Psychopathology

Question 1

definitions of abnormality
statisticl infrequency (mathrmaticlly rare)
- mathematically rare
- fall either side of the normal distribution then you are statistically infrequent
- 5% either side
-

Answer 1

evaluation
:)
- gives a objective level of waht is abnormal
:(
- only using maths leaves issues of misdiagnosis
- such issues such as depression help is more commonly required for people outsideof the normal distrubution
- behaviours considered normal in statistical infrequency arguably people would say that thye stil need help
- suggests that maths should only be used in addition to other factors
:(
- some rare behaviours are desirable
- e.g. high iq
- jsut becausesomething is rare doesnt make it abnormal

Question 2

definitions of abnormality- deviation from social norms
- deemed abnormal if break genrally accepted rules of society
- e.g. politeness or morals about lies
-

Answer 2

evaluation
:)
- thye are flexibe and work well for most people
- usually understood what aceptable is
- flexible unlike SI can take into account different situations
- wearing clothing whilsto ut shopping is acceptable and wearing a bikini at the beach is acceptable however wearing a bikini shopping is not
:(
- social norms change overtime
- diagnosising poeple metlly ill as they dont meet standards of now isa form of social control
- in the 70s being gay was illegial - considered a mental illness- the social norm of that time
:(
- sometimes deviatiing from social norm can be good
- suggrgetes making a stand by not eating of chaingin them slefs to railings is not societys standards
- peta

Question 3

failure to function adequetly
- unable to cope with everday life. like work, eating, hygene
- functioning causes distress ti them or others
- depression- struggling to get out of bed - cant go to work or see family
- DSM- book used for diagnosing illness
-

Answer 3

evaluation
:)
- triesto include personal experience
- works with experience of people who fit
- useful def as fits definitions of DSM- usedefintions to treat anexity depression etc
:(
- dependant on person aware of non function
- whilst some can spot most cant or some people with deression feel like they dont deserve
- schizophrenics believe thye r fuctioning- e.g. yorkshire ripper
:(
- people with ocd can cope with not being able to function
- can still go to work and school but have to adapt thier life around
- GAF- global assesement of funtioning scale

Question 4

deviation from ideal mental health
- jahoda
- judged on the missing signs of good mental health
- abnormal is defincient of what is classed as good mental health
1. positiveview of yourself and identity
2. moving toward achieving potential
3. being sucessful in your life, work, relationships
4. can resist stress, fexible approach to dealing with stress
5. think and act on own
6. judge world accuratly without distortions

Answer 4

evaluation
:)
- more positive approach than the others- holistic
- considers whole person and factors affeting- rodgers uses in counselling
:(
- very vague ideas as what is accetable
- difficult to use
- cant judge objectively without bias
- not in dsm
:(
- sets unrealsitic standards
- everyone experiences stress in life and doest meet all of them doesnt make them abnormal
-

Question 5

charateristics of phobias- DSM
behavioural
- panic
- avoidance
- endurance- e.g. fear of flying endure but anxiety
emotional
- anxiety- feel high anxiety and fear
- emotionable responses are unreasonable- huge emotinal responses to things such as spiders- disproportionate

Answer 5

cognitive- processing
- selective attntion- hard to look away from stimulus, best way of reacting to athreat
- irrational beleifs, its going to kill me- spider
- cognitive distortions- arachnophobic sees spider and feels disgust or see in as a monster

Question 6

characteristics of depression
behavoiural
- activity levels- reduced ctivity, withdraw from work, social life.- some get aggitated and cant relax
- disrution to sleep and eat- insomnia or hyposomnia, increased appitite for food or none
- aggression +SH- Irritable or aggressive, can get peak- quit job, loose firends, agression towardsself e.g. self harm or suicide
emotional
- lowered mood- feeling sad, feel worthless or empty
- anger- feel more negative emotions, feel anger at self or others
- lowered self esteem- how much we like ourselfs, feel sense of self loathing

Answer 6

cognitive
- poor concentration
- dwelling on negative- glass half full
- absoloutist thinking- all bad, black and white thinking

Question 7

behaviourl approach to phobias
- stimulus–> response
- tabla rassa
- learn from environment