Psychopathology Flashcards
Statistical Deviation
Definition of Abnormality
‘norms’ = any relatively usual behaviour
any differing behaviour can be thought of as ‘abnormal’
e.g. only small amount of people have a fear of buttons
some abnormal behaviour = desirable
some not
Deviation form social norms
Definition of Abnormality
social norms are created by a group of people
in any society there are standards of acceptable behaviour that are set by a group
if someone behaves differently they ‘deviate’ from the social norm
they can change - e.g. same sex marriage
Cultural Relativism
deviation form social norms it bound to be relative to those around you
behaviours acceptable in some cultures may be unacceptable in others
culture defines social norms
e.g. hearing voices = symptoms of schizophrenia
but considered common experience in some cultures
Failure to function adequately
Defining abnormality
not being able to cope with everyday living
not functioning adequately causes distress and suffering for the individual and may cause distress for others
Failure to function adequately - WHODAS
DSM includes an assessment of ability to function = WHODAS 6 areas 1) understanding and communicating 2) getting around 3) self care 4) getting along with people 5) life activities 6) participation in society individuals rate each item 1-5
Deviation from Ideal mental health
seen as deviating from an ideal positive mental health
ideal mental health = positive attitude towards self, resistance to stress and an accurate perception of reality
Ijahonda - we define physical illness by look at absences say we should do the same for mental health
Jahonda
PRAISE
P - personal growth (self actualisation)
R - Reality perception (know what’s real)
A - Autonomy (independent)
I - Integration (should ‘fit in’ with society)
S - Self- attitudes (positive, high self esteem)
E - Environmental mastery (coping in environment)
Absence of these criteria indicates abnormality and potential mental disorder
DSM-5
international classification system for disorders
used in Europe
categorises different disorders on the basis of signs and symptoms
ICD-10
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
international l use - America
categorises different disorders on the basis of signs and symptoms
accounts for social and environmental problems that influence disorders
Phobia
an anxiety disorder involving a persistent fear of an object, place or situation
person tries to avoid the object of fear at great lengths
the irrational fears and reactions must result in interference with social and work life to meet DSM-5 criteria
Emotional Explanation of Phobias
unpleasant state or high arousal - feelings of anxiety or panic
prevents sufferer from relaxing
fear is immediate and extremely unpleasant, gets beyond what is reasonable
Behavioural Explanation of Phobias
panic - crying, screaming, running away or freezing (fight/flight)
avoidance - effort to stay away
endurance - in unavoidable stations continuous and extreme anxiety
Cognitive Explanation of Phobias
irrational thought processes
person knows fear is excessive
thinking insist rational argument about phobia
Behavioural approach to explaining phobias
Classical condition - associate something we initially don’t fear with something that already triggers a fear response
Operant Conditioning - takes place when behaviour is reinforced or punished
- increases frequency of behaviour
- when we avoid phobic stimulus we successfully escape the fear and anxiety = rewarding and reinforces the avoidant behaviour
Little Albert
Watson and Raymer
Little Albert - Aim
Wanted to demonstrate that emotional responses could be learned through classical conditioning
Little Albert - procedure
11 month old baby boy
beginning showed no fear response to white furry objects (NS)
created a conditioned response to the NS object
used a steal bar when Little A reached out for the white object, they struck it with a hammer to startle him
repeated 3 times and same 1 week later
Little Albert - results and conclusion
when presented Little A with the white object he began to cry
they had conditioned a fear response to white objects
shows emotional responses can be learnt through classical conditioning
Diathesis- stress model
Proposes we inherit genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders
Systematic Desensitisation
basis of theory = to counter conditioning
patient is taught a new association to override original one
uses classical conditioning principles
hierarchy
1) Anxiety hierarchy - therapist ask to list situations from most to least fearful
2) relaxation - asked to visualise least feared situ
3) exposure - one comfortable with 2) asked to imagine the next situ in hierarchy
4) series of sessions clients will cope with every level
5) alternative to visualising - use real life examples
Flooding
exposure to phobic stimulus without gradual build up
patient taught how to relax then immediate exposure
learns stimulus is harmless
can be done in a single session
Depression
DSM- 5 - criteria for Major depressive disorder (MMD)
depressed mood/loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
mood represents a change from the person’s baseline
Symptoms of depression
1) depressed/ irritable mood
2) decreased interest/ pleasure In most activates
3) sig weight change (5%) or change in appetite
4) change in sleep: insomnia or hypersomnia
5) change in activity
6) fatigue or loss of energy
7) guilt/worthlessness
8) concentration: diminished ability to think or concentrate
9) suicidality
Emotional characteristics of depression
sadness - lowered mood
loss of interest/pleasure in things they used to enjoy
anger may lead to self-harming
low self-esteem
