psychopathology paper 1 Flashcards
What are the four ways to define abnormality
- statistical infrequency
- deviation from social norms
- failure to function adequately
- deviation from ideal mental health
What is statistical infrequency
Defining abnormality in terms of statistics. Statistics is about analysing numbers
What is an example of statistical infrequency
IQ
What is classed as the normal IQ level and the abnormal IQ levels
Normal - 85-115
Abnormal - below 70 and above 130
What is deviation from social norms
When abnormality is based on a social context. When people behave in a way they’re not expected to behave
What is an example of deviation from social norms
Anti social personality disorder - where people fail to conform to to normal behaviour
evaluation of statistical infrequency
Strength: practical application - used for diabetes
Limitation: unusual characteristics can be positive
Evaluation of deviation from social norms
Limitation: cultural variation
Limitation: deviation from social norms not a sole explanation
What is failure to function adequately
Where you cannot carry out everyday tasks yourself
What is deviation from ideal mental health
How psychologically healthy someone is
Evaluation of failure to function adequately
Limitation - subjective
Strength - global assessment
Evaluation of ideal mental health
Limitation - jahoda unrealistic
Strength - wide criteria of mental health
behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias
B - panic
E - anxiety
C - irrational beliefs
Behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of depression
B - lethargic
E - low mood
C - irrational beliefs
Behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of ocd
B - compulsions
E - anxiety
C - obsessive
Behavioural approach to phobias
Unconditioned stimulus - unconditioned response
Neutral stimulus - neutral response
Unconditioned + neutral stimulus - unconditioned response (Association)
Conditioned stimulus - conditioned response
Steps to systematic desensitisation
1 anxiety hierarchy
2 relaxation technique
3 exposure
4 counter conditioning
Evaluation of behaviourist explanation of phobias
Strength: practical application led to SD treatment
Limitation: ethical issues with Albert
Limitation: seligman (genes create phobias)
Limitation: case study
Evaluation of SD
Limitation: takes too long
Strength: gilroy - 42 patients after 3 & 33 months less fearful than control group
What is flooding
Quick exposure to fear, consent needed
Evaluation of flooding
Limitation: not al age groups
Limitation : traumatic
Cognitive approach to depression
Necks triad (self, future, world) which explains irrational thoughts
Evaluation to cognitive approach to depression
Strength: grappling and terry - 65 pregnant women high cognitive vulnerability = post natal depression
Limitation: reductionism - doesn’t explain corrals syndrome
What is ellis’ abc model
A - activating event (what triggers irrational thoughts)
B - beliefs (irrational)
C - consequences (negative behaviour)
