Psychopathology

Question 1

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality

Answer 1

Deviation from social norms, deviation from ideal mental health, statistical infrequency and failure to function adequately definition

Question 2

Outline the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality

Answer 2

Abnormality is defined as those behaviours which are very rare. A behaviour that is found in very few people is regarded as normal

Question 3

Outline the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality

Answer 3

Any behaviour which goes against the rules of what is socially acceptable/unacceptable is deemed to be normal

Question 4

Outline the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality

Answer 4

It defines an ideal state of mental health. Abnormality is the failure to meet the criteria for mental well being

Question 5

Outline the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality

Answer 5

The failure to cope with the demands of everyday life , a lack of personal grooming or not being able to work

Question 6

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the failure to function adequately definition of abnornality

Answer 6

+ provides a checklist to assess whether someone is functioning

• it does not consider what is functioning normally for one person may not be the same for others

Question 7

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the deviation from ideal mental health definition of ideal mental health

Answer 7

+ it provides goals people can meet to achieve ideal mental health.

• could be cultural bias. Or the criteria is too hard

Question 8

What are the strengths and weaknesses of statistical infrequency definition of abnormality

Answer 8

+ it fails to distinguish between desirable and non desirable characteristics.

• mental illness’s is not statistically rare

Question 9

What is OCD

Answer 9

Obsessive compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder

Question 10

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 10

Hinders everyday functioning, social impairment, repetitive

Question 11

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 11

Obsessive thinking, realisation of inappropriateness, attention bias

Question 12

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 12

Extreme anxiety felt, distress and depression

Question 13

Explain what obsessions and compulsions are

Answer 13

Obsessions are the thoughts that aren’t based on reality and are forbidden.

Compulsions are uncontrollable urges to carry out behaviours to reduce anxiety

Question 14

What is the cycle of OCD

Answer 14

Obsessive thought, anxiety, compulsive behaviour and temporary relief

Question 15

What are the two possible explanations of OCD

Answer 15

Genetic and Neural

Question 16

Outline the genetic explanation of OCD

Answer 16

This argues that OCD has been inherited through genetic transmission from biological parent to child.

Question 17

What are some of the weaknesses of twin study concordance rates

Answer 17

• the rates are not 100%

Question 18

Explain what depression is

Answer 18

A mood disorder characterised by feelings of sadness and withdrawal from people. Can be mild to severe and can involve inability to make decisions.

Question 19

Explain the cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 19

Reduced concentration, thoughts of death, poor memory and focusing on the negative

Question 20

Explain the emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 20

Lots of pleasure, worthlessness and depressed mood

Question 21

Explain the behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 21

Loss of energy, social impairment, poor personal hygiene and sleep pattern disturbance

Question 22

What is the cause of depression according to the cognitive approach?

Answer 22

Depression is caused by irrational, overly personalistic and faulty thinking styles

Question 23

According to Beccy’s cognitive vulnerability theory, what are the three mechanisms responsible for depression?

Answer 23

Errors in logic, negative self schemas and the cognitive triad

Question 24

Explain what is meant by a negative self schema

Answer 24

They are a set of beliefs and expectations about the self that are essentially negative and pessimistic

Question 25

Explain what the cognitive triad is

Answer 25

Negative view of the world, negative view of the self, and negative view of the future

Question 26

Explain Ellis’s ABC model

Answer 26

Activating event, beliefs, and consequences

Question 27

What is the aim of CBT?

Answer 27

Cognitive behavioural therapy aims to challenge negative thinking and replace the negative thoughts with more positive rational thinking in order to reduce depression

Question 28

Outline rational emotive behaviour therapy as a treatment for depression

Answer 28

REBT extend the ABC model to include a DNNE, the D is dispute and the E is affect. REBT works on reframing and disputing the irrational thoughts through vigourous arguments.

Question 29

What is a phobia?

Answer 29

A type of anxiety disorder

Question 30

What are the cognitive characteristics of phobia?

Question 31

What are the emotional characteristics of phobia?

Question 32

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobia?

Question 33

Explain how phobias are required through classical conditioning

Answer 33

Phobias are required when something normally causes no fair response is paired to something that causes fear. This becomes a condition stimulus and produces a fair response.

Question 34

Explain what flooding is

Answer 34

Involves exploding the client to the phobic stimulus immediate exposure

Question 35

What is S D?

Answer 35

Gradual exposure to the first stimulus