety

Question 41

explain 'awareness' as a cognitive characteristic for OCD

Answer 41

aware that compulsions and obsessions are irrational