psychopathology

Question 1

define abnormality

Answer 1

behaving in ways the majority does not.

Question 2

what are four limitations of abnormality

Answer 2

1) it fails to take into account the social desirability of minority behaviours.
2) there are some behaviours which are statistically frequent, but are either socially undesirable and/or classed as mental disorders.
3) the cut-off point for deciding abnormal behaviour is subjective.
4) the statistical infrequency of a behaviour can differ between cultures, so this definition is bound by culture.

Question 3

how would you define abnormality as a deviation from mental health?

Answer 3

abnormality is possessing characteristics the mantally healthy person should not.

Question 4

define ‘ideal mental health’. who came up with this?

Answer 4

Jahoda
being able to...
1)make your own choices
2)resist stress
3)perceive reality accurately
4)self-actualise
5)adapt to the environment

Question 5

give some limitations with Jahoda’s definition

Answer 5

1) most people cannot meet all criteria
2) bound by culture
3) claims about ideal mental health are value judgements

Question 6

define abnormality as a deviation from social norms

Answer 6

doing things that society says should not be done

Question 7

give three key limitations of the social norms’ definition

Answer 7

1) some behaviours which deviate from social norms are actually statistically frequent (littering)
2) different cultures have different social norms = culturally bound
3) the definition is era dependent

Question 8

define abnormality as a failure to function adequately

Answer 8

abnormality is defined as failing to achieve some sense of personal well-being and failing to make some contribution to a larger group

Question 9

what are four ways to fail to function adequately

Answer 9

1) their behaviour causes personal distress/discomfort (hearing voices)
2) their behaviour causes other people distress
3) if their behaviour is maladaptive to themselves or society (not going to work)
4) if their behaviour is considered bizarre (cross-dressing)

Question 10

what are five limitations of failing to function adequately

Answer 10

1) there are some states that cause us personal distress which is an appropriate response
2) some behaviours classified as mental disorders do not cause personal distress.
3) it’s impossible to measure ‘personal distress’ in an objective way
4) failing to function adequately depends on context (crossdressing isn’t abnormal in a drag queen show)
5) culturally bound

Question 11

what is a phobia

Answer 11

irrational fear of a particular object/situation, often to the point that it interferes with daily life.

Question 12

give an example of a specific phobia

Answer 12

aminal type phobia (arachnophobia)

Question 13

give an example of a complex phobia

Answer 13

agoraphobia / social phobias

Question 14

what are the behavioural characteristics of a phobia

Answer 14

e.g. avoiding, panic, endurance

Question 15

what are the emotional characteristics of a phobia

Answer 15

e.g. fear, anxiety

Question 16

what are the cognitive characteristics of a phobia

Answer 16

e.g. difficulty in concentrating, cognitive distortions, irrational beliefs

Question 17

which study does the behavioural approach for phobias derive from?

Answer 17

Watson and Reyner 1920 “Little Albert”
Albert (11months) was conditioned to be afraid of fluffy animals and objects (specifically a rat but generalised) as a loud sound (fear) was made every time the rat was given to him

Question 18

what is the two-process model for phobias

Answer 18

acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.

Question 19

what are the two behaviour therapies for treating phobias

Answer 19

Systematic desensitisation and Flooding

Question 20

what is flooding

Answer 20

exposing the patient to the phobias to an extreme level (fear of heights = put them in a tall tower and leave them until they calm down)

Question 21

what is systematic desensitisation

Answer 21

exposing the patient to their phobia slowly by creating a fear hierarchy and going through it with relaxation therapy. For example, fear of spiders = showing them a picture, showing them a spider from far away, letting them go closer to it, holding it…etc.

Question 22

pros of flooding

Answer 22

1)

2)

Question 23

cons of flooding

Answer 23

1) if cut short it can lead to further damage/fear