Psychopathology (easy)

Question 1

Tell me alllll the content in this topic

Answer 1

Definitions of abnormality (1)
Definitions of abnormality (2)
Phobias
Depression
OCD

The behavioural approach to:
explaining phobias
treating phobias

the cognitive approach to:
explaining depression
treating depression

The cognitive approach to:
explaining OCD
treating OCD

Question 2

Give me all the definitions of abnormality

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Statistical infrequency definition

Answer 3

an individual possesses a less common characteristic than most of the population

The behaviours displayed are statistically rare, for example being extremely intelligent with an IQ score over 130 or having a very low IQ e.g. under 70

Question 4

How is statistical infrequency a definition of abnormality?

Answer 4

unusual behaviour = abnormal
when looking at statistics, the number of people who might display that behaviour might be infrequent or rare
* Approximately 68% of the population will have an IQ score between 85-115

• 95% of the population will have an average IQ score
• 2% of the population will have an above average IQ score (130 or over )
• 2% of the population will have a below average IQ score (below 70)

Question 5

Normal distribution curve mean, mode and median for psychopathology

Answer 5

All in the middle/peak
Ends show rare

-ve skew
tail on left
mean and median less then mode
more scores to right (high IQ) - either too easy or very intelligent

+ve skew
positive skewness
tail on the right
mean and median greater then mode
scores mainly to left (low IQ) - test too hard or not smart

Question 6

+ve for statistical infrequency. Real world application. AO3

Answer 6

judgements are based on objective, scientific and unbiased data that can help indicate abnormality and normality, (for example the IQ scores)
Used in clinical practices, part of formal diagnosis to assess severity of individuals symptoms.
The results from these tests can indicate whether someone needs psychological help and assistance e.g. an IQ score below 70 could indicate mental disability

Question 7

-ve for statistical infrequency, unusual can be positive AO3

Answer 7

being very intelligent with an IQ score over 130 is not a negative behaviour, but is actually quite positive and desirable

Just because a behaviour is statistically infrequent does not mean that the person is abnormal and requires treatment

Statistical infrequency can be a good thing

Question 8

Definition of deviation from social norms

Answer 8

Any behaviour that doesn’t follow accepted social patterns/rules. Such violation can be regarded as abnormal behaviour and would be classed as unacceptable

Question 9

An example of deviation of social norms

Answer 9

Wearing no clothes in public

Question 10

How does culture/time affect deviation from social norms

Answer 10

Norms, values and accepted ways to behave vary from culture to the culture and from time period to time period

Question 11

What does deviation from social norms look at?

Answer 11

The impact of an individuals’ behaviour upon other people
The behaviour displayed is examined in terms of how desirable the behaviour is for the individual and for society as a whole
It is seen as abnormal and undesirable

Question 12

When do people deviate from social norms

Answer 12

Every society has rules based on moral standards
Some are explicit like in law, others are ‘codes of conduct’ like dress codes

Question 13

What does deviation from social norms help do?

Answer 13

It can help identify someone who is suffering from a mental disorder, if behaving strangely we can be concerned that they may be suffering from a mental disorder

Question 14

+ve for deviation from social norms, real world application AO3

Answer 14

Used in clinical practices.
Example, key defining characteristic of someone with APD is failure to conform to culturally normal ethical behaviour. (recklessness)
signs of disorder= all deviations from social norms.
Such norms play part in schizotypal personality disorder, term ‘strange’ used to characterise thinking, behaviour, appearance of people with the disorder.
Has value in psychiatry

Question 15

-ve for deviation from social norms, cultural + situational relativism AO3

Answer 15

Variability between social norms in different cultures and different situations.
One cultural group= label someone from another group as abnormal, using their standards.
Experience of hearing voices, norm in some cultures, sign of abnormality in UK.
One cultural context social norms differ from one situation to another.
Aggressive + deceitful behaviour in context of family life more socially unacceptable than in context of corporate deal-making
difficult to judge deviation from social norms across different situations + cultures

Question 16

Who came up with the model of failure to function adequately?

Answer 16

Rosenhan and Seligman

Question 17

Definition of failure to function adequately

Answer 17

the person is unable to cope with day to day life, like having a job or interacting well with others as they are experiencing psychological distress and discomfort

Question 18

What are the effects of failing to function adequately?

Answer 18

Impacts personal, social and occupational life
Romantic relationships
if they don’t have a job it may limit social interactions
may feel disconnected with friends, less shared experiences/in common, hard to be friends with the, won’t be good friends (possibly) can’t help friends

Question 19

How to figure out if someone isn’t functioning adequately

Answer 19

no longer conforms to standard rules, maintaining eye contact
person experiences severe personal distress
persons behaviour is irrational, become danger to themselves

Question 20

Example for failing to function adequately

Answer 20

IDD one criteria is low IQ. Diagnosis would not be made on this basis, must be failing to function adequately before diagnosis

