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Psychology Paper 1 > Psychopathology > Flashcards

Psychopathology Flashcards

(44 cards)

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1
Q

Definitions of Abnormality

A

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

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2
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Deviation from social norms

A

Standards of acceptable behaviour set by a social group
anything that deviates- abnormal
eg OCD, refuse to use cutlery at restaurants instead of bringing their own because of fear of contamination

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3
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Deviation from social norms AO3

A

-limited by cultural relativism

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4
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Failure to function adequately

A

not being able to cope with demands of everyday life
behaviour that interferes with everyday life
maladaptive behaviour, irrational behaviour, dangerous
eg depression- unable to keep a job, get up in mornings, eating habits

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5
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Failure to function adequately AO3

A

acknowledges personal experience

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6
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Deviation from ideal mental health

A

Jahoda- one of more of these criteria
1. negative self attitude
2. problems with self actualisation
3. unable to resist stress
4. lack of autonomy
5. inaccurate perception of reality
6. poor environmental mastery

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7
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Deviation from ideal mental health AO3

A
  • covers a broad range of criteria
  • too strict criteria
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8
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Statistical Infrequency

A

any behaviour which is rare is abnormal
on a distribution curve any behaviour that is 2 or more standard deviations from the mean is statistically rare and abnormal
OCD affects 2% of population, so is abnormal and statistically rare

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9
Q

Definitions of abnormality- Statistical Infrequency AO3

A

prac apps
used as part of diagnosis

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10
Q

Behavioural characteristics of phobias

A

Avoidance- making conscious effort to avoid contact with phobic stimulus
Panic- crying, screaming or running away from phobic stimulus

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11
Q

Cognitive characteristics of phobias

A

Persistent irrational beliefs- about the phobic stimulus
Selective attention- keeping attention on the phobic stimulus and finding it difficult to look away incase of danger

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12
Q

Emotional characteristics of phobias

A

Anxiety- exposure to phobic stimulus causes worry or distress
Fear- exposure to phobic stimulus causes terror

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13
Q

Behavioural approach to explaining phobias

A
  • phobias are a learnt behaviour
    Mowrer- learnt through classical conditioning, maintained through operant conditioning (two process model)
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14
Q

Acquire a phobia (classical conditioning)

A

Associate something we have no fear of (NS) with something that already triggers a fear rfesponse (UCS). Fear response triggered everytime they see or think about feared object.

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15
Q

Research into acquiring a phobia (classical conditioning)

A

Watson and Raynor- Little Albert
Presented a rat to Albert, researcher made a loud, frightening noise by banging an iron bar.
Noise- UCS
UCR-fear
Rat- NS
Rat presented with loud bang, Albert associated them together.
Rat-CS
CR- fear

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16
Q

Maintaining a phobia (operant conditioning)

A

Continuing to avoid feared stimulus, they re being negatively reinforced by reducing the anxiety they feel.

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17
Q

AO3 behavioural approach to explaining phobias

A

-criticised for environmental reductionism, reduces complex human behaviour
-prac apps, systematic desensitisation

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18
Q

Behavioural approach to treating phobias

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A

Systematic Desensitisation
- Relaxation
- Hierarchy of anxiety
- Gradual exposure
- Complete treatment

19
Q

Systematic desensitisation (Behavioural approach) - Relaxation

Study These Flashcards
A

Patient is taught howto relax using muscle relaxation techniques or breathing techniques

20
Q

Systematic desensitisation (Behavioural approach)- Hierarchy of anxiety

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A

Patient works with the therapist to create a graded scale, starting with stimuli that scares them the least to the most.
Eg a picture or phobia to a room full of phobia.

21
Q

Systematic desensitisation (Behavioural approach)- Gradual exposure

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A

Client gradually exposed to least feared situation, encouraged to put relaxation techniques into practice
Relaxed- move to next stage of hierarchy, must be relaxed to move on

22
Q

Systematic desensitisation (Behavioural approach)- Complete treatment

Study These Flashcards
A

Patient completes treatment when they are desensitised and able to move through the hierarchy without anxiety

23
Q

Systematic desensitisation AO3

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A

-may not be appropriate for all, require motivation and commitment
-more appropriate than flooding as patient has high control over therapy
-can use virtual reality, cost and time effective- good for economy

24
Q

Treatment for phobias- Flooding

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A

Patient immediately exposed to phobic stimulus, must stay in its presence.
High levels of anxiety, remain exposed until the anxiety response is exhausted and starts to decrease
Around 2-3 hours
Extinction- patient learns that phobic stimulus is harmless

