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Psychology A level > PSYCHOPATHOLOGY > Flashcards

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

A

Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health

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2
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Deviation from social norms

A

Social norms are unwritten social rules that society is expected to follow
Deviation from them is seen as abnormal

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3
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitation of deviation from social norms
Cultural bias

A

Different cultures have different social norms

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4
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitation of deviation from social norms
Temporally relative

A

Social norms change over time

e.g. homosexuality used to be illegal

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5
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Statistical infrequency

A

Uses a bell graph where the outliers are the anomalies

This statistically rare behaviour is seen as abnormal

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6
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Culture bias

A

Things that are rare in one culture may be common in another

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7
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Gender bias

A

This effects sample size

e.g. women more likely to visit a GP then men

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8
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Age

A

Normal at one age, not at another

e.g. thumb sucking is normal at 2, but abnormal at 20

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9
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Desirability of behaviour

A

Rare behaviours can be desirable, so difficult to decide how far you must deviate from the average to be abnormal
e.g. high IQ

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10
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Failure to function adequately

A 
Failure to cope with day- to- day living
Causing distress and suffering to to the individual and those around them 
WHODAS
Understanding & communicating 
Getting around
Self care 
Ability for engaging in life activities
Mixing with others 
Participation in society 
Ranked from 1- 5 to assess abnormality
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11
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of failure to function adequately
Subjective

A

Difficult to measure the extent to which people conform to the criteria
Self- reporting

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12
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of failure to function adequately
Is ‘dysfunctional’ behaviour always dysfunctional?

A

Some dysfunctional behaviour IS functional for the individual
e.g. a man who cross dresses for work

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13
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Deviation from ideal mental health

A

Jahoda stated 6 criteria that a person must have in order to be mentally healthy
Self attitudes- high self esteem
Personal growth/ self actualisation- achieve full potential
Integration- being able to cope with stressful situations
Autonomy- Making own decisions & being in control
Accurate perception of reality
Adaptation to environment- Ability to love & solve problems

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14
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
Cultural bias

A

Self- actualisation

Desired in individualistic cultures, not in collectivist cultures

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15
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
Subjective

A

Difficult to measure the extent to which people conform to the criteria

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16
Q

Phobias

Which approach??

A

Behaviourist

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17
Q

Phobias

What model explains phobias?

A

Two- process model

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18
Q

Phobias

Who proposed the two- process model?

A

Mowrer

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19
Q

Phobias

Step 1 of the two- process model

A

Phobia is acquired through classical conditioning

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20
Q

Phobias

Step 2 of the two- process model

A

Phobia is maintained through operant conditioning

Avoidance of the feared item reduces anxiety -> negative reinforcement

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21
Q

Phobias

Who conducted the study into phobias?

A

Watson

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22
Q

Phobias

What was the name of the study into phobias?

A

Little Albert

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23
Q

Phobias
Procedure of Little Albert study
Before, during and afar conditioning

A

Before: rat (NS), loud noise (UCS), fear (UCR)
During: rat and loud noise consistently paired
After: rat (CS), loud noise (CR)

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24
Q

Phobias
Limitations of approach and model
Reductionist

Study These Flashcards
A

Ignores cognitive & biological exp.
Cog- some phobias are caused by IRRATIONAL beliefs
Bio- ‘ancient fears’ are inherited phobias for survival purposes

