Topic 3 - Alternatives to the Medical Model

Question 1

Behaviourist Explanations of Mental Health

Answer 1

Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
SLT

Question 2

Classical Conditioning explanation of Phobias

Answer 2

If a neutal stimulus is presented at the same time as an unconditioned stimulus, it can lead to the object becoming associated with the unpleasant effect.

This lead to fear being shown prior to exposure of the neutral stimulus - ie. a phobia.

Question 3

Operant Conditioning explanations of Phobias

Answer 3

Support gained when facing a phobia can lead to repeated behaviours, eg. excessive support when facing heights (PR)

By always avoiding your phobia, this maintains the fear (NR)

Question 4

SLT explanations of Phobias

Answer 4

Phobias can arise by observing others with the phobia (eg. parents)

Question 5

Cognitive Explanations of Mental Health

Answer 5

Beck’s Negative Cognitive Triad
Ellis’ faulty cognitions

Question 6

Beck’s negative cognitive triad

Answer 6

Beck identified that there are three main dysfunctional belief themes in people with depression.

1. ‘I am worthless or flawed’
2. ‘Everything I do results in failure’
3. ‘The future is hopeless’

When all three are present, depression is likely to be diagnosed.

People with depression will select information from their environment to confirm their negative thoughts.

Question 7

Ellis’ faulty cognitions

Answer 7

Ellis assessed that people wil disorders may adopt one of the following faulty cognitions -

1. ‘I must be outstandingly competent or else I am worthless’
2. ‘Others must treat me considerately, or they are absolutely rotten’
3. ‘The world should give me happiness or I will die”

These are unrealistic expectations, therefore, they are unattainable.

People with these cognition will feel like failures - leading to depression

Question 8

Cognitive Treatment Objectives

Answer 8

Aim to address irrational thoughts / challenge them

Question 9

Humanistic explanation of mental illness

Answer 9

Maslow’s heirarchy of needs - Mental health issues can arise when a person’s ability to self-actualise is frustrated.

Often people with mental health issues percieve themselves to be vastly different from their ideal self.

Question 10

Key Research

Answer 10

Szasz (2011) - The myth of mental illness: 50 years

Question 11

Szasz’ orginal work

Answer 11

In 1960, Szasz published an essay titles ‘the myth of mental illness’ and a subsequent book in 1961.

In these, he challenges the medical model of mental illness which was becoming popular at the time.

He believed that the psychiatry was coercive and a denial of human rights.

Question 12

Behaviourist treatments (non-biological)

Answer 12

Systematic desensitisation
Floooding
Aversion therapy

Question 13

Systematic Desensitisation

Answer 13

Treatment aims to get the patient to associate the stimulus with a calm response instead of fear.

It uses a combination of an agreed hierarchy of stimulus and relaxation techniques

Question 14

Flooding

Answer 14

It involves presenting the client directly with the feared stimulus. As the immediate fear response is not sustainable, the client is likely to calm down.

Question 15

Aversion therapy

Answer 15

The stimulus is paired with a negative response, eg. a shock bracelet

Question 16

Application - Cognitive Treatment

Answer 16

Utilsing Ellis’ RET Therapy (ABCDE)

Disputing irrational thoughts;

1. Logical disputing - asking them whether their fear makes sense.
2. Empirical disputing - Asking themselves if their is proof for their fear
3. Pragmatic disputing - Is the way that they are thinking helpful to them.