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AQA Psychology AS > Psychopathology (Unit 2) > Flashcards

Psychopathology (Unit 2) Flashcards

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1
Q

Define ‘implicit norm’

A

Implicit, or unspoken, rules of social conduct

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2
Q

Define ‘explicit norm’

A

Explicit rules in society about acceptable behaviours

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3
Q

Outline the limitations of the ‘deviation from social norms’ definition

A
  • Social Control; relying on predominant cultures as normal
  • Changes over time
  • Eccentricity vs. abnormal behaviour
  • Role of culture; cultural relativisim
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4
Q

Outline the strengths of the ‘deviation from social norms’ definition

A
  • This way of defining abnormality takes account of the greater good
  • Recognises the role of context
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5
Q

Name the measure used to assess the extent to which someone is functioning adequately

A

GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale)

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6
Q

State and explain four of the characteristics identified in Rosenhan and Seligman’s study (1989)

A
  • Irrationality
  • Observer Discomfort
  • Unpredictability
  • Maladaptive Behaviour
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7
Q

Outline the limitations of the ‘failure to function adequately’ definition

A
  • Who judges what is ‘adequate’?
  • Inadequacy and Abnormality are different
  • Highly functioning individuals
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8
Q

Outline the strengths of the ‘failure to function adequately’ definition

A
  • Easy to judge

- GAF allows clinicians to judge the degree of abnormality

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9
Q

List Jahoda’s six key criteria for mental health

A 
Positive Attitudes
Self-Actualisation
Autonomy
Resisting Stress
Accurate Perception of Reality
Environmental Mastery
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10
Q

Outline the limitations of the ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ definition

A
  • Difficulty reaching all six criteria (Jahoda)
  • Some stress can be motivating
  • Cultural Relativism; Autonomy
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11
Q

Outline the strengths of the ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ definition

A
  • Positive approach

- Holistic approach; focuses on the whole person

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12
Q

Outline the limitations of the ‘statistical infrequency’ definition

A
  • Not all abnormal behaviours are undesirable (hyperintelligence)
  • Not all normal behaviours are desirable (depression)
  • Cultural relativism; ADHD, depression are more recognised/reported in western cultures
  • Only includes those who have been to see a professional (mostly women)
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13
Q

Outline the strengths of the ‘statistical infrequency’ definition

A
  • Once a ‘cut-off point’ for normality to abnormality has been decided, it is an objective and easy measure to use
  • Based on real data
  • Statistical evidence to support patient’s requests for help
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14
Q

Describe what is meant by ‘DSM’

A

Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders

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15
Q

Describe what is meant by ‘ICD’

A

International Classification of Diseases

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16
Q

Define ‘agoraphobia’

A

Usually involves the fear of crowds and open spaces, commonly found in younger female adults

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17
Q

Outline the emotional characteristic of phobias

A

Avoidant/Anxiety response; high levels of anxiety when faced with feared objects/situations. Results in avoidant behaviour

Disruption of functioning; anxiety and avoidance responses interfere with everyday working and social functioning

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18
Q

Outline the behavioural characteristic of phobias

A

Persistant, excessive fear; high levels of anxiety due to presence or anticipation of feared object/situation

Fear from exposure to phobic stimulus; phobias produce immediate response, even panic attacks

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19
Q

Outline the cognitive characteristic of phobias

A

Recognition of exaggerated anxiety; phobics are generally aware that their fear is exaggerated

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20
Q

DEPRESSION:

Outline the characteristics of uni-polar depression

A

B: Loss of Energy, Weight Changes, Lack of Personal Hygiene

E: Loss of Enthusiasm, Constant Depression, Worthlessness

C: Delusions

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21
Q

DEPRESSION:

Outline the characteristics of bi-polar depression

A

B: High Energy Levels, Reckless Behaviour, Talkative

E: Elevated Mood States, Irritability, Lack of Guilt

C: Delusions, Irrational Thought Processes

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22
Q

OCD:

What category of disorder is OCD classed as in the DSM/ICD?

A

OCD is an anxiety disorder

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23
Q

OCD:

Name and define the two main components of OCD

A

Obsessions; thoughts, maybe innapropriate or irrational (e.g. thinking germs are everywhere)

Compulsions; intense and uncontrollable [urges] actions as a result of obsessions (e.g. constantly washing hands)

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24
Q

OCD:

Outline the characteristics of obsessions

A

B: Disruption of Functioning, Social Impairment

E: Extreme Anxiety

C: Reccurent/Persisant Thoughts, Recognition of Self-Generation and Irrationality

25
Q

OCD:

Outline the characteristics of compulsions

A

B: Disruption of Functioning, Repetition, Social Impairment

E: Distress

C: Uncontrollable Urges, Realisation of Innapropriateness

26
Q

Outline the case of Little Albert using Classical Conditoning

A

UCS (LOUD NOISE) - UCR (FEAR)

UCS (LOUD NOISE) + NS (WHITE RAT) - UCR (FEAR)

CS (WHITE RAT) - CR (FEAR)

27
Q

Briefly describe the stages of Mowrer’s Two-Process Model as an explanation of phobias

A
  1. Initiation
    Explains how the feeling of fear and the phobic object/situation are paired, using Classical Conditioning
  2. Maintenance
    Explains how phobias are reinforced and prolonged, using Operant Conditioning
28
Q

Outline the explanation for the maintenance of phobias using Operant Condtioning

A

Positive Reinforcement; the attention generated by the fear increases the likelihood that it’ll happen again

