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Individual differences Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the definition of abnormality?

A

behavior that departs from the societies idea of an appropriate way to function

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2
Q

what is the definition of cultural relativism

A

the view that behavior cannot be judged properly unless it is viewed in the context of the culture in which it originates

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3
Q

what are the limitations of trying to define abnormality?

A

It is hard to define because cultures vary greatly in what is acceptable. also over time acceptable things have become unacceptable and vice versa

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4
Q

what are deviations from social norms?

A

deviations from implicit rules about how one ought to behave. anything that violates these rules is considered abnormal.

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5
Q

what counts as “failure to function adequately”

A

behavior that impedes a persons ability to function adequately is considered abnormal.

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6
Q

what is deviation from ideal mental health?

A

abnormality is seen as deviating from an ideal of positive mental health. in this case everyone is slightly abnormal

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7
Q

what is psychopathology?

A

the scientific study of psychological disorders, their nature and causes.

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8
Q

what is the biological approach?

A

the view that behavior can all be explained in terms of biological mechanisms such as hormones, Neurotransmitters, brain activity and influences inherited via genes

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9
Q

what is the behavioral approach?

A

(learning theory) all behavior is learnt through experience as a result of classical or operant conditioning

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10
Q

what is the cognitive approach?

A

that the key influence on behavior is how an individual thinks about the situation

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11
Q

name two methods of investigating the biological

approach

A

Experiments involving drugs that change the chemistry of the brain.

correctional studies where they link up damage in the brain to behavior

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12
Q

describe how experiments help investigate the biological approach.

A

if patients fare better after the treatment of biological drugs this shows the importance of biochemical changes
in the brain.

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13
Q

explain how correctional studies support the biological approach

A

if a certain area of the brain is damaged they can link it up to abnormalities in behavior proving that physical change has a big impact

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14
Q

what else can abnormalities originate from? (putting aside experiences and physical damage)

A

inheriting genes

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15
Q

what were the three ways of explaining Charles Whitman rampage?

A

the tumor in his brain

His bad child hood

His personality

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16
Q

what approach does the tumor in Charles Whitman’s brain support?

A

biological

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17
Q

what approach does Charles Whitman’s bad child hood support?

A

behavioral (learning theory)

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18
Q

what approach does Charles whitman’s bad personality support?

A

cognitive

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19
Q

what did Freud believe in?

A

That mental disorders are created by unresolved conflicts in child hood and not physical problems with the brain.

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20
Q

what approach did Freud support?

A

behavioral (learning theory)

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21
Q

Name the limitation of Freud’s work that unbalanced his views

A

he was sexist

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22
Q

what limitation of Freud made his work vague and hard to look into

A

all his abstract concepts

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23
Q

what made Freud’s work so unreliable?

A

his lack of evidence

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24
Q

what does Id mean in terms of psychology?

