Psychopathology

Question 1

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 1

The mathematical way of identifying abnormality, lowest on the distribution graph

Question 2

Evaluation of statistical infrequency

Answer 2

→ some abnormalities are seen as desirable
→ no clear cut off point

Question 3

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 3

When people do not follow the expected behaviour in society

Question 4

Evaluation of deviation from social norms

Answer 4

-Norms vary over time (homosexuality)
→ culturally relative

Question 5

What is the failure to function adequately?

Answer 5

When people cannot deal with the demands of everyday life ~ irrational or dangerous severe distress

Question 6

Evaluation of failure to function adequately

Answer 6

» Culturally relative
» doesn’t consider the individual (introvert)

Question 7

What is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 7

Someone does not meet a criteria for ideal mental health
→ Jahoda’s criteria
~ positive self attitude, environmental mastery personal autonomy self actualisation, stress resistance

Question 8

Evaluation of jahoda’s criteria

Answer 8

→ unrealistic criteria
→ culturally relative

Question 9

What is a phobia?

Answer 9

→ anxiety disorder
→ extreme anxiety and irrational fears
→ 2.6% uk have a clinical phobia

Question 10

Emotional behavioral and cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 10

→emotional ~ anxiety, fear
→ behavioral ~ avoidance, panic
→ cognitive ~ recognition of phobia irrational beliefs

Question 11

What is the two process model?

Answer 11

The two process model shows that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning

Question 12

What is classical conditioning and operant conditioning?

Answer 12

Learning through association, now phobias are acquired, an unconditioned stimulus (the original phobia ) is in association with an unconditioned response (such as fear) , a neutral stimulus s (something you don’t initially fear) plus the unconditioned stimulus = a conditioned stimulus this thing we did not initially fear then gives a conditioned response of fear. This fear is then maintained, where there is positive reinforcement when the individual avoids the stimulus with a response, meaning the reward is no anxiety, so the phobia is maintained,

Question 13

Evaluation of 2 process model

Answer 13

→ useful~ treatments, systematic desensitisation~ reductionist
→ face validity ~ learning through association and rewards in everyday life
→ ignores cognitive factors~ thoughts about fear, not just behavior not complete explanation

Question 14

What is depression?

Answer 14

Depression is a mood disorder, around 2.6% of the uk have this disorder, negative thoughts, lowered activity and sadness

Question 15

Emotional behavioural and cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 15

Emotional ~ sadness, low self esteem, worthless
behavioral ~ lowered activity levels restless
Cognitive~ lack of Concentration, negative thoughts

Question 16

Cognitive approach to depression

Answer 16

→ depression = faulty information processing (focus on the negative)
→ schema = cognitive mental framework
→becks negative triad, automatic thinking, negative view about self, future, world
~> Ellis abc model, activating event, beliefs, consequences(emotions and behaviour)

Question 17

What is OCD?

Answer 17

OCD is an anxiety disorder that 1.3 of the uk population have, it contains obsessions and compulsions.

Question 18

Emotional behavioral and cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 18

• Emotional -anxiety, stress guilt
• benavioral - repetitive behavior / compulsions
• cognitive - intrusive doubts thoughts and ideas

Thought → anxiety → compulsive behavior → temporary relief → thought…