Psychological Problems

Question 1

cognitive explanation: depression

Answer 1

beck’s cognitive triad: negative thoughts about: self, world and future. cannot see positive aspects about a situation. prone to seeing things worse than they are.
ellis abc model: activating event, beliefs (irrational), consequence (negative emotion)

Question 2

cognitive theory: addiction

Answer 2

classical conditioning: associating learning. two things connected, positive feeling associated with addictive behaviour.
operant conditioning: learnt through reinforcement. if it is rewarded, it is continued (if it feels good)
social learning: copying addictive behaviour from role models

Question 3

genetic explanation: depression

Answer 3

5HTT gene- lack serotonin. if one MZ twin developed depression, 46% chance the other would. if one DZ twin developed depression, only 20% the other would

Question 4

generic explanation: addiction

Answer 4

DDR2 gene- more susceptible to addictive behaviour. twin studies, if adopted children had one bio parent with an addiction, high chance of developing.

Question 5

treatments: depression

Answer 5

drug therapy: anti depressants increase neurotransmitters e.g. SSRI: reuptake of serotonin
CBT: stage 1: what makes them feel that way. stage 2: challenging irrational thoughts

Question 6

treatment: addiction

Answer 6

drug therapy: prevents unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, lessens addictive behaviour and cravings, treats underlying mental health
CBT: application of beck and ellis. two key stages: functional analysis and skills training

Question 7

capsi et al (2003)

Answer 7

aim: to see why stressful life events cause some to develop depression but not all
procedure: 847 children who’d been studied since birth were split into 2 groups based on their genes. study measured live events between 21 and 26.
results: those who had the short allele of the 5HTT gene were more likely to develop depression after a stressful live event
conclusion: a genetic predisposition is needed (with a a stressful life event) to develop depression

Question 8

evaluation of capsi et al (2003)

Answer 8

strength: large sample size, 847 participants, generalisable.
weaknesses: unethical, researchers couldn’t interfere with ppts lives, couldn’t protect from maltreatment

Question 9

young (2007)

Answer 9

aim: to see if CBT is helpful towards diagnosed internet addicts
procedure: 114 participants who completed internet addiction test. CBT sessions were online.
results: differences in what males/females were addicted to. more males in the study. amount of time (issue)
conclusion: CBT is effective as clients reported an increase in ability to control behaviours

Question 10

evaluation of young (2007)

Answer 10

strength: standardised, all ppts given assessments at 3,8,12 and 6m follow up, reliable
weaknesses: small sample size from USA, 114 ppts, ethnocentric & ungeneralisable

Question 11

strength and weaknesses of CBT

Answer 11

s: effective, young, ppts were able to control cravings
w: vey directive, can be done in a forceful way, could be unethical

Question 12

change in mental health over time

Answer 12

increased awareness, more people seeking treatment, shifted from mental institutions to therapy

Question 13

evaluation of cognitive theory: depression

Answer 13

s: applied in therapy, used in CBT & is effective, useful
w: cannot establish c&e, hard to tell whether irrational thoughts are cause or symptom, invalid

Question 14

evaluation of cognitive theory: addiction (SLT)

Answer 14

s: backed up with research, bandura found children imitated role models, valid
w: overlooks biology, solely focuses on imitating behaviour, deterministic & ungeneralisable

Question 15

evaluation of genetic theory: depression

Answer 15

s: research, capsi et al found short 5HTT gene led to negative response to stressful events, valid
w: reductionist, ignores life events, too simplistic

Question 16

evaluation of genetic theory: addiction

Answer 16

s: lots of evidence, carmelli found if one twin smoked the other would, adds validity
w: reductionist, fails to take social factors into accouNt, invalid

Question 17

nature & nurture AO3

Answer 17

nurture: social learning theory, bandura found children imitated behaviour, valid
nature: failed to replicate, some studies found other genes not just one, lacks reliability

Question 18

evaluation of conditioning theories

Answer 18

s: research, skinner used experiments that were easily replicated, reliable
w: conditioning theories do not explain why, cause only based on reinforcement/ association, lacks validity