Psychopathology-AO1 (AS Paper 2) Flashcards
What are the 3 characteristics of a disorder
Behavioural
Emotional
Cognitive
What are the behavioural characteristics of a phobia
Panic= shaking, sweating, fast breathing
Avoidance= going too extreme lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus
Endurance= facing your phobia
What are the emotional characteristics of phobias
Anxiety= prevents the person from relaxing (before the phobia stimulus)
Fear= immediate and extremely unpleasant (during the phobic stimulus)
Unreasonable emotional response= significant anxiety and fear
What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias
Selective attention= only focusing on the phobic stimulus and can become very distracting
Irrational beliefs= thinking extreme thoughts that aren’t true about the phobic stimulus
Cognitive disorders= distorted perceptions that are unrealistic or inaccurate
What’s the explanation for phobias
The two-process model
Mowrer suggested that they are learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
Though classical conditioning we have an unpleasant/scary experience with an object or situation and we then associate that object with fear. The little Albert study (classical conditioning) involving, a white rat, loud noice and fear. Then he suggested that a response that is aquifer mt classical conditioning will generally be distinguished, unless it’s maintained by operant conditioning. We avoid the phobic stimulus to escape anxiety, which is an avoidance behaviour meaning the phobia is maintained. Negative reinforcement- avoidance of stimulus.
What’s are the 2 treatments for phobias
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
What is systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias
Counterconditioning occurs and this refers to a new response to the phobic stimulus is made. The first step is the anxiety hierarchy. The therapist and client work together to create this, going from something the client will find the least scary and work their way up to the top (her phobia) and conquer what she finds the most scary. The second step is relaxation techniques, this is things such as deep breathing exercises, or muscle relaxation exercises. The client is not allowed to go to the next level on the hierarchy until they are fully relaxed. The third step is exposure, and this is client working all the way to the top of the hierarchy and and being exposed to their phobia while remaining calm.
What is flooding as a treatment for phobias
Flooding is a quicker a cheaper way of facing a fear. This is when clients are ‘thrown in at the deep end’ and exposing them to their fear without the gradual buildup or any relaxation techniques
Behavioural characteristics for depression
Activity levels= some people become more lethargic while others might get excessive amounts of energy known as psych monitor agitation
Disruption to sleeping or eating levels= this is when sleeping and eating levels may increase or decrease compared to normal.
Aggression and self harm= this is when people being very irritable, they can become aggressive (psychically or verbally)towards themselves or even others
What are the 2 explanations for depression
Becks triad model
Ellis’s ABC model
What is becks triad model as an explanation for depression
His theory suggested that some people are more vulnerable to depression because they are cognitive vulnerability, there are 3 parts to this.
1. Faulty information processing - this suggests that the input (encoding of sensory information), then the process (information manipulation). Then the output of low self-esteem. And these faulty thought processes are self-defeating.
2. Negative schemas - this is when individuals who are prone to depression, develop a negative self-schema. This is a negative packet of long term information and mental short cuts for how we respond to situations. These are developed through past negative experiences. 3. The negative triad- this is an on going cycle you can’t break out of
What is Ellis’s ABC model as an explanation for depression
A- activating event= triggers the irrational thoughts
B- beliefs= thinking things which are not true or not going to happen
C- consequences= all this results into depression
What are the 2 treatments for depression
Ellis’s REBT explanation
Becks cognitive theory
What is Ellis’s REBT explaination
the abc model is expanded, and the letters D (disputing) and E (effect). Disputing is heavily focused on, there are 3 types. Logical disputing- making sense of the thoughts.
Empirical disputing- where’s the evidence for these thoughts
Paramantic disputing- this is how it’s useful.
This is overall the process of changing and getting rid of all these irrational, unhealthy beliefs and changing them with healthy ones. However this explanation can cause ‘vigorous arguments’ between therapist and client, therefore the therapist needs to keep reminding them their worth.
What is Becks cognitive theory (CBT)
This is spilt into 3 parts.
1. Dysfunctional thoughts dairy- clients keep a record of events leading to unpleasant emotions
2. Cognitive reconstructing- once the negative thoughts are notified the therapist and client will work to change them
3. Pleasant activity scheduling- this is making sure you plan to involve yourself in at least one pleasant activity a day, and try tp deflect negative thinking patterns.
