psychological problems Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are the key debates in psychological problems?
Nature vs. Nurture, Reductionism vs. Holism, Free Will vs. Determinism
What is the definition of schizophrenia?
A psychotic disorder where people lose their sense of reality. Covers 1% of the population.
What is the biological theory related to schizophrenia?
Dopamine Hypothesis: The dopamine system is overactive with high levels of dopamine binding to receptors.
What brain dysfunctions are associated with schizophrenia?
Less blood flow in the frontal lobe and reduced volume of the hippocampus.
What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?
Hallucinations, thought disturbances, disorganised speech, catatonic behaviour, delusions.
What are the limitations of the biological theory of schizophrenia?
Ignores nurture and is reductionist, focusing too much on brain abnormalities.
What is the Social Drift Theory in relation to schizophrenia?
The label of schizophrenia could worsen the condition due to stigma and discrimination.
What are the limitations of the Social Drift Theory?
Ignores nature and does not explain cause and effect.
What was the aim of the Daniels et al. (1991) study?
To see whether amphetamines affect PFC and WCST performance.
What were the findings of the Daniels et al. (1991) study?
No difference in BAR task; small difference in WCST performance with amphetamines.
What was the research method used in the Daniels et al. (1991) study?
Lab experiment (double-blind) with repeated measures design.
What are the limitations of the Daniels et al. (1991) study?
Sample too small and culturally biased; ethical issues with brain scans.
What is the definition of clinical depression?
A mood disorder with persistent feelings of sadness over a long period.
What are the symptoms of clinical depression?
Low mood, feeling hopeless, low self-esteem, lack of motivation, suicidal thoughts.
What does the Social Rank Theory suggest about depression?
Depression allows acceptance of a subordinate role to reduce conflict.
What are key concepts related to mental health?
Good mental health includes high self-esteem, autonomy, and accurate perception of reality.
What is the mental health continuum?
Ranges from healthy to severe disruption.
What is the model of depression according to Ellis?
Depression results from an Activating event leading to irrational Beliefs causing negative Consequences.
What are the limitations of Ellis’s model of depression?
Ignores nurture and is reductionist.
What was the aim of the Tandoc et al. (2015) study?
To see whether Facebook use predicted depression.
What were the findings of the Tandoc et al. (2015) study?
Heavy Facebook users had stronger feelings of envy, which predicted depression.
What are the limitations of the Tandoc et al. (2015) study?
Sample culturally biased and self-reported data may be unreliable.
What are some neuropsychological tests used in research?
Wisconsin Card Sort test (WCST) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
How are drugs used to treat depression?
Anti-depressant drugs increase neurotransmitters like serotonin.
