Psychopathology Flashcards
A01 for statistical infrequency
Numerical definition makes it objective
Looks at behaviour in terms of a normal distribution curve
If we know most common behaviour then we also know when behaviour is unusual
Unusual behaviours are far away from peak of normal distribution curve
Defines behaviour in terms of typical values such as mean median n mode
A03 for statistical infrequency limitations
Not all infrequent behaviours are undesirable and not all frequent behaviours are desirable with high IQ and depression
Subjective cut off on normal distribution curve eg lack of sleep constituting as depression as some people are able to function well with fewer hours sleep than others or the majority.
A03 statistical infrequency support
When used in conjunction with failure to function or other definitions of abnormality it makes defining abnormality more reliable to be correct and thus help people
Objective measure due to being numerical statistical definition using empirical data
A03 statistical infrequency cultural relativism
Statistically frequent behaviours in one culture may be statistically infrequent in others
Hearing voices of loved ones who are dead may be considered desirable in some cultures but in western societies considered undesirable and a likely indication of schizophrenia
A01 deviation from social norms
Socially based definition - based on social norms which refers to the expected/unusual behaviour in a culture or society
Are explicit and implicit rules that a society has about socially acceptable behaviours values and beliefs
Deviance from social norms are undesirable often leads to rejection being considered abnormal
A03 support for deviation from social norms
Focus on social norms which helps society function and considers the impact of behaviour of others thus protecting society
A03 limitations of deviation from social norms
Based on politics and morality at a given time
Behaviour can be adaptive while seen as socially abnormal such as cross dressing helping men express themselves
Role of context - different ways of acting in different situations alongside extremity of behaviour eg shouting in the street vs a football match
Changes in societal norms overtime for example homosexuality used to be listed in the DSM as a mental disorder
A03 cultural relativism for deviation from social norms
Social norms can vary from one culture to another
What is considered socially acceptable in one culture may not be to another eg ideas on personal space can vary between cultures
Danger of being ethnocentric (assumption that own culture is the norm) so any deviations from this indicates abnormality
DSM makes reference to different cultural behaviours in terms of panic attacks as some cultures count crying as a symptom of a panic attack rather than just breathing rate
A01 failure to function adequately
About every day activities
People with psychological disorders often experience considerable suffering and distress leading/meaning to/of a general inability to cope with every day activities eg may be unable to go to work or lose the motivation to care for themselves
Distress may also be to others as individuals may not be aware of how much they are suffering or causing distress eg hallucinations with schizophrenics
A01 failure to function adequately WHODAS scale
Includes ratings on
Understanding n communicating
Ability to do life activities n participate in society
Getting along with others and being able to get around
A03 failure to function adequately limitations and strength
Strength can be measured objectively by using WHODAS scale
Limitations
Behaviour may be adaptive eg eating disorder reinforced by attention meaning becomes adaptive n functional for the individual
Subjective judgement for those that don’t recognise disorder and only have those around them to persuade case
Cultural relativism
Behaviours common to one culture may be considered dysfunctional in another eg siestas
A01 deviation from ideal mental health
Positivist approach - looks at what is mentally healthy rather than mentally ill
6 criteria by jahoda who set up the notion of ideal mental health in defining abnormality
Anyone lacking the qualities of the criteria signifies them to have a tendency towards a mental disorder
Deviation from ideal mental health 6 criteria
- Positive attitude towards self
- Have personal growth and self actualise
- Resistance to stress
- Personal autonomy
- Accurate perception of reality
- Accepting and mastering environment
A03 deviation from ideal mental health strength and limitations
Strength positivist approach considers what it means to be healthy allowing people to work towards something in being able to cope with mental disorder
Limitations
Ideals are unrealistic and overly optimistic as by definition an ideal is hard to define so in this case most of us would be defined as having a mental disorder
Subjective assessment involved in jahodas criteria assessment eg how we assess personal growth
Cultural relativism
Criteria of self actualisation may apply to those in individualist culture like the west but not in a collectivist approach like japan with the meaning and significance of the definition differing
Describe the behavioural approach to explaining phobias in terms of the two process model A) classical conditioning
Involves learning through association
A neutral stimulus is becomes paired with an unconditioned stimulus
This association brings unconditioned response
Pairing the unconditioned stimulus with the neutral stimulus makes the neutral stimulus became a conditioned stimulus which leads to a conditioned response
Explaining a dog phobia NS = dog UCS = bite UCR = fear. Dog becomes associated with bite. Bite causes fear. Then so dog = fear
Describe the behavioural approach to explaining phobias in terms of the two process model B) operant conditioning
Maintenance of phobia
Reward = increased likelihood of behaviour being repeated
Avoidance of feared object = reward = negative reinforcement
Eg spiders being removed
Social learning behavioural approach to explaining phobias
Phobias can be acquired through observation of models (vicarious learning) spider phobia can be learned vicariously through observation of a parent who displays extreme fear of something which may be imitated by observer.
