Psychopathology

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

The study of mental disorders

Question 2

What do psychologists use to diagnose patients who might have mental disorders?

Answer 2

Use the self report technique and the DSM (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders)

Question 3

What is the Diagnostic and statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)?

Answer 3

A book that describes different types of mental disorders and provides a description of associated symptoms

Question 4

Why is Psychopathology research beneficial?

Answer 4

Can prevent absenteeism (the practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason)

Question 5

Why is psychopathology good for the economy?

Answer 5

Helps find treatments that make people healthier leading to more productive people

Question 6

What approach is used to explain phobias?

Answer 6

Behaviourist

Question 7

What approach is used to explain depression?

Answer 7

Cognitive approach

Question 8

What approach is used to explain OCD?

Answer 8

Biological

Question 9

What is a mental disorder?

Answer 9

A condition in which people display abnormal moods, thoughts and behaviours that are long-lasting.

Question 10

What are the 4 different definitions of abnormality?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality?

Answer 11

According to this definition the more a person deviates from ideal mental health the more abnormal they are and the less of the six criteria a person meets the more abnormal they are

Question 12

Who came up with the criteria for ideal mental health?

Answer 12

Jahoda

Question 13

What are Jahoda’s six criteria for ideal mental health?

Answer 13

-Positive self belief
-Self actualisation
-Environmental mastery
-Accurate perception of reality
-Behaving independently
-resistance to stress

Question 14

J6C-Positive self attitude

Answer 14

when a person feels good about themselves and their abilities

Question 15

J6C-Behaving independently

Answer 15

when a person is able to do things by themselves

Question 16

J6C-Self actualisation

Answer 16

when a person is constantly trying to learn and improve themselves

Question 17

J6C-Resistance to Stress

Answer 17

when a person is able to cope with small hassles in everyday life

Question 18

J6C-Accurate Perception of Reality

Answer 18

when a person sees the world in a similar way to others

Question 19

J6C-Environmental Mastery

Answer 19

when a person adjusts well to change and new environments

Question 20

Strength of the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality

Answer 20

-Enables those who are diagnosed with being abnormal to have clear guidelines of what to improve to achieve ideal mental health using Jahoda’s criteria

Question 21

Weaknesses of the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality

Answer 21

-The criteria can be seen as overly demanding

-The criteria can be difficult to measure objectively (self actualisation and environmental mastery)

Question 22

What is the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality?

Answer 22

A person is abnormal when their behaviour doesn’t follow the social norms

Question 23

What the social norms?

Answer 23

Social norms are unwritten rules of how members of a social group are expected to behave

Question 24

Strength of the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality

Answer 24

Helps to minimise harm to others by classifying people as abnormal and ensuring they can be treated

Question 25

Weaknesses of the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality

Answer 25

-Social norms aren’t fixed and aren’t consistent over time, so a diagnosis may lack reliability or temporal validity -Classification of mental health has to be constantly updated because social norms change -Social norms vary depending on culture so abnormal behaviour would vary based on culture as well -People from ethnic minorities might be considered abnormal because they’re being judged by social norms that are different to their own culture. This means that ethnic minorities might be misdiagnosed as having a mental disorder

Question 26

What is the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality?

Answer 26

A person is abnormal if they aren't able to cope with everyday life

Question 27

Strength of the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality

Answer 27

The behaviour used to identify abnormality can be easily observed and measured

Question 28

Weaknesses of the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality

Answer 28

-Fails to identify people who do cope well with everyday life but have a mental disorder -Everyone sometimes behaves in ways that are bad for us and that causes failure to cope -Not all maladaptive behaviour is a sign of a mental disorder

Question 29

What is the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality?

Answer 29

According to statiscal infrequency behaviour is considered abnormal if only a small percentage of people display the behaviour and if the behaviour is statiscally infrequent

Question 30

What type of graph is often used to statistical infrequency?

Answer 30

A normal distribution graph

Question 31

What is the common cut-off point used to define statistical abnormality?

Answer 31

A cut-off point of 5% is usually used to determine abnormality

Question 32

Strengths of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 32

-More objective as it relies less on the doctor's subjective interpretation of the patient, leading to more objective diagnoses -It's a practical ,quick and easy way of diagnosing people

Question 33

Weaknesses of statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

Answer 33

-Some mental disorders aren't infrequent -Doesn't consider the desirability of behaviours