psychopathology

Question 1

What are examples of Jahoda’s criteria for ‘ideal mental health’?

Answer 1

• environmental mastery
• resistance to stress

Question 2

State two statements that describe the ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ definition of
abnormality.

Answer 2

• not achieving self actualisation
• not being able to resist stress

Question 3

Abnormality can be defined as ‘the failure to function adequately’.
Outline and evaluate this definition of abnormality (6)

Answer 3

• failure to function adequately defines abnormality as showing an inability to carry out behaviours that society would expect from them e.g getting out of bed or managing a job.
• however, what is considered ‘normal’ in one culture might not be the same as what other cultures regard it as.
• it can be linked to other factors instead of abnormality e.g failure to keep a job may be due to economical situation.

Question 4

Explain how statistical infrequency can be used to define abnormality
(3)

Answer 4

• statistical infrequency defines abnormality as behaviours that are very rare or uncommon.
• e.g it is not the norm to have a child over the age of 40 or under 20 therefore we have an idea of what is common/normal and whats uncommon/abnormal.

Question 5

Outline two limitations of the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality (4)

Answer 5

• one limitation is that it has an unrealistic criteria of ‘ideal’ mental health which means being defined as abnormal is not objective.
• another limitation is it tries to apply the principles of physical health to mental health which is not accurate and can wrongly define someone as abnormal.

Question 6

“Abnormality is very difficult to define. It can be hard to decide where normal behaviour
ends and abnormal behaviour begins.”
Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality (12)

Answer 6

• either give several definitions in less detail or two definitions in detail
• consider both strengths and limitations of each definition and explain them e.g problems associated with limitation
• evaluate them
• 2 paragraphs (consider it as two 6b mark questions)

Question 7

Identify one definition of abnormality and explain one limitation associated with this
definition.

Answer 7

• deviation from social norms defines abnormality as behaviours that are different from the socially acceptable behaviours
• a limitation is that norms can change over time which means that a behaviour considered abnormal in one era could be considered normal in another.

Question 8

Outline and evaluate failure to function adequately and deviation from ideal mental health
as definitions of abnormality. Refer to the experiences of Rob in your answer (16)

Answer 8

• AO1 = 6 marks, AO2 = 4 marks,
  AO3 = 6 marks
• consider the first 6 marks (AO1) as two 3 markers
• with AO2 refer to the text and apply to knowledge
• AO3 is evaluate - discuss strengths and limitations

Question 9

Explain how findings of psychological research into the treatment of depression could
have implications for the economy.

Answer 9

• may lead to improvements in psychological treatment and health meaning people can manage their health better and take less time of work
• this would reduce costs to the economy

Question 10

Discuss the cognitive approach to treating depression (16)

Answer 10

• AO1 = 6 marks and AO3 = 10 marks
• consider first 6 marks as two 3 markers, talk about aims of cognitive therapy and different models e.g Becks negative triad and CBT
• AO3 is discussion points - evidence to support/contradict the effectiveness of approach

Question 11

what are cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 11

• obsessions
• awareness that behaviour is irrational

Question 12

Outline one behavioural and one cognitive characteristic of OCD (4)

Answer 12

• behavioural characteristic is that compulsive behaviours are performed which are repetitive to reduce anxiety - patients think they have to perform certain actions i.e they may think something dreadful will happen if they don’t
• cognitive characteristic is the obsessive element, when the patient experiences recurring intrusive thoughts or impulses that cause distress

Question 13

Outline the use of one or more drugs in the treatment of OCD (4)

Answer 13

• SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin meaning it stays longer in the synaptic gap to reduce anxiety
• SNRIs increase the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline and are used if SSRIs are ineffective
• tricyclics are used is SNRIs fail and it has the same effect on serotonin as SSRIs but has severe side effects
• anti anxiety drug enhances activity of GABA to reduce anxiety and causing relaxation

Question 14

Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions.

Answer 14

obsessions are intrusive thoughts whereas compulsions are repetitive behaviours

Question 15

With reference to the study described above, what do the results seem to show about possible influences on the development of OCD (4)

Answer 15

• development OCD is partly genetic .
• there are other explanations to OCD so other factors like environmental factors may partly account for OCD.

Question 16

Outline two characteristics of OCD and refer to Gavin in your answer.

Answer 16

• cognitive characteristic which is recurring intrusive thoughts such as thinking his family is in danger.
• behavioural characteristic which is performing repetitive actions such as switching plug socket 6 times.

Question 17

Discuss biological explanations of OCD. Refer to evidence in your answer (16)

Answer 17

• AO1 = 6 marks and AO3 = 10 marks
• consider first 6 marks as two 3 markers of explanation and evidence in each one
• evidence can be linking to studied and psychologists
• marks for description of biological explanations of OCD e.g biochemical explanation - low levels of serotonin associated with anxiety; high
  levels of dopamine linked to compulsive behaviour
• AO3 marks for discussion of biological explanations of OCD e.g issues/strengths and effectiveness or alternative explanations for findings from family/twin studies such as
  shared environments.

Question 18

Briefly outline how flooding might be used to treat a phobia.

Answer 18

immediate exposure to feared stimulus with no avoidance to situation in order to distinguish the fear and anxiety is reduced

Question 19

Outline a behavioural explanation of phobias.

Answer 19

the idea that phobias are formed through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning (the two-process model)

Question 20

Briefly discuss one limitation of the behavioural explanation of phobias that you have outlined.

Answer 20

the cognitive aspects cannot be explained

Question 21

Explain one weakness of systematic desensitisation.

Answer 21

it relies on the client’s ability to be able to imagine the fearful
situation - some cannot do so and so it is ineffective

Question 22

Explain how systematic desensitisation could be used to help Tommy overcome
his phobia (4)

Answer 22

• would be taught relaxation techniques to use when encountering the birds
• use a hierarchy to approach his fear step by step and reflect on his least to most feared situation
• would be gradually exposed to birds ensuring he is relaxed at each stage to distinguish his fear

Question 23

Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to
treat Tommy’s phobia.

Answer 23

• SD is gradual exposure so Tommy would not face high levels of anxiety whereas flooding can be too traumatic as its immediate exposure

Question 24

Suggest how the behavioural approach might be used to explain Kirsty’s phobia of
balloons (4)

Answer 24

• phobia has developed through classical conditioning
• the conditioned response is triggered upon every encounter with a balloon or hears similar noises to it
• phobia has generalised to situations such as weddings/parties and similar noises to popping/banging
• phobia is maintained through operant conditioning - the relief in avoidance

Question 25

Explain how the therapist might use systematic de-sensitisation to help Hamish to overcome his phobia of heights (6)

Answer 25

• relaxation techniques
• creating fear hierarchy
• gradual exposure ensuring to stay relaxed

Question 26

Discuss the behavioural approach to explaining phobias (16)

Answer 26

• AO1 = 6 marks and AO3 = 10 marks
• behaviour is acquired through two process model and social learning
• based on environment
• explain psychological abnormality rather than on behaviour in general
• AO3 is discussion about strengths/ limitations e.g led to successful therapies such as SD or ignores biology
• use studies e.g little albert study