Psychopathology Flashcards
(AO1) definitions of abnormality: statistical infrequency
*anything in the top or bottom 2% of a certain characteristic is deemed abnormal
(AO3) definitions of abnormality: statistical infrequency
*Strength. there is real life application in the diagnosis. all assessments of patients with mental disorders include measurement of how severe the symptoms are. therefore useful as part of clinical assessment
*Limitation. does not help distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour. some abnormal behaviour is desirable. using this method alone wouldn’t inform clinic if treatment was needed. reduces usefulness as a measure of classification.
(AO1) definitions of abnormality: failure to function adequately
abnormally judged as unable to deal with the demands of everyday living.
-distress and anxiety
-observer discomfort
-stops them from working
-stops keeping hygienic
-causing them or others harm
-dangerous behaviour
(AO3) definitions of abnormality: failure to function adequately
*Strength. takes into account individual experiences of the patient. allows us to view mental disorder from the pov of the person. easy to judge objectively. therefore, treatment can be specific to patients needs.
*Limitation. hard to judge unconventional behaviour. ppt may feel like they are coping just fine. weakness is that it depends who is judging.
(AO1) definitions of abnormality: deviation from ideal mental health
absence of signs of good mental health used to judge abnormally. jahoda (1958)
-accurate perception of reality
-positive attitude to himself
-self actualisation
-resistance to stress
-environmental mastery
-independent
(AO3) definitions of abnormality: deviation from ideal mental health
*strength. focuses on positives over negatives. also focuses on desirable over undesirable behaviour. therefore can be argued it takes more of a positive approach to defining abnormality.
*Limitation. sets high standards for mental health. hard to generalise. also hard to measure. could be argued this definition is not useable as it is too hard to achieve.
(AO1) definitions of abnormality: deviation to social norms
sees any behaviour which differs from that society expects as abnormal. passed on through socialisation. social norms can change over time and across cultures.
(AO3) definitions of abnormality: deviation to social norms
*Strength. distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour. also takes into account the effect that the behaviour has on others. high validity
*Limitation. doesn’t consider cultural relativism. the DSM is based on western social norms and ignores Eastern deeming them abnormal. therefore can’t be used as a universal explanation of abnormality.
(AO1) emotional characteristics of phobias, OCD and depression
phobias - fear, anxiety
OCD - embarrassment, shame
depression - sadness, abolition
(AO1) cognitive characteristics of phobias, OCD and depression
phobias - irrational beliefs, cognitive distortion
OCD - obsessive thoughts
depression - negative memory bias
(AO1) behavioural characteristics of phobias, OCD and depression
phobias - avoidance, panic
OCD - compulsive behaviour, avoidance
depression - insomnia, change in appetite, reduction in energy
(AO1) behavioural approach to explaining phobias
*****
*Mowrer (1960) two process model. Phobias acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
*Classical conditioning - Watson and Reiner (1920) Little Albert. UCS=UCR. UCS+NS=UCR. CS=CR
*Operant conditioning - reinforced or punished.
(AO3) behavioural approach to explaining phobias
*****
*Strength. Link between bad experiences and phobias. De Jongh et al (2006) found that 73% of people with fear of dental treatment had a past traumatic experience compared to a control group with only 21%.
*Limitation. Not complete explanation. Bounton (2007) highlights evolutionary factors could play a role in phobias especially if the result of a particular stimulus could cause pain/death to ancestor. Therefore suggests that some phobias are not learnt and are actually innate.
*Limitation. Ignores role of cognitions. Argue phobias develop as a result of irrational thinking and not just learning. CBT argued more effective than behaviourist treatments demonstrating its importance.
(AO1) behavioural approach to treating phobias *****
*systematic desensitisation. therapist and client work together to make an anxiety hierarchy. List goes from least to most frightening. Clients are taught relaxation techniques and understand that it is possible to undergo reciprocal inhibition. (relax and stress same time). client exposed to least feared level and when relaxed they move up.
*flooding. immediate exposure to very frightening. without the option of avoidance, the client quickly learns that the phobia stimulus is harmless. clients could also become so exhausted of being in presence of phobic stimulus that they become relaxed.
(AO3) behavioural approach to treating phobias *****
*Strength of systematic desensitisation. Gilroy et al (2003) followed up 42 people who had SD for spider phobia. At both 3 and 33 months, the SD group less fearful than control group
*Strength of flooding. Cost effective and time effective. Only recquires 1 session at 2-3 hours long.
*Limitation of flooding. Traumatic. Schaumer et al (2015) found ppts and therapists rated flooding stressful. sometimes could drop out and phobia becomes worse than originally believed.
(AO3) cognitive approach to explaining depression *****
*Limitation. too reductionist. states negative thinking develops depression and ignores biological research. therefore cognitive approach too simplistic
*Limitation. ignores situational factors like family problems or life events. these aren’t considered with this explanation
*Strength. faulty cognitions linked to depression. Grazioli and Terry (2000) studied 65 pregnant women. women judged higher cognitive vulnerability and more likely end with depression. supports cognitive thinking leads to depression. increases validity.