25
Phobias Strengths of approach and model Research support
Little Albert- Watson
26
Phobias Strengths of approach and model Real- life examples
Real- life examples of people being bitten by dogs and developing phobias
27
Phobias Strengths of approach and model Real- life application- treatments
Behaviourist treatments SD and flooding- counterconditioning Economic impacts
28
Phobias | What are the treatments for phobias?
Systematic desensitisation Flooding Both are counterconditioning (a form of classical conditioning)
29
Phobias | Systematic desensitisation
Wople Step 1- clients taught relaxation techniques Step 2- clients & therapist construct fear hierarchy list, which is a list of fear items from most to least feared Step 3- in presence of therapist, client confronts each item on fear hierarchy list in a state of relaxation until the client feels relaxed in the presence of all the items
30
Phobias Strengths of systematic desensitisation Fast
Relatively fast so time efficient | In comparison to drug treatments which must b taken for extended periods of time to target symptoms (e.g. anxiety)
31
Phobias Strengths of systematic desensitisation Self- administered
People can try it at home, which is cost- effective yet successful
32
Phobias Strengths of systematic desensitisation Success rates
McGrath- 75% of patients successfully respond to SD | Remaining 25% -> biological/ 'ancient fears'??
33
Phobias Limitations of systematic desensitisation NOT appropriate for ALL phobias
If there is underlying evolutionary reasons, then counterconditioning is ineffective Limited application and usefulness
34
Phobias Flooding & why/ how does it work??
Step 1- learn relaxation techniques Step 2- one LONG session (2- 3) hours where client confronts item at its worst whilst practise relaxation techniques A persons fear response and the release of adrenaline has a time limit, so as adrenaline levels reduce, a new response is learned
35
Phobias Strengths of flooding Cost & fast
Cost- effective and fast
36
Phobias Limitations of flooding NOT appropriate for ALL phobias
If there is underlying evolutionary reasons, then counterconditioning is ineffective
37
Phobias Limitations of flooding Ethics
Goes against ethics! Traumatic for some, making phobia worse Goes against psychology guidelines
38
OCD | What genes does the genetic explanation to OCD involve?
COMT and SERT genes
39
OCD | What is the role of the COMT gene in OCD?
Regulates the production of dopamine | A defect in the gene produces HIGH levels of dopamine in the orbital frontal cortex
40
OCD | What is the role of the SERT gene in OCD?
Regulates the production of serotonin | A defect in the gene means serotonin is reabsorbed prematurely, leading to LOW levels in the basal ganglia
41
OCD Strengths of genetic explanation for OCD Interactionist- DSM Cromer
Diathesis dress model Suggest people gain a genetic vulnerability towards OCD, but an environmental stressor is also required Cromer found that over half his OCD patients had a traumatic event in the past
42
OCD Strengths of genetic explanation for OCD Research support
Nestadt | Twin studies showed a strong biological link
43
OCD Limitations of genetic explanation for OCD Polygenic
OCD is thought to be polygenic Development is determined by more than one gene OCD- up to 230! Little predictive power
44
OCD | What are the 3 areas associated with the neural explanation for OCD?
Basal ganglia Thalamus Orbital frontal cortex
45
OCD Neural explanations What is the role of the basal ganglia?
Serotonin | Repetitive behaviours- washing, cleaning, checking repeatedly
46
OCD Neural explanations What is the role of the thalamus?
Safety behaviours- cleaning, checking Overactive thalamus -> overactive OFC
47
OCD Neural explanations What is the role of the OFC?
Overactive thalamus -> overactive OFC Dopamine Anxiety behaviours and planning to reduce anxiety
48
OCD Strengths of neural explanation for OCD Features of science
Objective Empirical Neuroimaging/ brain scans Compare normal vs abnormal brain patterns to identify areas associated with OCD
49
OCD Strengths of neural explanation for OCD Treatments
Drug treatments- e.g. SSRIs Even more effective when combined with CBT Economic impacts
50
OCD Limitations of neural explanation for OCD Obsessional thoughts?
Doesn't explain obsessional thoughts -> limited application and usefulness
51
OCD | What are drug treatments/ why are they used?
Assume there is a chemical imbalance in the brain which can be corrected by drugs
52
OCD | SSRIs?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Low levels of serotonin = OCD SSRIs prevent the reabsorption of serotonin, thus INCREASING serotonin levels
53
OCD Strengths of drug treatments Effective
Often used alongside CBT for best results Drugs reduce emotional symptoms so patient can engage more effectively with CBT High success rate Economic impacts
54
OCD Strengths of drug treatments Cost- effective
Relatively cheap in comparison to psychological treatments -> more affordable for wider population
55
OCD Strengths of drug treatments Non- disruptive
Not time consuming or requiring time off work etc,
56
OCD Limitations of drug treatments Side effects
Minority receive NO benefit | Minority suffers SIDE EFFECTS, such as weight gain, dry mouth, memory loss
57
OCD Limitations of drug treatments Risk of relapse
Coming off a drug is a slow process in which the dosage is gradually reduced over months
58
OCD Limitations of drug treatments Unreliable evidence
If companies sponsor research, they may suppress any results that do NOT support the drug being effective Lacks validity

Psychology A level (12 decks)

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