25
Flooding AO3
-Highly cost effective- can work in one session unlike systematic desensitisation -unethical
26
Behavioural characteristics of depression
Change in activity levels- lack of energy and withdrawal from activities once enjoyed Disruption to sleep- sleep may reduce (insomnia) or may increase (hypersomnia) Disruption to eating behaviour- increased appetite leading to weight gain or decreased appetite leading to weight loss
27
Cognitive characteristics of depression
Poor levels of concentration- unable to stick with a task as they usually would or make straightforward decisions Negative schema- interpret all info in a negative way, ignoring all positives Black and white absolutist thinking- viewing an unfortunate situation as an absolute disaster
28
Emotional characteristics of depression
Lowered mood- often experiencing feeling sad, empty, worthless and numb sometimes experience anger, directed towards others or self
29
Cognitive approach to explaining depression- Beck's negative triad
Consistent negative thinking, makes a person vulnerable to depression Faulty information processing where people ignore all positives and attend to all negatives of a situation -black and white thinking -NEGATIVE TRIAD -negative views about the world -negative views about self -negative views about the future
30
Cognitive approach to explaining depression- Ellis's ABC model
Irrational thoughts that interfere with us being happy (A) Activating event Triggers (B) irrational beliefs -must always achieve perfection (musterbation) -belief life should be fair (utopianism) (C) emotional and behavioural consequences, eg depression
31
Cognitive approach to explaining depression AO3
-prac apps- CBT -cause and effect cannot be established -alternative explanation- biological approach
32
Cognitive approach to treating depression
CBT- Cognitive aim- work together to identify negative and irrational thoughts, challenged to turn into rational and positive thoughts Behavioural aim- Empirical disputing- ask for evidence to support irrational thought, through homework of a diary Behavioural activation- encourage to be more active
33
AO3 of CBT
-requires motivation and commitment -high relapse rates
34
OCD behavioural characteristics
Compulsions- external behaviours that are repeated to reduce anxiety Avoidance- of situations that triggers compulsions
35
OCD cognitive characteristics
Obsessions- internal, intrusive thoughts that are recurring and unpleasant and cause anxiety Awareness- the thoughts and obsessions and compulsions are excessive and unreasonable Hypervigilance- maintain constant alertness and keep attention on potential hazards
36
OCD emotional characteristics
Anxiety and distress- obsession are often unpleasant and frightening and can cause overwhelming anxiety Guilt and disgust
37
Biological approach to explaining OCD
OCD due to physical factors in body genetic predisposition- OCD is inherited OCD is due to inheritance of one or many maladaptive genes eg SERT OCD is polygenic- caused by combination of genes 'candidate genes' make individual vulnerbale to OCD- COMT and SERT
38
Biological approach to explaining OCD- SERT gene
SERT gene is involved in transportation of serotnin SERT gene is mutated, reduces serotonin activity levels, associated with increase in anxiety and OCD symptoms
39
Biological approach to explaining OCD- COMT gene
COMT gene is involved in regulating dopamine. One variation of COMT gene more common in those with OCD. Variation causes an increase in dopamine activity, associated with compulsions in OCD
40
Neurochemical/ Neural approach to explaining OCD
Neurochemical explanation would suggest OCD is due to an imbalance in neurotransmitters, specifically low levels of serotonin activity Serotonin- maintaining stable mood Mutation in SERT gene- serotonin recycled too quickly back into the pre synaptic neuron before it activates post synaptic neuron Low levels of serotonin can lead to anxiety
41
Neural explanation- Neuroanatomy (brain structure)
OCD is associated with impaired decision making in the brain Neuroanatomy- size, shape and function of certain areas in the brain and how they are linked to OCD OCD is associated with abnormal functioning in frontal lobe of brain - responsible for logical thinming and decision making Evidence to suggest parrohippocampal gyrus associated with processing unpleasant emotions such as anxiety which functions abnormally in peple with OCD
42
Biological approach to explaining OCD AO3
-biologically reductionist, complex human behaviour down to simple basic units of genes - scientific methods -prac apps- drug treatment SSRIs
43
Biological approach to treating OCD
Drug therapy- balances levels of neurotransmitters in brain to relive symptoms of POCD SSRIs- increase serotonin activity levels by blocking re absorption of serotonin in pre synaptic neuron, increase in serotonin levels in synapse, continues to activate post synaptic neuron SSRIs- around 3-4 months to aleviate symptoms of OCD SNRIs can be used if SSRIs not effective SNRIs- increase levels of serotonin and noraderenaline activity
44
Biological treatment to OCD- Drug treatment AO3
-require little motivation - negative side effects

Psychology Paper 1 (4 decks)

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