Negative Reinforcement; the avoidance of the phobic object/situation increases the likelihood to do it again

29
Q

Evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias (pros)

A
  • Phobia treatment (e.g. SD and Flooding) use conditioning techniques based on behaviourist principles
  • Little Albert study supports the CC and OC explanation of phobias
30
Q

Evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias (cons)

A
  • Di Nardo et al; not all people who get bitten by dogs develop phobias
  • Not all people with phobias of dogs have had a traumatic experience with dogs
  • Biological Preparedness (Seligman); why we are afraid of things from our species’ past, like dangerous animals and not new things like cars
31
Q

List the steps of Systematic Desensitisation

A
  1. Patient is taught muscle relaxation techniques
  2. Therapist and patient construct a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations
  3. Patient works through the hierarchy (in vivo/in vitro)
  4. The patient progresses through the hierarchy once i a calm and relaxed state
  5. Patient has successfully mastered the fear
32
Q

Evaluate Systematic Desensitisation (pros)

A
  • McGrath et al; 75% success rate
  • No side effects
  • Self administered
33
Q

Evaluate Systematic Desensitisation (cons)

A

Does not deal with underlying causes and can lead to Symptom Substitution

34
Q

Outline Beck’s cognitive approach to explaining depression

A
  • People become depressed due to negative schemas which dominate their thinking
  • These schemas are triggered when the person is in a similar situation to when the schema was learned
  • Beck proposed these are developed during childhood/adolescence when authority figures are highly critical
35
Q

Define ‘selective abstraction’ (cognitive bias)

A

Conclusions drawn from just one part of the situation

36
Q

Define ‘overgeneralization’ (cognitive bias)

A

Broad conclusions based on a single event

37
Q

What are the three components of Beck’s Negative Triad

A

Negative views about the world
Negative views about the future
Negative views about oneself

38
Q

Outline Ellis’ ABC Model

A

A - ACTIVATING EVENT (something happens)
B - BELIEF (you hold a belief about the event)
C - CONSEQUENCE (emotional response to belief)

39
Q

Evaluation of cognitive approach to explaining depression (pros)

A
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) combined with drug therapy is very successful
  • Study found depressed participants made more errors in logic (which supports biased thinking)
40
Q

Evaluation of cognitive approach to explaining depression (cons)

A
  • Only LINKS depression and negative thinking, no cause-and-effect
  • Reductionist; ignores potential causes of depression
41
Q

What does CBT involve?

A

Cognitive;

  • Therapist helps client identify beliefs and consequences
  • Also acknowledges the cost of faulty thinking

Behavioural;
-Therapist aims to repair the faulty thinking through roleplays and homeworks

42
Q

Identify the components of Ellis’ REBT Therapy

A

Logical Disputing (Do these thoughts make sense?)

Empirical Disputing (Where is the proof of accuracy?)

Pragmatic Disputing (How is this likely to help me?)

43
Q

Evaluation of CBT as a treatment for depression (pros)

A
  • David et al; 170 majorly depressed ppts found 14 weeks of REBT was better than drug therapy
  • Potentially, cost and time effective
44
Q

Evaluation of CBT as a treatment for depression (cons)

A

-Some people may struggle to express themselves

45
Q

List the genetic explanations for OCD

A
  • The COMT gene
  • The SERT gene
  • The diathesis-stress model
46
Q

Identify a neural explanation for OCD

A

Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters

47
Q

Outline ‘the COMT gene’ as an explanation for OCD

A
  • COMT gene is involved in the regulation of dopamine

- Lower activity of the COMT gene results in higher dopamine, a common symptom in OCD patients

48
Q

Outline ‘the SERT gene’ as an explanation for OCD

A

SERT gene affects the transport of serotonin, lower levels of serotonin is a common symptom in OCD patients

49
Q

Outline ‘the diathesis-stress model’ as an explanation for OCD

A

Maybe environments play a part in OCD development, certain situations could cause the variation of the COMT or SERT gene to be triggered

50
Q

Outline ‘abnormal levels of neurotransmitters’ as an explanation for OCD

A
  • Hu (2006) found a link between low levels of serotonin and OCD
  • Animal research shows that dopamine-increasing drugs enhance compulsive behaviours similar to OCD sufferers
51
Q

Evaluation for biological explanation for OCD (pros)

A

Anti depressants; increase serotonin, reduce OCD symptoms

52
Q

Evaluation for biological explanation for OCD (cons)

A
  • Not got 100% concordance rate with MZ twins, suggesting it could be environmental
  • High dopamine/low serotonin may be a CAUSE of OCD
53
Q

What are SSRI’s?

A

Antidepressants

54
Q

How to SSRI’s work?

A

They raise levels of serotonin by stopping it being re-absorbed by the neuron it came from

55
Q

What are Benzodiazepines (BZs)?

A

Anti-anxiety drugs

56
Q

How do BZ’s work?

A

Taking these enables GABA to slow down your brain

57
Q

Evaluation of drug therapy as a treatment for OCD (pros)

A
  • Effective at reducing symptoms (SSRI’s only short-term though)
  • A better solution for those who struggle to express themselves
58
Q

Evaluation of drug therapy as a treatment for OCD (cons)

A
  • Drug therapy only treats symptoms, and does not cure OCD

- Drugs have side-effects and are not recommended as a long-term solution

AQA Psychology AS (9 decks)

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