topic 4 - psychopathology

Question 1

what are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

statistical frequency, deviations from social norms, failure to function adequately, deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

what is statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

when an individual has a less common characteristic then most of the population

Question 3

what is deviation from social norms?

Answer 3

when an individual’s behaviour is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society

Question 4

what is deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 4

when someone doesn’t meet a set criteria for good mental health

Question 5

what is the criteria for good mental health?

Answer 5

restistance to stress, self-actualisation (state of contentment), high self esteem, autonomy, accurate perception of reality, adaptability

Question 6

what is failure to function adequately?

Answer 6

when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living

Question 7

what are the factors affecting the definitions of abnormality?

Answer 7

culture, age, gender, location, historical change, social change, situation, subjectivity, social control

Question 8

what are critical characteristics?

Answer 8

behavioural, emotional, cognitive

Question 9

what is the behaviourist explanation of phobias?

Answer 9

emphasizes the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour. Mowrer proposed the two process model: that phobias are acquired, and maintained

Question 10

how are phobias acquired?

Answer 10

through classical conditioning
usc - ucr
ns - no response
ucs + ns - ucr
cs - cr

Question 11

how are phobias maintained?

Answer 11

through operant conditioning (punishment & reward)

Question 12

how are phobias treated?

Answer 12

systematic desensitization and flooding

Question 13

what is systematic desensitization?

Answer 13

gradual exposure to the phobic stimulus based around the anxiety hierarchy. 10-12 sessions, reciprocal inhibition

Question 14

what is flooding?

Answer 14

associating the phobic stimulus with calm, one session, immediate exposure, client is rewarded by feeling calm, focuses on extinction

Question 15

what is ocd?

Answer 15

obsessive compulsive disorder. a condition which is characterized by compulsive behaviour

Question 16

what is a emotional characteristic of ocd?

Answer 16

anxiety and distress - these nags give emotions can be caused by the unpleasant or frightening thoughts, and the urge to repeat a behaviour

Question 17

what is a behavioural characteristic of ocd?

Answer 17

repetitive compulsions- the sufferer feels compelled to carry out the behaviour multiple times

Question 18

what is a cognitive characteristic of ocd?

Answer 18

obsessive thoughts - intrusive, unpleasant, and re-occurring thoughts

Question 19

what is the cycle of ocd?

Answer 19

obsessive thought, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, temporary relief

Question 20

what is a study that suggest that ocd is hereditary?

Answer 20

Aubrey Lewis - of his ocd patients, 37% had parents with ocd, 21% had siblings with ocd

Question 21

what is the diathesis stress model?

Answer 21

certain genes leave certain people more likely to develop mental disorders

Question 22

what are 4 genetic explanations for OCD?

Answer 22

hereditary, candidate genes, polygenic, aetiologically heterogeneous

Question 23

what are candidate genes?

Answer 23

researchers have discovered genes which create vulnerability for OCD

Question 24

what does polygenic mean?

Answer 24

OCD is caused by a combination of genetic variations that together increase vulnerability

Question 25

what does aetiologically heterogeneous mean?

Answer 25

one group of genes may cause OCD is some people, but a different group of genes may cause it in others

Question 26

what are neural explanations of OCD?

Answer 26

the genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitter as wells as structures of the brain

Question 27

what is the role of serotonin in OCD?

Answer 27

if people have low of serotonin they can experience feeling of anxiety and depression. This may lead to anxious mood and obsessive thoughts, which are associated with OCD

Question 28

what is the role of dopamine in OCD?

Answer 28

Obsessive thoughts can cause compulsions, which when carried out cause dopamine to peak. These high levels after the compulsion might cause us to repeat the behaviour.