Psychopathology (AS) PAPER 1 Flashcards
Explain how statistical infrequency can be used to define abnormality
defining abnormality in terms of statistics e.g behaviour that is extremely rare and found in very few people.
e.g women dont typically have the first baby in there 40s
Explain how deviation from social norms can be used to define abnormality
Behaviour that is deviating from unstated rules created by society on how one should behave, anything that violates these rules is abnormal.
e.g homosexuality in the past
outline one limitation of defining abnormality in terms of deviation from social norms
cultural relativism
- someone from one culture group may name someone else from another culture group as abnormal based on their standards rather than the other persons standards.
- hearing voices is socially accceptable in some cultures but would be seen as a sign of abnomality in UK.
-problem for people in one culture living in another cultural group
Explain how failure to function adequatly can be used to define abnormality
People are judged in terms of being able to go about there daily life, if they cannot do so and are feeling distressed, or others are distressed by there behaviour, it is considereed as abnormality.
Explain how deviation from ideal mental health can be used to define abnormality
deviating from a set criteria
Jahodas following criteria for ideal mental health:
- Self attitudes
- personal growth
- integration
-Autonomy
-Accurate perception of reality
-mastery of the environment
outline 2 limitations of the ideal mental health defenition of abnormality
1) unrealistic criteria
- doesnt specify how many criteria need to be absent for there to be abnormality
- criteria can be difficult to measure.
- not really usable when identifying abnormality
2) cultural relativism
- some of jahodas classifications are specific to western ideals e.g emphasis on personal achievement. some cultures may focus on community rather than oneself
-limits the usefullness of this definition to certain cultural groups.
Outline the emotional, behavioural and cognitive characteristics of phobias
E - exposure to phobic stimulus causes fear, anxiety and panic
B - phobic stimulus is either avoided or to freeze
C - the person is consciously aware that they are experiencing anxiety due to the feared object, and they recognise the fear is excessive
Outline the emotional, behavioural and cognitive characteristics of depression
E - sadness, anger, worthlessness, loss of intrest and pleasure in normal activities
B - neglect of personal appearence, loss of appetite , lack of sleep
C - negative thoughts, low self esteem, lack of concentration
Outline the emotional, behavioural and cognitive characteristics of OCD
E - obsessive thoughts lead to anxiety and distress
B - compulsions are repetitive acts that are performed to neutralize these obsessions
C - persistent recurring thoughts images beliefs enterring the mind and connot be removed. At some point during the course of this disorder, they realise there compulsions/obsessions are excessive.
Outline the two process model as an explanation of the behavioural approach
Mower - phobia is learned through classical conditioning and maintained through opperent conditioning
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING:
e.g LITTLE ALBERT - how fear of rats can be conditioned (RAYNER AND WATSON)
- rat (NS) - no response
- loud noise (UCS) - fear response (UCR)
- (UCS)+(NS) - (UCR) —– associsation
- rat (CS) - fear response (CR)
- generalisation - Little Albert showed fear to object to other furry white objects
OPERANT CONDITIONING (maintenance)
- negative reinforcement = when behviour is repeated do to the outcome fo a reward
- in phobias, by avoiding something unpleasant, the reward is escaping axiety so behaviour is maintened and repeated
evaluate the two process model
(-) INCOMPLETE EXPLANATIONS
-a fearfull experience does not always result in a phobia
-we inherit genetic vulnerability but we do not always face it if it is not triggered, thus a dog bite will only lead to a phobia in those people with such vulnerability.
(-) IGNORES COGNITIVE FACTORS
- cognitive psycholigists say phobias occur due to irrational thinking not just learning
- explaines maintenence of phobias in terms of simply avoidance
- value of this is that it leads to CBT which may be more useful than behaviourist treatments.
(+) application to therapy
Outline how systematic desensitisation is used in the treatment of phobias
behavioural therapy that is similar to classical conditioning,it uses the fear responses and turns it into a relaxing response, also known as counter conditioning, and gradually causing the fear to become extinct
- due to reciprocal inihibition it is unable to be afraid and relaxed at the same time
- patient and therapist design an anxiety heirachy; fearful stimulis arranged from most to least fearful
- relaxation techniques (deep breathing/meditation)
- about 7 sessions, successful when person can stay relaxed in situations high on heirachy
Outline how flooding is used in the treatment of phobias
immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus, there is no gradual build up, and no option of avoidence, the individual quickly learn that the phobic object is harmless and the phobia becomes extinct
Outline Ellis’ ABC model as an explanation for deppression
the effect of irrational beliefs on emotions.
A - activating event (e.g get fired from work)
B - rational/irrational belief (e.g the company was overstaffed or the company have had it out for me)
C - consequence of emotion (acceptance / depression)
Mustabatory thinking = source of irrational beliefs
(thinking that certain ideas/assumptions must be true in order for an individual to be happy)
ellis said the 3 most important irrational beliefs are:
- must be accepted by people
- must do well or i am worthless
- the world must give happiness or i will die
Outline Becks negative triad as an explanation for depression
- focuses on depression
- depressed people have biased negative thinking, negative schema from childhood
- negative schema = systematic cognitive biases
TRIAD
- negative view of self worth
- negative view of world
-negative view of future