Evaluation of the behavioural explanation of phobias
Not everyone can relate their phobia to an experience so therefore different phobias could be the result of different processes brought about by either a specific incident or modelling with agoraphobics being specific incident types and arachnphobics developing phobia due to modelling
Diathesis stress model explains why not everyone develops a phobia from a negative experience saying we inherit genetic vulnerability for developing mental disorders. Disorder manifests when triggered by life event for those with a high genetic vulnerability using a biological explanation in place of behavioural
There is research evidence to support social learning as an explanation for phobia development from bandura and rosenthal where ps learned to aquire a fear response to sound of a buzzer by observing a role model.
A problem with the two process model as an explanation for the development of phobias is that cognitive factors get overlooked as irrational thinking plays a part and doesn’t give the opportunity for CBT which has been widely used (is generally very effective for social phobias eg public speaking)
Biological preparedness might explain why some phobias are more prevalent than others as an adaptive advantage. The association between life threatening stimuli n fear explains ancient fears such as snakes. (Biologically programmed to be predisposed towards) explaining why we are less likely to develop fears around every day objects. Evolutionary
Behavioural approach to treating phobias systematic desensitisation and flooding description.
Step 1 - learn relaxation techniques
Step 2 - construction of hierarchy of fear
Step 3 - move through hierarchy - at each stage achieve relaxation instead of fear
Step 4 - start w first stage of hierarchy practicing relaxation around stimuli of fear final stage of hierarchy reached with use of relaxation techniques
Step 5 - counter conditioning achieved
In SD gradually exposed to fear but flooding exposed to extreme form of threatening situation under relaxed conditions for extended period of time in a controlled environment in vivo. Sees fear as a time limited response the bodily arousal caused by hormones can only last so long.
Both create a new association between feared object or situation and prevent reinforcement of a phobia through avoidance behaviours.
Evaluation of systematic desensitisation
Effectiveness- research found 75% respond to SD is faster and require less effort than CBT quick to work
Appropriateness - not as effective for treating phobias that have an evolutionary survival component in comparison to fears as a result of personal experience as they are more difficult to counter condition because innate
Strength - can be self administered thus cheaper. Lack of thinking can be good for those who aren’t as insightful eg children.
Evaluate flooding as a treatment for phobias
Individual differences - high risk therapy can be highly traumatic some people may quit thus reducing effectiveness of therapy. Risk of increase in fear rather than reduction. People with weak hearts may not be able to cope.
Effectiveness - been around since 1950s and still used. Only successful if phobic is able to remain in fearful situation till calm and relaxed. Effectiveness also depends on length of exposure height phobics best to have prolonged exposure till levels fall back to normal. Cannot be used unless as a last resort however survey of therapists in 1980 showed very few neg side effects showing is appropriate and safe for most people.
Describe the cognitive explanation for depression
Fundamental belief - thought processes cause behaviour and irrational thought process result in irrational behaviour
Irrational thought processes - interpretation of the event more important than the event itself
Ellis’ ABC model - Activating event Belief about event Consequence of belief eg fail exam belief is I’m not clever the consequence of this belief is I won’t pass anything
Mustabatory thinking - a source of irrational beliefs based on idea that assumptions made must so have to be true and in order to achieve happiness musts need to be challenged, the way we interpret.
Negative schemas - acquired during childhood. Adopting a negative view of the world. Associated with the idea of expecting to fail. Is activated in new situations. Overgeneralising leads to cognitive distortion having cognitive bias about the world in a neg way.
Beck’s negative triad - neg view of self neg view of world neg view of future.
Evaluate cognitive explanation for depression
Research evidence for relationship between neg thoughts and depression (pos/neg) - Bates et al found that depressed ps who were given negative automatic thought statements became more n more depressed supporting relationship between negative thoughts and depression. However the fact that there is a link between neg thoughts and depression does not mean that neg thoughts cause depression for example it may be that a depressed individual develops a negative way of thinking because of their depression plus genetic predisposition can be involved in development of depression
Contrasting views of cognitive approach on blaming the client - in one sense a good thing bc gives client the power to change how things are however the disadvantages are that it may lead to the overlooking of situational factors eg not considering how life events or family problems may have contributed to the disorder. Sees disorder in clients mind and this being the thing to fix
CBT associated with explanation - usefulness in application in CBT which has been consistently found to be the best treatment for depression especially when used in conjunction with drug treatments. If use of CBT is successful also suggests that irrational thinking in being challenged has a role in the development of depression.
Irrational beliefs being realistic - some beliefs may simply seem irrational suggesting that depressive realists tend to see things for what they are finding in research that depressed people gave more accurate estimates of the likelihood of a disaster than control was named the sadder but wiser effect.
Alternative explanation- biological approach with research showing that low levels of serotonin are related to depression and the success of drug therapies further supports this. Diathesis stress individuals with genetic vulnerability for depression are more prone to effects of living in a negative environment thus leading to negative thinking
Describe the cognitive approach to treating depression
CBT Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Ellis’ DEF model - Disputing Effective attitude Feelings that are positive created
Disputing beliefs logical - asking whether thoughts logical given info available. empirical - asking whether there is actually any evidence for thought. pragmatic - asking whether thought useful to client.
Other characteristics of CBT
Homework - clients asked to carry out given behaviours between sessions as a way of testing their irrational thoughts eg asking someone to go out with them
Behavioural activation - taking part in an activity and dealing with perceived obstacles
Unconditional positive regard - given by therapist to client to help self esteem
