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Psychopathology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality ?

A

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

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2
Q

What is the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality ?

A

This is where a behaviour is uncommon, it is found in either the top or bottom 2% of the normal distribution

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3
Q

What is a real life application of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality ?

A

Intellectual disability disorder, when a person the p scores less than 75 in an IQ etst they are seen to have significant limitation in their intellectual functioning

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4
Q

Why is it a positive that statistical infrequency is objective ?

A

The definition is not subjective for whether someone is abnormal or not, it reduces the influence of bias and labelling

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5
Q

Why is it a positive that statistical infrequence can be used to predict development in children ?

A

This allows abnormal behaviour to be found and treated appropriately, there are many practical applications

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6
Q

Why is it a positive that statistical infrequency uses previously established tests ?

A

This means that there is a standardised procedure which increases the validity and scientific credability

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7
Q

Why is it a disadvantage that statistical infrequency doesn’t take cultural differences into account ?

A

This means that cultural differences about social norms are ignored, this means that complex social behaviours are being over-simplified

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8
Q

What is deviation from social norms as an explanation of abnormality?

A

People who deviate from expected behaviour (social norms) are said to be abnormal.

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9
Q

What are some examples of deviation from social norms?

A

Delinquency
Persistent lying
Illegal behaviours
Theft
Vandalism

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10
Q

What are some things to consider about deviating from social norms?

A

Time-Social norms change over time
Context-Dependent on the situation your in
Culture-Social norms change depending on culture

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11
Q

What is a strength of the deviation from social norms explanation?

A

It is felxible dependent on situation and age

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12
Q

What are weaknesses of the deviation from social norms explanation?

A

Relied on the context of the behaviour-only considered abnormal in certain situations
Can be culturally specific-not valid across all cultures

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13
Q

What is failure to function explanation of abnormality?

A

A person cannot ‘function’ in everyday life

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14
Q

What are some of the criteria of failure to function?

A

Personal Distress
Maladaptive behaviour-prevent them from obtaining life goals
Unpredictability
Irrationality
Observer discomfort
Violation of moral standards

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15
Q

What are some strengths of the failure to function explanation?

A

Practical applications-diagnose people with illnesses
A holistic way of viewing behaviour
Works across cultures to a certain extent

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16
Q

What are some weaknesses of the failure to function explanation?

A

It can be normal to fail to function-job loss can cause stress
Possibility to misdiagnose-some people with mental illness are still able to function

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17
Q

What is the deviation from ideal mental health explanation of abnormality?

A

A criteria that a person has to meet to be classed as mentally healthy

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18
Q

What is the criteria for the ideal mental health?

A

No personal distress
We are rational and perceive the world accurately
Can cope with stress
We self-actualise
We have high self-esteem
We are independent

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19
Q

What are the advantages of the deviation from mental health explanation?

A

Holistic-understands all factors, more valid
Focuses on how to be well rather than identifying signs your unwell

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20
Q

What are the disadvantages of the deviation from mental health explanation?

A

Criteria may be unrealistic
The explanation may not be able to go across multiple cultures, impacted by cultural norms.

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21
Q

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

A

Produces an UCR

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22
Q

What is a conditioned response?

A

Response programmed to happen to a certain stimulus

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23
Q

What is a neutral stimulus?

A

Something associated so it becomes a CS

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24
Q

What is extinction?

A

When the CR stops over time

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25
Q

What is positive reinforcement?

A

You are encouraged to repeat something by reward

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26
Q

What is negative reinforcement?

A

You are encouraged to repat something by removing the stimulus

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27
Q

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

A

Panic
Avoidance
Endurance if they cannot get away

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28
Q

What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?

A

Irrational thought processes
Person knows that their fear is excessive
Cognitive distortions
Selective attention

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29
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

A

Anxiety/fear out of proportion
Unpleasant state of high arousal
Prevents sufferer from relaxing

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30
Q

What is the two process model of phobias?

A

Phobias are developed due to classical conditioning but is maintained through operant conditioning

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31
Q

What is step one of the two process model?

A

Phobia is initially learned via classical conditioning

32
Q

What is step two of the two process model?

A

Phobia is maintained via operant conditioning

33
Q

What is a supporting study of the two process model?

A

Watson and Rayner-Little Albert
Gains the fear of rats via CC but is maintained via OC, given cuddles when cries (Positive reinforcement)

34
Q

What are the advantages of the two process model?

A

Practical application, flooding and sytematic desensitisation
Has face validity
Supporting study-Little Albert

35
Q

What are the disadvantages of the two process model?

A

Theory has poor explanatory power, ignores the role of cognition
Biological approach would disagree
Bounton - Some phobias aren’t learned but innate e.g. spiders

36
Q

What is the behavioural approach to treating phobias?

A

Systematic desensitisation
Flooding

37
Q

What are the 3 steps to systematic desensitisation?

A
  1. Anxiety hierarchy, phobic stimulus in order of most anxiety inducing
  2. Patients are taught to relax
  3. Patient is exposed to the bottom of the hierarchy an moves up
38
Q

Who supports systematic desensitisation?

