Psychopathology Flashcards
ABNORMALITY 1
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
- is a definition of abnormality
- behaviour is seen as abnormal if statistically uncommon or not seen often in society.
STRENGTH
-there is no issue of subjectivity as behaviour is seen as abnormal on the basis of how uncommon it is- no room for personal or subjective judgments.
WEAKNESS
-abnormal characteristics can be desirable (high IQ) normal characteristics can be undesirable (obesity)
ABNORMALITY 2
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
-behaviour is seen as abnormal if it violates what is acceptable in a particular society.
STRENGTH
-takes into account the culture in which the behaviour occurs. what is seen abnormal in one culture may be normal in another.
WEAKNESS
-does not help to give a reliable definition that can be used across cultures.
ABNORMALITY 3
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
-person is viewed as abnormal if they are not able to cope with the demands of everyday life.
STRENGTH
-this can be measured by those closest to the person
WEAKNESS
-putting a label on someone or making them aware of something that cannot change is sometimes more damaging than not telling them at all.
ABNORMALITY 4
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
- abnormal behaviour should be defined by the absence of particular (ideal) characteristics
- Jahodas six principles of ideal mental health e.g a positive view of oneself and being resistant to stress
STRENGTH
-focuses on positive and desirable behaviour rather than just negative.
WEAKNESS
-many people who aren’t suffering from a mental illness would not be able to meet all of the criteria. lacks external validity- can’t generalise to collectivist cultures.
PHOBIAS
behavioural symptoms- avoidance
emotional symptoms- excessive and unreasonable fear and anxiety
cognitive symptoms- selective attention, irrational beliefs
DEPRESSION
behavioural symptoms- loss of energy
emotional symptoms- depressed mood, sadness
cognitive symptoms- focusing on negative aspects of situation, diminished ability to concentrate
DEPRESSION
COGNITIVE EXPLANATIONS
faulty thinking/ thought processes makes a person vulnerable to depression.
ellis and beck think that these as causes not symptoms of depression.
ELLIS’S ABC MODEL
based on three cognitive components:
SOMETHING HAPPENS (activating event)
YOU HAVE A BELIEF ABOUT THE EVENT THAT HAPPENED
YOU HAVE EMOTIONAL REACTION (consequence) TO THE BELEIF.
BECKS COGNITIVE TRAID
-help patients identify negative thoughts about themselves, their world and future.
COGNITIVE TREATMENTS FOR DEPRESSION
- CBT based on both cognitive and behavioural techniques
- identify negative thoughts
- patient and therapist agree on set of goals
ELLIS’S
RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY
techniques such as empirical argument and logical argument.
work together to challenge irrational thoughts by discussing evidence for and against them.
PHOBIAS
BEHAVIOURAL EXPLANATIONS
- classical conditioning- phobias can be acquired through associative learning.
- operant conditioning- phobias can be negatively reinforced. this is where a behaviour is strengthened as unpleasant consequence is removed.
PHOBIAS
BEHAVIOURAL TREATMENTS
- if a behaviour is learned (phobia) then it can also be unlearned.
- systematic desensitisation- gradually
- flooding- immediate
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
behavioural symptoms- compulsions
emotional symptoms- anxiety and distress
cognitive symptoms- obsessive thoughts
OCD
BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS
an individuals genes and/or brain functioning make them vulnerable to developing OCD
genetic explanations suggest OCD is inherited
neural explanations suggest levels of neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin and dopamine are implicated in OCD
