Psychopathology Key Terms

Question 1

Cultural Relativism

Answer 1

The view that behaviour can’t be judged properly unless it’s viewed in the context of the culture in which it originates.

Question 2

Deviation from social norms

Answer 2

Abnormal behaviour is seen as a deviation from unstated rules about how one ‘ought’ to behave. Anything that violates these rules is considered abnormal.

Question 3

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

Answer 3

A list of mental disorders that is used to diagnose mental disorders. For each disorder a list of clinical characteristics is given, i.e. symptoms to look for.

Question 4

Statistical Infrequency

Answer 4

Abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare.

Question 5

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 5

Abnormality is defined in terms of mental health, behaviours that are associated with competence and happiness. Ideal mental health would include a positive attitude towards the self, resistance to stress and an accurate perception of reality.

Question 6

Failure to function adequately

Answer 6

People are judged on their ability to go about daily life. If they can’t do this and are also experiencing distress (or others are distressed by their behaviour) then it is considered a sign of abnormality. E.g. eating regularly.

Question 7

Phobias

Answer 7

A group of mental disorders characterised by high levels of anxiety in response to a particular stimulus or group of stimuli. The anxiety interferes with normal living.

Question 8

Classical conditioning

Answer 8

Learning through association. A neutral stimulus is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus so that it eventually takes place on the properties of this stimulus and is able to produce a conditioned response.

Question 9

Operant conditioning

Answer 9

Learning through reinforcement or punishment. If a behaviour is followed by a desirable consequence then that behaviour is more likely to occur again in the future.

Question 10

Two-process model

Answer 10

A theory that explains the two processes that lead to the development of phobias - they begin through classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning.

Question 11

Flooding

Answer 11

A form of behavioural therapy used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders. A client is exposed to (or imagines) an extreme form of the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished.

Question 12

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 12

A form of behavioural therapy used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders. A client is gradually exposed to (or imagines) the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is distinguished.

Question 13

ABC Model

Answer 13

A cognitive approach to understanding mental disorder, focusing on the effect of irrational beliefs on emotions.

Question 14

Negative Triad

Answer 14

A cognitive approach to understanding depression, focusing on how negative expectations (schema) about the self, world and future lead to depression.

Question 15

Schema

Answer 15

A cognitive framework that helps organise and interpret information in the brain. A schema helps an individual to make sense of new information.

Question 16

Cognitive-behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Answer 16

Challenging irrational thoughts
Homework
Behavioural activation
Unconditional positive regard

Question 17

Irrational Thoughts

Answer 17

Rational thinking is flexible and realistic, where beliefs are based on fact and logic. Irrational thinking is rigid and unrealistic and lacks internal consistency.

Question 18

Concordance Rate

Answer 18

A measure of genetic similarity. In a sample of, for example, 100 twin pairs, one twin of each pair has a phobic disorder. The number of times their other twin also shows the illness determines the concordance rate, so if 40 have a phobic disorder, then the concordance rate is 40%.

Question 19

Dopamine

Answer 19

One of the key neurotransmitters in the brain, with effects on motivation and ‘drive’.

Question 20

Gene

Answer 20

A part of the chromosome of an organism that carries information in the form of DNA.

Question 21

Neurotransmitter

Answer 21

Chemical substances that plan an important part in the workings of the nervous system by transmitting nerve impulses across a synapse.

Question 22

GABA

Answer 22

A neurotransmitter that regulates excitement in the nervous system, thus acting as a natural form of anxiety reducer.

Question 23

Noradrenaline

Answer 23

A neurotransmitter found mainly in areas of the brain that are involved in governing autonomic nervous system activity.

Question 24

Serotonin

Answer 24

A neurotransmitter implicated in many different behaviours and physiological processes, including aggression, eating behaviour, sleep and depression.