Psychopathology Flashcards
What is psychopathology?
The scientific study of mental disorders such as depression or OCD.
How does the “Deviation From Social Norms” definition classify abnormal behavior?
Abnormal behaviour is that which goes against the social norms in a given society or culture. All societies make collective judgements about what counts as normal behaviour. Any behaviour that does not conform is abnormal.
An example is do not stand too close to a person you have just met. Social norms vary from culture to culture.
What is are the weakness of the “Deviation From Social Norms” definition?
In some instances it can be beneficial to break social norms.
The social norms of a society change over time.
Deviation from social norms does not always have mental health consequences. Those who do not conform to social norms may very well not be abnormal but merely eccentric.
How does the “Failure to Function Adequately” definition describe abnormality?
Under this definition, abnormal behaviour is that which causes an inability to cope with everyday life. A person’s behaviour may mean they cannot hold down a job, maintain a relationship, keep up with personal hygiene etc. Rosenhan and Seligman suggest personal dysfunction has seven features.
What are the features of personal dysfunction suggested by Rosenhan and Seligman?
Personal Distress: Feeling sad, anxious, worried or scared.
Maladaptive Behaviour: Behaviour stopping individuals from attaining life goals, socially & occupationally.
Unpredictability: Displaying unexpected behaviours characterised by the loss of control.
What is are the weakness of the “Failure to Function Adequately” definition?
There are times in a person’s life when it is normal and psychologically healthy to suffer from personal distress. It would be abnormal not to feel distress under these circumstances.
Behaviour may cause distress to other people and be regarded as dysfunctional when the person themselves feels no personal distress.
How does the “Deviation From Ideal Mental Health” definition classify abnormality?
Under this definition, behaviour is abnormal if it fails to meet prescribed criteria for psychological normality. Jahoda devised the concept of ideal mental health. She identified six characteristics that individuals should exhibit in order to be classed as ‘normal’. An absence of these characteristics indicates that an individual is abnormal. The more criteria individuals fail to meet the more abnormal they are.
Including;
Positive Attitude Towards Oneself - Having a positive view of self including self-respect, high self-esteem, confidence and a positive self concept.
Self-Actualisation – Experience personal growth and development to reach one’s full potential and feel fulfilled.
What is are the weakness of the “Deviation From Ideal Mental Health” definition?
This criteria is very demanding and unrealistic. At any given moment most people do not meet all the ideals. For example, few people experience self-actualisation at all times in their life.
Many of the criteria, such as self-actualisation are vague and difficult to measure and are therefore subjective. How can we tell that someone has reached their full potential?
What is the “Statistical Infrequency” definition of abnormality?
Behavior is abnormal if it is rare, based on statistical distribution (e.g., very high or very low IQ).
What is a weakness of the “Statistical Infrequency” definition?
Some common disorders, like depression, would not be classified as abnormal under this definition.
What are the three categories of phobia characteristics?
Behavioral, emotional, and cognitive characteristics.
What is an example of a behavioral characteristic of phobias?
Avoidance—people actively avoid situations where they may encounter their phobic object.
What is an example of an emotional characteristic of phobias?
Fear—intense feelings of terror when encountering the phobic object.
What is an example of a cognitive characteristic of phobias?
Irrational beliefs—unrealistic and illogical thoughts about the phobic stimulus.
What is the two-process model of phobia development?
Phobias are initiated through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
How was the “Little Albert” experiment used to demonstrate classical conditioning in phobias?
A baby was conditioned to fear a white rat by pairing it with a loud noise.
What is an example of operant conditioning in phobias?
Avoidance of a feared stimulus is negatively reinforced because it reduces anxiety.
What are the stages of systematic desensitization (SD)?
Anxiety hierarchy, relaxation training, and gradual exposure.
Why is systematic desensitization effective?
It uses reciprocal inhibition, where relaxation counteracts fear.
What is a weakness of systematic desensitization?
It may not be suitable for complex phobias, like social phobia, where a clear hierarchy is difficult to establish.
What is flooding as a treatment for phobias?
Immediate exposure to a feared object until anxiety levels drop.
What is a strength of flooding?
It is cost-effective and often successful in treating phobias quickly
What is a weakness of flooding?
It can be highly traumatic and has low completion rates.
What are the three categories of depression characteristics?
Behavioral, emotional, and cognitive characteristics.
What are some behavioral characteristics of depression?
Change in activity levels, disruption to sleep and eating, neglect of hygiene.
What are some emotional characteristics of depression?
Low mood, feelings of worthlessness, and anger.
What are some cognitive characteristics of depression?
Negative schema, poor concentration, and irrational beliefs.
What is Beck’s Negative Triad?
A cycle of negative thoughts about the self, the world, and the future.
What is the ABC Model of depression?
Activating event → Beliefs (rational or irrational) → Consequences (emotional response).
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
A therapy that aims to change irrational thoughts and replace them with rational thinking.
What is thought-catching in CBT?
Identifying irrational thoughts and challenging them with evidence.
What is Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT)?
A therapy developed by Ellis that challenges irrational beliefs through logical and empirical arguments.
What is a weakness of CBT?
It requires motivation, which some severely depressed patients lack.
What are the three categories of OCD characteristics?
Behavioral, emotional, and cognitive characteristics.
What are examples of behavioral characteristics of OCD?
Avoidance and repetitive compulsive behaviors.
What are examples of emotional characteristics of OCD?
High anxiety and feelings of disgust or self-loathing.
What are examples of cognitive characteristics of OCD?
Obsessions, irrational beliefs, and awareness that thoughts are irrational.
What are genetic explanations of OCD?
OCD is inherited, linked to genes such as the COMT gene (high dopamine) and the SERT gene (low serotonin).
What are neural explanations of OCD?
High dopamine and low serotonin levels are linked to OCD symptoms.
What evidence supports the genetic explanation of OCD?
Nestadt et al. found higher concordance rates in monozygotic twins (68%) compared to dizygotic twins (32%).
What is the biological approach to treating OCD?
Drug therapy to correct neurotransmitter imbalances.
How do SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) work?
They prevent serotonin reabsorption, increasing its availability in the brain.
What is a strength of SSRIs?
They are effective for about 70% of patients.
What is a weakness of SSRIs?
They can cause side effects such as blurred vision and loss of sex drive.
How do benzodiazepines (BZ) work for OCD?
They increase GABA activity, reducing brain excitability and anxiety.
What is a weakness of benzodiazepines?
Long-term use can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
What is are the strengths of the “Failure to Function Adequately” definition?
This definition of abnormality recognises the patient’s perspective (e.g. personal distress).
