Psychopathology Flashcards
What is meant by an explicit social norm?
An explicit social norm is a written rule/law
What is meant by an impicit social norm?
An implicit social norm is not a written rule, but one that we tend to follow such as eating dinner with cutlery.
Give a strength using PEE on the deviation from social norms definitions. (Implicit and explicit)
Strength
P: the definition has practical applications
E: it can be used to identify people who need psychiatric help. For example, the behaviour of someone who hears voices differs from the norm, so they would be likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic, and to recieve treatment.
E: this suggests these definitions can be used to help improve the quality of peoples lifes.
Give a limitation using PEE on the deviation from social norms definitions. (Implicit and explicit)
Limitation
P: social norms change between cultures and over time. Consequently, so do peoples conceptions of abnormality.
E: homosexuality was regarded as a mental illness until 1973, but not any more. Cross - cultured misunderstandings are common, and may contribute to e.g. High diagnosis rate of schizophrenia amongst non - white British people.
E: therefore this definition is limited as it cannot lead to a universal definition of abnormality applicable to all cultures.
Describe an individual who is failing to function adequately
An individual who is failing to function adequately and unable to continue with their normal everyday activities, such as going to work, washing or taking part in social activities, would be considered abnormal using is definition.
Explain how someone with agoraphobia may fail to function adequately
A fear of open spaces and being outside
Explain how someone with depression may fail to function adequately
May loose focus in activities and so not socialise and have limited social skills.
Who proposed the features of someone failing to function adequately?
Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)
What features did Rosenhan and Seligman propose for someone failing to function adequately?
UMPIO
Observer discomfort Unpredictability Irrationality Maladaptiveness Personal suffering and distress
What is a strength of the theory of someone who is failing to function adequately?
P: It has practical applications
E: it can be used to identify people who need psychiatric help
E: this definition can be used to help improve the quality of some people’s lives.
What is a weakness of the theory of someone who I see failing to function adequately?
P: the definition is culturally specific.
E: for example, black people are more likely to be diagnosed as having a disorder such as schizophrenia than whites because their lifestyles are less “traditional”
E: this suggests that this definition is limited because it cannot lead to a universal definition of abnormality, applicable to all cultures.
Describe what statistical infrequency is
Statistical infrequency defines abnormality as behaviour that deviates from the average, so the less the less often the behaviour occurs the more likely it is to be abnormal. Therfore majority of people are normal and a minority are abnormal
Describe standard deviation
A measure of dispersion which shows how far spread out the data is from the mean.
Strength of statistical infrequency definition
It gives a quantities measure which is objective. There is a clear cut off point as to what is and is not abnormal.
Limitation of statistical infrequency definition
Not every rare characteristic is negative for example, an IQ of over 130 is just as rare as one under 70 but therfore this is a serious limitation.
Who proposed the deviation of ideal mental health?
Jahoda
Describe deviation from ideal mental health
According to this definition we are abnormal if we do not meet the criteria for ideal mental health, thus any deviation from what is considered normal is classed as abnormal.
What are the six characteristics of ideal mental health?
ARE PSA Positive attitude towards oneself Self-actualisation Autonomy Resisting stress Accurate perception of reality Environmental mastery
What is a strength of deviation from ideal mental health?
It’s a more positive approach to abnormality than other deviations are. This is because it focuses on positive things rather than the negatives of behaviour in terms of looking at what behaviour is ideal rather than what behaviour is abnormal.
What is a weakness of deviation from ideal mental health?
The definition is culturally specific. What is ideal in one culture may not be in another.
What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?
Panic
Avoidance
Endurance
What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?
Emotional responses
Anxiety
What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?
Cognitive distortion
Irrational beliefs
Selective attention for phobic stimulus
What is the behaviour approach to explaining phobias?
All of our behaviour, including phobias is learnt. The two process model suggests that phobias are learnt through classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning is learning to associate something that we initially have no fear of (neutral stimulus) with something that already naturally leads to a fear response (unconditioned stimulus)
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning explains how phobias can be maintained once they have been learnt via classical conditioning. As classical conditioning does not explain how the phobia is maintained after initiation.
Before conditioning
Nerve being hit (UCS) = pain (UCR)
Drill (NS) = no response
During conditioning
Nerve being hit (UCS) = pain (UCR)
Drill (NS) = no response
After conditioning
Drill (CS) = pain (CR)
Example of operant conditioning
E.g. Fear of dentist
Having already developed a fear of the drill at the dentist, an individual will then avoid this by no longer going to the dentist. This is reinforcing as by avoiding the dentist the individual will then avoid this by no longer going to the dentist. This is reinforced as by avoiding the dentist the individual is not experiencing the fear of the dentist. The individual will continue to carry out this behaviour as long as it removes the fear.
A strength of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias
There is research evidence to support initiation via classical conditioning. Watson and Rayner demonstrate that a phobia can be taught through a classical condition such as the bang associated with the animal (rat)
A limitation of the behavioural approach to explaining phobias
It ignores the role that evolution plays in phobias.
What is meant by systematic desensitisation (SD)?
SD is based on the idea that phobias are learnt via classical conditioning, therefore as they can also be ‘unlearnt’.
What is counter conditioning?
The process of Systematic desensitisation is that over a period of time the conditioned fear response to the continued stimulus changes to a learnt response of relaxation. This is called counter conditioning because it’s impossible to feel fear and relaxation at the same time.
What is reciprocal inhibition?
A suggestion that relaxation prevents fear.
Systematic desensitisation occurs in what 3 stages?
Anxiety hierarchy
Relaxation
Exposure
Explain anxiety hierarchy
This is a range of scenarios involving the phobic stimulus starting at least fearful up to the most feared situation.
Explain exposure
This can either be in vivo ( actually being put in the situation) or in vitro (which is imaging the scenario). Avoidance is prevented.
Before desensitisation
Phobic stimulus (CS) = fear Relaxation techniques (UCS) = leads to relaxation (UCR)
During desensitisation
Relaxation (UCS) = relaxation
+ +
Phobic stimuli (CS) = fear
After desensitisation
Phobic stimulus (CS) = relaxation (CR)
