psychopathology Flashcards
definitions of abnormality - statistical infrequency
-most obvious way to define anything as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ is in terms of the number of times it is observed
-behaviour that is different or rare is an infrequency
-e.g. IQ below 70 are statistically unusual and diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder
definitions of abnormality- deviation from social norms
-abnormality based on social context
-social groups make collective judgements on what is normal
-e.g. homosexuality is viewed as abnormal in some cultures but not others and was considered abnormal in ours in past
-e.g. antisocial personality disorder symptom is ‘failure to conform to lawful and ethical behaviour’
-aka they are a psychopath because they deviate from social norms
definitions of abnormality- failure to function adequately
-inability to cope with everyday living, cannot deal with demands of everyday life
-e.g. basic hygiene and nutrition
-Rosehan and Seligman (1989) proposed signs of not coping;
1. dont conform to interpersonal rules
2.severe personal distress
3.irrational or dangerous
e.g. intellectual disability disorder (describe)
definitions of abnormality- deviation from ideal mental health
-look at what is normal, identify anyone who deviates from this
-Jahoda 1958 made categories for ideal mental health:
1.no symptoms or distress
2.rational perceive ourselves rightly
3.self actualise
4.cope with stress
5.realistic world view
6.good self esteem, lack guilt
7.independent
8.sucessfully work, love and enjoy leisure
-inevitable overlap of definitions e.g. inability to keep a job may sign a failure to cope with pressures or deviation from ideal of successfully working
phobias- behavioural aspect
1.panic- may involve crying, screaming or running away from phobic stimulus
2.avoidance- effort to prevent contact with stimulus- make everyday life hard
3.endurance- remaining with stimulus, continued anxiety
phobias- emotional aspect
1.anxiety- unpleasant high arousal, prevents relaxation difficult to have pos emotions
2.fear- immediate response to phobic stimulus
3.emotional response is unreasonable- disproportionate to threat posed
phobias- cognitive aspect
1.selective attention to phobic stimulus- hard to look away
2.irrational beliefs- not truth
3. cognitive distortions- unrealistic thinking
depression- behavioural aspect
1.activity levels- reduced energy makes them lethargic
2.disruption to sleep and eating- insomnia or hypersomnia- weight inc or dec
3.aggression or self harm- due to irritability
depression- emotional aspect
1.lowered mood- worthless or empty feeling
2. anger
3.lowered self-esteem
OCD- behavioural aspect
1.compulsions are repetitive- ritualistic actions
2.compulsions reduce anxiety
3.avoidance
OCD- emotional aspect
1.anxiety and distress
2.depression
3.guilt and disgust
OCD- cognitive aspect
1.obsessive thoughts- intrusive
2.cognitive coping strategies- e.g. meditation
3.insight to excessive anxiety- awareness that thoughts and behaviour are irrational
4.poor concentration
5.attention to negative
6.absolutist thinking- exaggerated
behavioural approach to explaining phobias- role of classical and operant conditioning
-classical and operant conditioning
-Mowrer (1960) argued phobias are learnt by classical and maintained by operant
- explains ‘2 process model’
behavioural app to explaining phobias- acquisition by classical conditioning
- UCS triggers fear (fear is UCR) e.g. being bitten creates anxiety
2.NS is associated with UCS e.g. being bitten by dog, (dog did not previously create anxiety)
3.NS becomes CS producing fear (which is now CR)
-dog becomes a CS causing a CR of anxiety following the bite
behavioural app to explaining phobias- little alberts conditioned fear
-Watson and Rayner 1920 showed how fears are conditioned
1.loud noise made whenever albert played with white rat, noise(UCS) caused fear response (UCR)
2.rat (NS) did not create fear until bang and rat paired many times
-generalised to fear of other stimuli including santa beard
