Psychopathology- Definitions of abnormality, characteristics of phobias, depression & OCD- TB

Question 1

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 1

1) Extreme & persistent fear (excessive & unreasonable)
2) Anxiety & panic

Question 2

What are the 2 cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 2

1) Irrational thinking that’s resistant to rational reasoning
2) Recognition to the irrational fear

Question 3

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 3

Avoidance of feared stimuli, freeze or faint (stress response)- this interferes with life

Question 4

What are the 3 emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 4

1) Sadness & feeling empty/worthless,
2) Loss of interest in usual activities
3) Anger, towards others or self

Question 5

What are the 2 cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 5

1) Negative thoughts including worthlessness & guilt
2) Negative expectations

Question 6

What are the 3 behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 6

1) Change in activity level may be increased or decreased
2) Change in sleep patterns (more or less)
3) Change in appetite (more or less)

Question 7

What are the 2 emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 7

1) Distress
2) Awareness that behaviour is excessive

Question 8

What are the 3 cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 8

1) Recurring intrusive thoughts which are perceived as inappropriate or forbidden
2) Uncontrollable thoughts
3) Recognition that the obsessions are irrational

Question 9

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 9

Repetitive compulsive behaviours aimed at reducing the anxiety- may not be connected with what they’re aimed at

Question 10

What are emotional characteristics of mental disorders about?

Answer 10

How you FEEL

Question 11

What are cognitive characteristics of mental disorders about?

Answer 11

How you’re THINKING

Question 12

What are behavioural characteristics of mental disorders about?

Answer 12

What you DO/DON’T DO

Question 13

What % of people experience phobias?

Answer 13

2.6%

Question 14

What % of people experience depression?

Answer 14

2.6%

Question 15

What % of people experience OCD?

Answer 15

1.3%

Question 16

What are phobias?

Answer 16

Anxiety disorder- irrational fear that produces a conscious avoidance of feared stimuli

Question 17

What is depression?

Answer 17

Mood disorder- persistent low mood causing distress & impairment of functioning

Question 18

What is OCD?

Answer 18

Anxiety disorder- 2 main elements:
1) Obsession (persistent thoughts)
2) Compulsions (repetitive behaviours)

Question 19

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 19

1) Statistical infrequency
2) Deviation from social norms
3) Failure to function adequately
4) Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 20

What is statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 20

Number based (quantitative) definition- uses typical values (mean etc) to determine what behaviour is uncommon by knowing what is common
Abnormality= 2σ from mean

Question 21

What are 3 limitations of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 21

1) Only quantitative so doesn’t show behaviours- some desirable behaviours are statistically rare e.g. high IQ & some abnormal behaviours are common e.g. depression
2) Cut-off point is subjective- e.g. how much sleep is a lack of sleep?
3) Lacks cultural validity- what is statistically rare in one country may be common in another (mis-diagnosis possible)

Question 22

What are 2 strengths of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 22

1) Objective measure- no biases from preconceived data
2) Can be used effectively as an indication of abnormality when used alongside another definition

Question 23

What is deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 23

Socially based definition- implicit or explicit (mainly im) rules a society has about socially acceptable behaviours, values & beliefs.
Those who deviate from norm show undesirable behaviour

Question 24

What could happen due to social deviance from norms?

Answer 24

Difficult for social interaction so society may exclude & isolate those individuals

Question 25

What are 4 limitations of deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 25

1) Social norms change over time- what is considered deviancy now may not be in the next or previous decade e.g. being gay
2) Context must be considered- jumping & shouting acceptable in football but not when shopping
3) Lacks cultural validity- social norms vary across cultures (e.g. personal space)
4) Danger of ethnocentrism due to 3)- Assumption that your own culture is the norm & any deviation from this indicates abnormality

Question 26

What is a strength of deviation from social norms as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 26

Considers the effects of behaviour on others & society needs to get along to function properly- intervention possible to help the individual get along in society after it is identified

Question 27

What is failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 27

People with psychological disorders or those close to them often experience considerable suffering & distress, Person with disorder shows an inability to cope with everyday activities (e.g. work) & lose motivation to care for themselves

Question 28

How can ‘adequate functioning’ be measured?

Answer 28

WHODAS included in DSM

Question 29

What are the 6 areas considered by WHODAS?

Answer 29

1) Understanding & communicating
2) Getting around
3) Self-care
4) Getting along with people
5) Life activities
6) Participation in society

Question 30

What are 3 limitations of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 30

1) Subjective judgement- judgement depends on who is making the decision
2) Behaviour may be functional to the individual- doesn’t distinguish between functional & dysfunctional behaviour
3) Lacks cultural validity & danger of ethnocentrism- what is considered dysfunctional in one country may not be considered so in another

Question 31

What is a strength of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 31

Objective as it can be measured on the WHODAS scale so is not impacted from preconceived biases

Question 32

What is deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 32

Based on humanistic approach- positivist definition as it shows characteristics the individual needs to have present to maintain optimum health
Absence of characteristics= psychological abnormality
More characteristics present= mentally healthier

Question 33

What are the 6 characteristics of the deviation from ideal mental health definition proposed by Jahoda?

Answer 33

1) Self-attitude (high self-esteem)
2) Personal growth (leads to self-actualisation)
3) Integration (coping in stressful situations)
4) Autonomy (independence & self-regulation)
5) Accurate perception of reality (seeing self/situations & events realistically)
6) Mastery of environment (able to adjust to new situations)

Question 34

What are 4 limitations of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 34

1) Subjective assessment
2) Ideals are hard to achieve (unrealistic)
3) Lacks cultural validity
4) Difficult to diagnose mental ill-health in the same way as physical ill-health

Question 35

What is a strength of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 35

It is a positivist definition as it considers what is needed to be healthy

Question 36

Explain being a subjective assessment as a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 36

Jahoda’s categories being met in based on opinion

Question 37

Explain unrealistic ideals as a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 37

No indication of how many need to be present

Question 38

Explain lacking cultural validity as a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 38

Based on western values (individualist) so couldn’t be applied to non-western cultures (collectivist)

Question 39

Explain being difficult to diagnose mental ill-health in the same way as physical ill-health as a limitation of deviation from ideal mental health as a definition of abnormality

Answer 39

Not visible and may be masked by the individual