Psychopathology Flashcards
What is the deviation from social norms as an expalantion for abnormality?
💡define
💡Strength
💡Weakness
This refers to any behavior that deviates from the unwritten rules about what is acceptable in a society.
Strength: comprehensive- covers a broad range of criteria. It gives a social dimension to the idea of abnormality, which offers an alternative to the “sick in the head” individual
Weakness: social norms can vary from culture to culture. This definition is an example of culture relativism. It also varies over time because culture is not static
What is statistical infrequency as an explanation for abnormality?
💡define
💡strength
💡weakness
According to this definition, a behaviors is classified as abnormal if it is statistically infrequent or unusual.
Strength: objective- it is based on data
No value judgments are made i.e homosexuality seen as disorder earlier but now statistically infrequent
Weakness: fails to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behavior. I.e many gifted individual = abnormal
What is failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality?
💡define
💡strength
💡weakness
A behavior is referred to as abnormal if it prevent a person from carrying out the range of behaviors that a society would expect
Strength: this provides a practical checklist that matches suffered perception and therefore is objective
Weakness: cultural relativism- what may be regarded as functioning adequately in one Curley may be different in another
What is deviation from ideal mental health as a defintion of abnormality?
💡define
💡criteria: RASAS
💡strength
💡weakness
An individual os regarded as abnormal if their behaviors lack the six criteria’s necessary for ideal health as outlined by Jahoda. The criteria include
R: resistance to stress
A: Autonomy
S: self esteem
A: accurate perception of reality
S: self actualization
Strength:
Weakness: cultural relativism- these ideas are culture bound and are based on a western idea of idea mental health and should not be used to judge other cultures
What are the neural explanations of OCD?
💡regions of the brain
💡neurotransmitter on the brain
Regionals of the brain:
Pre-frontal cortex: this is involved in decision making and is said to be over- activated in individuals with OCD which explains obsessions and compulsions
Neurotransmitters in the brain:
An imbalance of serotonin and dopamine may cause OCD
Serotonin: regulating mood - individuals with OCD have low
Dopamine: concentration and rewards- OCD have high
What is the genetic explanation for OCD?
💡SERT
💡COMT
Gene: SERT gene
This gene is said ti be mutated in indivuals wiht OCD which lead to a high reuptake of serotonin and therefore a low level of serotonin is present in indivuals with OCD
COMT gene:
This is said to refutable the function of dopamine and is aloud mutated allowing a low level of reuptake of domaine and therfore high levels of dopamine is present in indivuals with OCD
What are the biological treatments of OCD?
There are two classes of drugs used to treat OCD
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs)
Both classes of drugs increase serotonin levels and therfore supports the neural explanation
What is the cognitive approach to depression?
Beck’s triad:
This involves three negative triads of thinking: about oneself, about the world and about the future. This thinking interacts with negative schemas and cognitive bias to produce depression
Ellis’ ABC model
Activating event
Beliefs
