Psycopathology Flashcards
What are the definitions of abnormality
Deviation from social norms
Failure to function adequately
Statistical infrequency
Deviation from ideal mental health
What does it mean to deviate from social norms?
Norms of behaviour are created by society
Norms represent what is acceptable ways of behaving - norms are like the rules
Deviating from these norms may be considered abnormal
Implicit and explicit
What is an example of deviating from social norms
Laughing at a funeral
Exposing yourself in public
What are implicit social norms
Unspoken
What are explicit social norms
Norms enforced by the law
What are the weaknesses of deviating from social norms
May be a lifestyle and not a choice
E.g being a vegan living in a commune
Some behaviour may be labelled abnormal in one culture but seen as a norm in another
Social norms change over time and place
Only recent years it’s been regarded as normal for homosexual relationships
In past year these individuals whete thought of as socially deviant and mentally ill
Definition is not a reliable permanent way of defining abnormality
Hearing ancestors voice in your head is considered normal in Africa but not regarded as normal in Britain
Not a universal explanation
What is meant by failure to function adequately
Being unable to manage tasks necessary in everyday life.
A person unable to deal with these tasks are considered abnormal
Only abnormal if distress is caused to self or others for example someone who is very happy not washinf their jeans is not seen as abnormal
Who conducted research into failing to function adequately as a definition of abnormality
Rosenhan and Seligman
What did Rosenhan and Selighan suggest where the 6 features of abnormality
Personal distress
Maladaptive behaviour
Unpredictability
Observe discomfort
Violation of moral and ideal standards
Irrational
What are weaknesses of failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality
Does not account individual circumstances such as loosing a loved one where it is normal to fail to function.
Weakness because their behaviour could be identified as abnormal by this definition but would be entirely normal response to difficult circumstances.
It is not clear how extreme the behaviour has to be to be considered abnormal, how much we need to fail
What is a strength of failure to function adequately being used as a definition for abnormality
It has practical applications
Clinicians use definition when judging need for treatment
Individuals complete a questionnaire designed by WHODA which provides objective and quantitative
measurement of functioning.
Strength as definition is useful in everyday practice - easier to identify abnormality - quicker individuals can access treatment
Describe statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality
Behaviour that is statistically infrequent or very rare is regarded as abnormal
descriptive statistics describe typical values, what is most common - normal
A frequency graph of behaviours shows a normal distribution
Most people are in the central groups or clustered to the mean
The extreme ends define abnormal behaviour
What is an example of statistical infrequency
Intelligence measured by an IQ test is normally distribute. Most people range from 85 to 115. Only 2% have a score below 70.
This is very unusual so would be considered abnormal
What are weaknesses of using statistical infrequency to define abnormal behaviour
Does not account for desirability, some behaviour may be describe abnormal but is desired for example having an IQ over 150.
Weakness as does not distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours - does not help us to identify behaviours in need of treatment.
Some abnormal behaviour is not rare. Depression and anxiety are quite common. 37% teenage girls reported low mood. This would not be identified as abnormal according to this definition but people with anxiety and depression still need help. Weakness as definition cannot appropriately identify more common health conditions as abnormal.
The cut off point between normal and abnormal is subjective. We might decide the abnormal amount of sleep is sleeping over 9 hours a day but some could argue over 10 hours would be a better cut off point.
Weakness as different people will judge the same behaviour differently
What is a strength of using statistical infrequency as a definition for abnormality
It has real life applications
Assessments of patients with mental illnesses include some kind of measurement of their symptoms compared to statistical norms
This is a strength because statistically deviation is a useful part of clinical assessments of patients
Reflects the objective nature of this definition
What is meant by deviation from ideal mental health
Jahoda identified six characteristics of ideal mental health.
Said to be characteristics that enable individuals to behave appropriately and competently and lead a happy life.
Any individual who does not possess all of these characteristics would be regarded as abnormal
- positive self attitudes
- self actualisation
- resistance to stress
- autonomy
- having an accurate perception of reality
- mastery of the environment
What does it mean to have positive self attitudes
High self esteem and strong sense of identity
What does it mean to have self actualisation
Motivated to develop and reach full potential
What does it mean to be resistant to stress
Ability to cope with stressful situations
What does it mean to have autonomy
Being independent and self - resilient
What does it mean to have mastery of the environment
The ability to love, work, have personal relationships and adapt to new situations
What are the weaknesses of deviating from ideal mental health
Most people would be considered abnormal as it represents idealised set of expectations.
