Psychopathology

Question 1

psychopathology

Answer 1

study of psychological disorder

Question 2

what do abnormal behaviours do?

Answer 2

they violate society’s ideas of what’s an appropriate level of functioning

Question 3

Statistical infrequency

Answer 3

abnormality’s defined as behaviours that are very rare

normality’s defined as typical values

Question 4

deviation from social norms

Answer 4

Concerns behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society- can be laws or unwritten norms

Question 5

failure to function adequately

Answer 5

Occurs when someone is unable to cope with day-to-day living

Question 6

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 6

Occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health

Question 7

JAHODA- deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 7

we define physical illnesses by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, so we should do the same fro mental illnesses. 
her criteria for good mental health:
-self attitudes, high self esteem
-personal growth and self-actualisation 
-Integration, coping with stressful situations
-autonomy, being independant
-an accurate perception of reality
-mastery of the environment.

Question 8

statistical infrequency evaluation

Answer 8

• abnormalities can be desirable (very high IQ) and some normal behaviours are undesirable (depression) Using it to define abnormality means we cant distinguish between desirable & undesirable behaviours
• subjective cut off point of normality from abnormality
• cultural relativism- some behaviours are statistically infrequent in 1 culture but frequent in another. There’s no universal standards for labelling behaviour as abnormal.

Question 9

deviation from social norms evaluation

Answer 9

• susceptible to abuse- what’s socially accepted now may not be accepted 50 years ago. If we define abnormality through this, there’s a danger of creating definitions based on prevailing social morals and attitudes.
• deviance is related to context and degree- behaviours must be judged based on its context
• Is a practical and useful way of identifying desirable and undesirable behaviours.
• cultural relativism- social norms are defined by culture

Question 10

failure to function adequately evaluation

Answer 10

• is subjective
• some dysfunctional behaviours can be adaptive and functional for the individual- so the failure to distinguish between functional and dysfunctional behaviour mean the definition’s incomplete.
• has sensitivity and practicality- it recognises the subjective experience of the patient as it allows us to view the mental disorder from the person experiencing it.
• cultural relativism

Question 11

deviation from ideal mental health evaluation

Answer 11

• unrealistic and difficult to measure criteria
• equates mental and physical health- not many mental issues have physical causes or symptoms
• a positive approach- alternative perspective on mental disorders, shows what’s desirable instead of what’s undesirable
• Jahoda’s criteria’s culture bound (e.g. self-actualisation)

Question 12

phobia

Answer 12

excessive fear and anxiety triggered y an object/place/situation

it’s irrational and the fear’s out of proportion

Question 13

specific phobia

Answer 13

phobia of an object or a situation

animal/ flying

Question 14

social phobia

Answer 14

phobia of social situations

public speaking/ public toilets

Question 15

agoraphobia

Answer 15

phobia of being outside/ in a public space

Question 16

emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 16

persistent, excessive and unreasonable fear, anxiety and panic that are caused by the presence of the object/situation

Question 17

behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 17

avoidance, freezing or fainting

Question 18

cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 18

irrational nature of persons thinking and resistance to rational arguments. the person recognises the fear’s unreasonable

Question 19

depression

Answer 19

mood disorder- low moods and energy levels

Question 20

emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 20

-sadness- low self-esteem etc
-loss of interest and pleasure in usual hobbies
-anger
the diagnosis of ‘major depressive disorder’ requires the presence of at least 5 symptoms that must include the 3 above

Question 21

behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 21

• reduced/ increased activity level
• affected sleep
• affected appetite

Question 22

cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 22

• irrational negative thoughts and self beliefs
• guilt
• sense of worthlessness
• negative view of the world which can then be self-fulfilling

Question 23

ocd

Answer 23

anxiety disorder that usually begins in young adult life

it has 2 main components: obsessions and compulsions

Question 24

obsessions

Answer 24

persistent intrusive thoughts/ impulses that are perceived as inappropriate/ forbidden

Question 25

compulsions

Answer 25

repetitive behaviours

Question 26

emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 26

anxiety and distress- sourced by obsessions and compulsions embarrassed and shame- sufferers are aware their behaviours are excessive disgusted- common obsession is germs so they feel disgusted

Question 27

cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 27

at some point the person recognises the obsessions/ complies are excessive and unreasonable

Question 28

behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 28

compulsive behaviours are performed to reduce the anxiety created by obsessions. the behaviours are receptive and concealed and they can also be mental acts (hand washing/ counting)

Question 29

behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 29

explains key behavioural aspects of phobias (avoidance, endurance and panic) rather than. the emotional/ cognitive aspects of phobias

Question 30

behavioural approach to explaining phobias- two process model

Answer 30

Hobart Mowrer- created a theory that explains 2 processes that leads to the development of a phobia- they're acquired by classical conditioning, and maintained by operant conditioning

Question 31

two process model- acquisition by classical conditioning

Answer 31

learning to associate something we dont initially fear (NS) with something that already triggers a fear response (UCS)

Question 32

Little Albert- classical conditioning

Answer 32

Watson and Rayner wanted to demonstrate that emotional responses could be learned through classical conditioning.

Question 33

two process model- maintenance by operant conditioning

Answer 33

responses learnt by classical conditioning decline over time, but phobias are usually long lasting. operant conditioning- the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated is increased if the outcome is reinforced. For phobias, the avoidance of the phobic stimulus reduces fear and is thus reinforcing. (is an example of negative reinforcement)