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AQA AS Psychology > Psychopathology P2 > Flashcards

Psychopathology P2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

A
  1. statistical infrequency
  2. deviation from social norms
  3. failure to function adequately
  4. deviation from the ideal
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2
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of Statistical Infrequency?

A

Strengths:
It is objective and therefore easy to work out.

Limitations:
It doesn’t take into account how desirable behaviours are.

40% of people have depression. 50% of people have a phobia, these would be counted as normal and so wouldn’t be seen as needing help.

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3
Q

What is statistical infrequency?

A

Statistical infrequency: a persons trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual.

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4
Q

What is deviation from social norms?

A

Deviation from social norms is a definition of abnormality where a behaviour is see as abnormal if it violates unwritten rules (social norms) about what is acceptable in a particular society.

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5
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of deviation from social norms?

A

Strengths:
- Flexible as it takes into account what is acceptable in particular groups.
- Developmental norms - at certain ages certain things are okay.

Weaknesses:
- Subjective
- There are sometimes situational factors

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6
Q

What is failure to function adequately?

A

Failure to function adequately: when a person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life and live independently.

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7
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of failure to function adequately?

A

Strengths:
- Matches people’s perception. Most people who need help think they are suffering.
- Assess the degree of abnormality.
- Focus on observable behaviour.
- Practical checklist.
- Recognises a personal perspective of sufferers.

Limitations:
- How well they are coping is largely decided by social norms.
- It’s okay to struggle sometimes, like if you are grieving, it can be normal.

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8
Q

What is deviation from the ideal?

A

Deviation from the ideal: positive view of self, independence, positive relationships, capability for growth/development, environmental mastery.

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9
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of deviation from the ideal?

A

Strengths:
- Targets specific areas of dysfunction.
- Holistic as it considers the whole person.
- Encourages self growth.

Weaknesses:
- No-one has ideal mental health. Most people would be seen as abnormal.
- Subjective criteria.

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10
Q

What are the behavioural symptoms phobias?

A

Avoidance and Panic.

They will avoid the phobia if possible. However, if not there will be high levels of strength and anxiety.

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11
Q

What are the emotional symptoms of phobias?

A

Excessive and unreasonable fear, panic and anxiety.

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12
Q

What are the cognitive responses to phobias?

A
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13
Q

What are the behavioural symptoms of Depression?

A
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14
Q

What are the emotional symptoms of depression?

A

Depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness and lack of interest or pleasure in all activities.

Sometimes anger can be a symptom, anger can be directed at themselves and often leads to self harming.

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15
Q

What are the cognitive symptoms of depression?

A

The cognitive symptoms of dression are:

  • Can’t focus
  • Pessimistic
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16
Q

What are the behavioural symptoms of OCD?

A
17
Q

What are the emotional symptoms of OCD?

A
18
Q

What are the cognitive symptoms of OCD?

A

Obsessive thoughts and selective attention

19
Q

What are the 3 different behavioural approaches to treating phobias?

A
  1. Two-process model
  2. Systematic desensitisation
  3. Flooding
20
Q

What is the two-process model?

A

Suggests that phobias are acquired through learning. Phobias are acquired initially by classical conditioning (learning by association).
If an unpleasant emotion is paired with a stimulus, then the two become associated with each other through conditioning.

21
Q

Name a strength and two weaknesses of the two-process model?

A

Strengths:
- This is useful for developing theories.
- Successful therapies.

Weaknesses:
- Some phobias don’t follow a traumatic experience.
- We may be predisposed to some phobias.

22
Q

What is systematic desensitisation?

A

Based on principles of classical conditioning, and the idea that it is not possible for two opposite emotions, such as relaxation and anxiety, to co-exist.
Relaxation techniques are taught and practised – a person cannot be relaxed and afraid at the same time. Then, an anxiety hierarchy is drawn up (ranking things in terms of anxiety.)
Then you work your way through each individual step of the hierarchy getting closer and closer to the target behaviour. For example starting by looking at photos, then videos, then perhaps looking at things for linger and longer.

23
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of systemic desensitisation?

A

Strengths:
Doesn’t seem too daunting.

Limitations:
Can be traumatic for patients.

24
Q

What is Flooding?

A

This is like systematic desensitisation, but without the build-up. The patient goes straight to the target behaviour or the situation which would cause maximum anxiety, for example being locked in a small room with lots of spiders.

25
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Flooding?

A

Strengths:
It can work very quickly, for example in as little as an hour or so; there is no need to spend hours in therapy sessions so it is a quick, easy and useful treatment.

Weaknesses:
Some phobias are hard to treat with it- perhaps because they have cognitive elements- for example, a fear of public speaking is caused by the thought that the person will say things wrong. This may not be treatable by flooding, so weakening this treatment.

It is very traumatic for patients. They will give consent, but they will experience extreme anxiety, and the treatment might not even work. Therefore, it will not be appropriate for some people.

26
Q

What are the two cognitive approaches to explaining and treating depression?

A

The cognitive triad
Ellis’ ABC model

27
Q

What are the three parts of the cognitive triad?

A
28
Q

What is Ellis’ ABC model?

A
29
Q

What are the causes of the cognitive triad?

A
30
Q

What are the biological approaches to explaining and treating OCD?

A
  • Gentic explanation and treatment
  • Neural explanation and treatment
  • Drug therapy explanation and treatment
31
Q

Genetic explanation of OCD

A

Genetic explanations for OCD suggest that individuals inherit specific genes that cause OCD.

Two genes that have been linked to OCD are the COMT gene and SERT gene.
The SERT gene affects the transport of serotonin and can cause lower levels of serotonin, which is also associated with OCD. COMT is responsible for clearing dopamine from synapses and low activity of the COMT gene is also associated with OCD.

It is also believed that OCD is a polygenic condition, which means that several genes are involved

32
Q

Neural explanation of OCD

A

Neural explanations of OCD focus on neurotransmitters as well as brain structures.

Neural explanations suggest that abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin and dopamine, are implicated in OCD.

33
Q

What are the strengths for the biological approach in explaining and treating OCD?

A

A strength of the biological explanation of OCD comes from research from family studies.

34
Q

Name a study that backs up the biological approach to treating OCD

A

Lewis (1936) examined patients with OCD and found that 37% of the patients with OCD had parents with the disorder and 21% had siblings who suffered.

35
Q

What is a weakness for the biological approach in explaining and treating OCD?

A

One weakness of the biological explanation for OCD is that it ignores other factors and is reductionist.

For example, the biological approach does not take into account cognitions (thinking) and learning.
Some psychologists suggest that OCD may be learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning stimulus (for example, dirt) is associated with anxiety and this association is then maintained through operant conditioning, where a person avoids dirt and continually washes their hands.
This hand washing reduces their anxiety and negatively reinforces their compulsions.

36
Q

Explain drug therapy for the treatment of OCD

A

Drug Therapy aims to decrease/increase levels of neurotransmitters in the brain in order to decrease/increase their activity.

AQA AS Psychology (9 decks)

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