Very few people have all 6 characteristics.
Definition suggests many of us and mentally unhealthy and abnormal.
This is a weakness as abnormal behaviour is considered to be unusual rather than that shown by the majority of people - this means the definition may not be useful in identifying abnormal behaviour
Weakness is the inclusion of self actualisation as a criteria for mental health.
Culturally biased as based on western ideas of self fulfilment. Assuming self actualisation is universal and achievable.
In some cultures self actualisation is abnormal where the true potential is being indicative of selfishness.
Very few people achieve self actualisation - if this is the criteria most of us would be defined as mentally unhealthy
A strength of deviation from ideal mental health
Offers a positive approach to identifying mental illness.
Focuses on the positive desires rather than negative undesires.
Strength as it may be a more ethical way of approaching mental health.
What is a phobia
An extreme and irrational fear of a specific stimulus that produces a conscious avoidance of the source of fear
What are behavioural characteristics of a phobia
Avoidance
Fainting/freezing
What are emotional characteristics of phobias
Excessive unreasonable fear anxiety and panic
What are cognitive characteristics of phobias
Recognition of the irrational nature of their fear
Can not help phobia by rational argument
How does the behavioural approach explain phobias
All phobias are learnt through the two process model
Explain the two process model
Step 1 - phobia develops through classical conditioning ( learning through association)
Involves an individual associating two stimuli with one another when they occur at the same time.
Association forms means individual response to one stimuli transfers to the other
Step 2 - phobia is maintained through operant conditioning
Learning through consequences
If behaviour followed by a reward behaviour is likely to be repeated
Give an example of the two process model
Step 1 - individual chokes in water may associate choking with water.
Their response to choking might transfer to eater
In future will respond to water with fear (phobia)
Step 2 - individual avoidant of water, feels rewarded as no fear, likely to continue avoiding water
Negative reinforcement
Strength of behavioural approach explaining phobias
Evidence from studies supports idea learning can be responsible for development of phobias.
Little Albert introduced to white rat, everytime he played with it, a loud noise was made. Albert developed a phobia of rats and anythinf fury.
Phobia was a conditioned learnt response
Strength because we can be more confident the behavioural approach offers an accurate explanation for how and why phobias develop.
________
Practical applications.
Successful behavioural therapy’s
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
Research has shown effective at treating phobias
Strong positive impact upon economy allowing people to stay in work whilst undergoing treatment and minimising sick pay mddddd
Strength as behavioural approach offers solution to a problem and helps people in real world.
Weaknesses of behavioural approach explaining behaviour
Not all evidence supports claims made.
Not all phobias appear after a bad experience.
Someone may have developed fear of snakes without ever being near a snake.
Munjack found only 50% of people with driving phobia had frightening car experiences.
Weakness because instances cannot be explained through conditioning - behavioural approach can not explain all phobias
What is systematic desensitisation
Gradual exposure to feared stimulus or situation
Based on counterconditioning
Therapy is based on notion of reciprocal inhibition
This is the notion that we cannot experience two incompatible emotional states at the same time
E.g we can not be frightened and relaxed at the same time
What is counterconditioning
Learning a new association to a stimulus
New response (relaxation)
Old response (fear & anxiety)
What is the notion of reciprocal inhibition
The notion that we cannot experience two incompatible emotional states at the same time
Explain the process of systematic desensitisation
- relaxation techniques taught and practiced by individual to successfully get into a state of calm relaxation
Client focuses on feelings of relaxation after tightened muscles are released - individual creates hierarchy of fear ( list of situations or scenarios involving feared stimulus) ranked from least to most frightening
E.g thinking of a spider - 10
Let a spider crawl on your arm - 100 - individual uses relaxation techniques whilst being gradually exposed to each scenario of their hierarchy
Due to reciprocal inhibition individual learns new association between feared stimulus and feeling relaxed (counterconditioning)
