psychopathology Flashcards
definitions of abnormality
1.statistical infrequency
2.deviation from social norms
3.deviation from ideal mental health
4.failure to function adequately
statistical infrequency
behaviour which deviates significantly from average, calculated by normal distribution
usually two standard deviations away.
example of statistical infrequency
interllectual disability disorder
-average IQ of normal is 100
-standard deviation between 85 and 115
-IDD have below 70, less than 2%
strength of statistical infrequency
P= Has real world application
E= Helps clinitians diagnose disorders, such as interllectual disability as any IQ below 70 can be diagnosed, ensuring support and consistency
phobia
type of anxiety disorder, characterised by excessive fear, anxiety when faced with a certain object, place, situation.
DSM characteristics of phobia
- specific phobia
- social phobia
- agoraphobia
specific phobia
phobia of object, such as animal or body part or situation
e.g flying
social phobia
phobia of a social situation such as public speaking or using public toilet
agoraphobia
phobia of open public spaces.
symptoms of phobias
- behavioural (act)
- emotional (feel)
- cognitive (think)
behvaioural symptoms
panic, avoidance, endurance (freeze)
emotional symptoms
anxiety, fear, unreasonable
cognitive
selective attention, irrational beliefs, cognitive distortion
two process model
Mowrer
phobias are aquired through classical conditioning, maintained through operant
strength of two process model
P= Real world application
E= Can be used in exposure therapy, as model suggests maintained by avoidance, so should be exposed
T= Identifies treating phobias
Weakness of two process model
P= Doesnt take into account cognitive aspect
E= Large cognitive element of phobias e.g irrational beliefs about stimulus
T= Doesnt explian all symptoms as doesnt explain phobic cognitions
Strength of two process model
P= Research support between experiences and fears.
E= Little Albert study, formed phobia and conditioning
T= Supports association between stimulus and responce to development of phobias
