Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the definitions of abnormality?
- Statistical deviation
- Deviation from social norms
- Failure to function adequately
- Deviation from ideal mental health
Explain statistical deviation as a definition of abnormality
Statistical deviation explains that any normal behaviour is statistically frequent, and abnormal behaviour is behaviour which is different to this. For example, Intellectual disability disorder can be diagnosed to someone whose IQ is significantly lower than the average
Evaluate statistical deviation as a definition if abnormality
- It has real life application, most assessments do involve comparing symptoms to statistical averages and they can be objectively measured with this definition
- Not everyone ‘unusual’ will benefit from being seen as abnormal, some may be able to live perfectly normally despite having low IQ
- Not all statistically infrequent abnormalities are seen as bad, having high IQ for example is desirable meaning that this definition cannot be used alone to make diagnosis
- Some mental disorders, like depression, are not statistically infrequent
What are the characteristics of a phobia?
Emotional:
- Persistent fear and anxieties of a specific stimulus
Behavioural:
- Avoidance of phobic stimulus
- Panicking if near phobic stimulus
Cognitive:
- Irrational beliefs about the stimulus
- Selective attention to the stimulus
What are some of the characteristics of depression?
Emotional:
- Low mood
- Loss of pleasure
- Anger
Behavioural:
- Change in sleeping and eating patterns
- Aggression or self harm
Cognitive:
- Poor concentration
- Dwelling on the negative
What are some of the characteristic of OCD?
Emotional:
- Anxiety/ distress
- Guilt and disgust
Behavioural:
- Obsessive compulsions
- Avoidance of triggering situations
Cognitive:
- Obsessive thoughts
The behaviourist explanation of phobias
The two process model:
- Phobias are acquired through classical conditioning
- Phobias are maintained by operant conditioning through negative reinforcement
Evaluation of the behaviourist explanation of phobias
- Ignores cognitive processes in social phobias
- Not all phobias follow trauma: Davey found 97% of patient with arachnophobia could not recall any trauma
- Support from case studies: Watson and Rayner “Little Albert”
- Practical application to treatments of phobias, such as flooding and systematic desensitisation
Behaviourist treatments of phobias
- Systematic desensitisation where relaxation techniques are taught, a fear hierarchy is made and people are slowly exposed
- Flooding where people are exposed to the greatest fear and encouraged to stay until their anxiety is extinguished
Evaluation of behaviourist treatments
- Flooding is unethical and not always effective, BUT is cost effective
- Systematic desensitisation is more costly, BUT also very effective and much more ethical
Cognitive explanation of depression
Beck’s negative triad:
- Negative self-schemas
- Negative thoughts about the future, the self and the world
Ellis’ ABC model:
- Activating event, Beliefs (irrational), Consequence
Evaluation of the cognitive explanation of depression
- Practical application to CBT
- Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression like delusions etc…
Cognitive treatments for depression
- Cognitive therapy involves a therapist directly challenging irrational beliefs and aim to help them test theses beliefs with “homework”
Evaluation of cognitive treatments
- Studies support the effectiveness of CBT therapies, March et al. found CBT to be just as effective as antidepressants
- Patients may feel frustrated at the present-future focus of session and might want to look at their past
- It may not work in the most severe cases where patient may not even be able to focus on the sessions
Biological explanation of OCD
- Genetic explanations: certain genes such as the SERT gene can be involved in having OCD, Taylor analysed findings and argues about 230 genes can be involved OCD
- Neural explanations: Lower levels of serotonin in the brain preventing certain processes surrounding mood to be affected and abnormal functioning in the frontal lobe causes irrational thought processes