A

Gilroy - followed 42 patients, they had 3 45 minute sessions of systematic desensitisation. Spider phobia was assed by a questionnaire. A control group was treated by relaxation without exposure. Experimental group were less fearful then the control.

39
Q

What are the advantages of systematic desensitisation?

A

Supporting evidence-Gilroy
Empowering for patient-control of the hierarchy
Deal with the cause of the phobia rather than just medicating

40
Q

What are the disadvantages of systematic desensitisation?

A

Require 1-1 sessions with a trained specialist therapist
All of these factor lead to a greater waiting time

41
Q

What is flooding?

A

Immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus
Longer but fewer sessions

42
Q

What are the advantages of flooding?

A

Deals with the cause
Wolpe-Flooded a girls car phobia successfully by driving her around for hours

43
Q

What are the disadvantages of flooding?

A

Difficult to access
Wolpe-Found stress from flooding can put you in hospital
Flooding isn’t suitable for vulnerable people

44
Q

What is OCD?

A

OCD is an anxiety related condition
Have obsessional thoughts, repetitive compulsions

45
Q

What is the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

A

Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessive thoughts
Repetitive behaviours to reduce anxiety

46
Q

What is the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

A

Obsessive, irrational thought
Awareness that thoughts are irrational

47
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

A

Unpleasant emotions
Depression
Irrational guilt

48
Q

How does statistical infrequency explain OCD?

A

Top/bottom 2% is considered abnormal

49
Q

How does deviation from social norms explain OCD?

A

Its not normal to do some of these compulsions so falls into deviation

50
Q

How does failure to function explain OCD?

A

Cannot preform daily task due to the compulsions and irrational thoughts

51
Q

How does deviation from ideal mental health explain OCD?

A

Low self-esteem can stop individuals from meeting ideal mental health

52
Q

What is the biological explanation of OCD?

A

Genes are involved in individuals vulnerability to OCD, OCD is quite common in families

53
Q

How do genes cause OCD?

A

Mutated receptor cells leads to inefficient serotonin transmission

54
Q

Is OCD just down to one gene?

A

No, OCD is polygenic - this means that several candidate genes contribute to the development of the condition

55
Q

What study supports OCD being polygenic?

A

Taylor

56
Q

How did Taylor support OCD being polygenic?

A

In a meta-analysis Taylor found that up to 230 genes may be involved in developing OCD

57
Q

What is a supporting study of OCD being genetic?

A

Lewis, 37% of parents of participants had OCD but also 21% had siblings with OCD
Suggests OCD runs in families

58
Q

How does Nestadt support genetic explanation of OCD?

A

Twin study
68% concordance rate with MZ twins
31% concordance rate with DZ twins

59
Q

What are the strengths of a genetic explanation of OCD?

A

Practical applications - SSRIS increase serotonin uptake
Lewis supporting
Nestadt supporting

60
Q

What are the weaknesses of a genetic explanation of OCD?

A

Evidence from twin studies don’t show 100% concordance
SLT - OCD may develop due to modelling, explain family patterns
Humanism - we have free will and OCD patients can simply change their behaviour

61
Q

What is the neural explanations of OCD?

A

Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters - dopamine
Abnormal brain structure

62
Q

How can damage to lateral frontal lobes cause OCD?

A

Can lead to irrational decisions

63
Q

What are the advantages of the neural explanations of OCD?

A

SSRIS - Increase serotonin levels
OCD patients and their families had structural abnormalities

64
Q

What are the disadvantages of the neural explanations of OCD?

A

Poor explanatory power - Whether OCD causes brain damage vies versa
SLT - OCD may be learnt via modelling

65
Q

How does drug therapy treat OCD?

A

Aim to increase levels of serotonin
Blocks re-uptake receptors
Serotonin continues to be active for longer

66
Q

What are the advantages of drug therapy on OCD?

A

Soomro - Found SSRIs are significantly more effective than placebos
Prescription fee is cheaper than a psychologist
People are not on a long waiting list for treatment

67
Q

What are the disadvantages of drug therapy on OCD?

A

Leads to other health problems - insomnia etc
Treats symptoms rather than dealing with the cause of OCD
Tolerance increases may need to up the dosage

68
Q

How does psychosurgery treat OCD symptoms?

A

Destroys links between brain structures

69
Q

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

A

Shift in activity level
Change in appetite
Aggression

70
Q

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

A

Delusions
Irrational thoughts
Biased recall

71
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

A

Sadness
Loss of interest
Sense of worthlessness

72
Q

Who explains is in the cognitive explanation of depression?

A

Beck
Ellis

73
Q

What was Becks cognitive theory of depression?

A

They have faulty information processing
Negative thinking that occurs due to the negative triad

74
Q

What is the negative triad?

A

Negative view of the world
Negative view of the future
Negative view of yourself

75
Q

What is Ellis’s ABC model of dperession?

A

Depression is a result of irrational thought
A - Activating event
B - Beliefs
C - Consequences

76
Q

What are the advantages of the cognitive explanation of Depression?

A

O’hara - Meta analysis of risk factors for post-partum depression. Cognitive vulnerability were predictors of depressive symptoms.
Practical applications - CBT and REBT

Psychology (9 decks)

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