A

the irrational primitive part of personality

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25
what does Ego mean in terms of psychology?
this is the rational part of the personality that is governed by the restraints of reality
26
what does superego mean in terms of psychology?
this is our conscience telling us what is right and wrong
27
what are ego defenses?
unconscious methods such as repression and displacement which help the ego deal whith feelings off anxiety
28
give two common examples of people being effected by their environment
1. Peer pressure to take drugs | 2. Afraid of flying because of flight crashes on the news
29
why do behaviorist explanations have such a limited | view?
because they don't integrate other approaches into their point of view
30
what is the main counter evidence against the behavioral approach?
That phobias often originate with the subject having no memory of how they got them.
31
What is the main problem with therapy based on the behavioral approach?
The symptoms can often be behavioral but the cause may not be.
32
name three limitations of the cognitive approach
blames the patient rather than institutional factors consequences rather than cause irrational beliefs may be realistic
33
explain how blaming the patient rather than the situation limits the cognitive approach
it is fact that physical damage and bad up bringing can play a big role in the negative parts of Someones personality. so its not always the patients fault
34
explain how consequence rather than cause limits the cognitive approach
It is not clear how a disorder starts. Does the disorder make the patient have a negative way of thinking or does the patients negative way of thinking give them the disorder. which came first the chicken or the egg?
35
explain how irrational beliefs may be realistic limits the cognitive approach
depressed people have been shown to be more accurate in guessing outcomes than healthy optimists. maybe thinking more positively doesn't improve your mental capability
36
what main experiment supports the cognitive approach
cognitive therapy was compared with antidepressants and got similar results. This shows that at least some of a disorder could be due to faulty thinking.
37
what did smith and glass research?
the effectiveness of the cognitive approach
38
how high did cognitive rank in a meta analysis of the approaches?
second best success rate against ten different forms of psycho therapy.
39
what is the cognitive explanation for abnormality?
that abnormality is caused by faulty thinking
40
how did Ellis (1962) explain how faulty thinking causes abnormality?
He made a simple model that consists of three phases and is referred to as the A-B-C model.
41
what does the A part of Ellis' model stand for
activating event
42
what does the B part of Ellis' model stand for?
belief
43
what does the C part of Ellis' model stand for?
consequence
44
give Ellis' example of an activating event
a large dog
45
give Ellis' example of a belief
rational "its harmless" irrational "It will attack me"
46
give Ellis' example of a consequence
rational belief leads to healthy emotions (e.g amusement or indifference) irrational belief leads to unhealthy emotions (e.g fear or panic)
47
The three main strengths of biological therapy (drugs)
Effectiveness Ease of use works quickly
48
Explain how effectiveness is a strength for the biological approach
research proves that biological drugs work but is less effective when it is not combined with psychological support
49
explain how ease of use is a strength for the biological approach
taking drugs requires little effort from the user compared to investing time and engagement in cognitive therapy
50
name the main limitations of biological therapy
placebo effects tackles symptoms rather than the problems side effects
51
explain why placebo effects are a limitation for the biological approach
often a patient that takes drugs can physically benefit from thinking they are getting better more than the active ingredients in the drug. this supports cognitive therapy over biological
52
explain how tackling the symptoms rather than the cause is a limitation for the biological approach
if the cause is not tackled the drugs can only ever be a short term fix.
53
explain how side effects are a limitation for the biological approach
all drugs have side effects and some can be very disabling
54
what does ECT stand for?
Electroconvulsive Therapy
55
What are the two ways of doing ECT?
an can electrode is placed above the temple of the non dominant side of the brain and a second in the middle of the forehead (unilateral ECT) Alternatively one electrode is placed above each temple (bilateral ECT).
56
what is step one of ECT?
an can electrode is placed above the temple of the non dominant side of the brain and a second in the middle of the forehead
57
what is step two of ECT?
the patient is injected with a short acting barbiture so they are unconsious before the electric shock is administereed, abd guveb a nerv blocking agent to prevent muscles contracting during treatment and causing fractures. oxygen is is given to the patient so they can breath
58
what is step three of ECT?
a small amount of electric current (about 0.6 amps) lasting about half a second is passed through the brain. this current produces a seizure lasting up to one minute which affects the entire brain.
59
how often is ECT given?
three times a week
60
how many times does ECT need to be given?
somewhere between three and fifteen treatments
61
What is the main ethical issue with ECT?
If the psychiatrist thinks that it his necessary he can make the patient go under ECT against their will
62
do we know how ECT works?
yes and no. we know that it changes the chemical messages sent in the brain but we don't know how it changes them.
63
what are the main stregths of ECT?
It can save lives it has a high rate of effectiveness
64
what are the main limitation of ECT?
sham ECT side effects
65
Explain what sham ECT is and why its a limitation
Its basically a placebo for ECT. patients have all the same procedures done but no electrical current is used. some patients have recovered from depression from this so it suggests that maybe its not ECT and that its because the patients think they are better.
66
explain how side effects are a limitation for ECT?
the side effects for ECT in some cases have caused the opposite of the intended results.
67
List the possible side effects of ECT
impaired memory headaches cardiovascular changes permanent fear and anxiety
68
what do dopamine and serotonin have in common?
they are both neurotransmitters
69
what is dopamine linked with?
schizophrenia
70
what is serotonin linked with?
low levels are linked to depression and high levels are linked to anxiety
71
what is the definition of ECT?
the administration of a controlled electrical current through electrodes placed on the scalp that induces a convulsive seizure which can be effective in relieving an episode of major depression
72
does a psychoanalysis do?
it helps patients become aware of long repressed unconscious feelings and issues.
73
who developed the psychoanalysis?
Sigmund Freud
74
what is free association?
a technique where patient expresses thoughts exactly as they occur
75
what are the three main ethical problems with a psychoanalysis?
they could re surface stressful images
76
what does CBT stand for?
cognitive behavioral therapy
77
what does REBT stand for?
rational emotive behavioral therapy
78
what is CBT?
a combination of cognitive therapy and behavioral | therapy
79
what is rebt?
a cognitive behavioral therapy that helps people change dysfunctional emotions and behaviors by making them aware of self defeating beliefs and the modifying these in order to remove the unwanted states
80
name the main strengths of REBT
its effective its appropriate it can be delivered via a computer
81
name the main limitations of REBT
irrational environments not suitable for all
82
explain why REBT has irrational environments
the perfect environment they are given in therapy to recover is not realistic and could soften the patients up for real life.
83
explain why REBT isn't suitable for all
some people do not put their revised beliefs into action and in other cases people do simply not want the direst sort of advice that REBT practitioners tend to dispense
84
how is REBT effective?
in a meta analysis of 28 studies concluded that REBT is an effective treatment for a number of different types of disorders.
85
how is REBT appropriate?
It doesn't just treat people with disorders it also treating non clinical problems such as exam anxiety.

Psychology (9 decks)

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