Question 21

What is deviation from ideal mental health based on

Answer 21

The humanist approach - focuses on motivation and self development
Maslow devised the hierarchy of needs whereby humans seek to have basic needs met first then move up to the next level
Abnormality is related to the lack of ‘contented existence’ - so people who deviate from having ideal or ‘optimal’ mental health can be classed as abnormal

Question 22

What is needed for people to have ‘positive mental health’ according to Jahoda

Answer 22

6 criteria (APPIES)
Autonomy
Perception of reality
Personal growth
Integration
Environmental mastery
Self attitudes

Question 23

What is self actualisation

Answer 23

Humans should strive to reach full potential - for normal people it means striving to achieve a series or goals
Abnormal if fail to achieve goals or necessary criteria

Question 24

FFA +ve and -ve AO3

Answer 24

+ve represents threshold for help
Most people have symptoms of mental health disorders.
25% of people will experience mental health problems.
At the point we cease to FFA people are referred to see a professional.
Means we target those who are most in need.

-ve individual differences
Easy to label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal.
Is someone FFA? OR chosen to deviate from social norms?
Some people live life ‘off the grid’ high-risk leisure activities, example.
People who make unusual choices = labelled abnormal, freedom of choice restricted.

Question 25

Deviation from ideal mental health AO3

Answer 25

+ve comprehensive Jahoda's criteria for ideal mental health covers why people seek help. Not meeting criteria discussed with professionals, like self-actualization. Definition gives a checklist to assess ourselves + discuss +ve B. Holistic view. -ve unrealistic Everyone = stressed. Definition states stress is a sign of abnormality, despite it being abnormal. Makes psychologists question how many absent criteria are needed to be identified for diagnosis

Question 26

What are the three behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 26

Avoidance Endurance Panic

Question 27

Avoidance

Answer 27

Fear can lead to avoidance of objects or situations. Avoidance can disrupt daily life by causing distress in social or occupational activities. For example, someone might avoid parks to steer clear of dogs.

Question 28

Endurance

Answer 28

Person chooses to remain in presence of phobic stimulus Person who fears spiders stays in room to keep eye on it

Question 29

Panic (Behavioural)

Answer 29

May panic in presence of stimulus they may shows behavioural characteristics like crying, screaming, vomiting, running away or freezing

Question 30

Emotional characteristics (feelings)

Answer 30

Fear Panic & anxiety

Question 31

Fear

Answer 31

immediate + extremely unpleasant response when we encounter phobic stimulus. More intense than A, experienced for shorter periods.

Question 32

Panic and anxiety

Answer 32

person will feeling highly anxious experience unpleasant negative feelings may worry a lot Relaxing = difficult A = long term

Question 33

Cognitive characteristics of phobias (thinking)

Answer 33

Irrational Cognitive distortions Selective attention

Question 34

Irrational

Answer 34

unfounded thoughts in relation to stimuli. X have reality basis. 'I must always sound intelligent' Increases pressure for people to perform well in social situations.

Question 35

Cognitive distortions

Answer 35

view phobia unrealistically E.g. see snakes as alien and aggressive

Question 36

DSM-5 categories of depression

Answer 36

major depressive disorder- severe, short term D Persistent depressive disorder- long term D Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder- childhood temp tantrums Premenstrual dysphoric disorder- disruption to mood prior to/or during menstruation

Question 37

B characteristics of depression

Answer 37

activity levels disruption to eating + sleep Aggression + self harm

Question 38

Activity levels B C of D

Answer 38

low energy lethargic knock on effect, withdraw from work extreme cases X get out of bed Opposite effect in some cases, psychomotor agitation. X relax, pace in room

Question 39

disruption to eat + sleep B C of D

Answer 39

reduced sleep (insomnia) increased need for sleep (hypersomnia) Weight loss/gain

Question 40

Aggression + self harm B C of D

Answer 40

verbally + physically aggressive Serios knock on effect Verbal aggression= ending relationship, quitting job Cutting themselves, suicide attempts.

Question 41

Emotional characteristics of D

Answer 41

lowered mood Anger Lowered self-esteem

Question 42

lowered mood emotional C of D

Answer 42

Sad still emotional element of D, but more pronounced than in daily kind of experience of feeling lethargic + sad may feel 'worthless' and 'empty'

Question 43

anger B C of D

Answer 43

The person might feel anger which might be directed towards others or turned inwards towards the self, which could result in self harm Depression may arise from feelings of being hurt and wishing to retaliate

Question 44

lowered self esteem B C of D

Answer 44

like themselves less than usual Quite extreme, for some D describes sense of self loathing, hating themselves.

Question 45

Cognitive characteristics of D

Answer 45

Poor concentration Attending to and dwelling on the -ve Absolutist thinking

Question 46

Poor concentration C C of D

Answer 46

There can be difficulty in paying/maintaining attention, and the person might feel that they cannot stay on task for long periods of time They might have slower thought processes than normal and difficulty making decisions (even if the decision seems very simple) This can interfere with the person’s ability to do their job

Question 47

Negative thinking

Answer 47

Depressed people -ve view of the world and they expect things to turn out badly rather than well -ve expectations about their lives and relationships, and the world in general = self fulfilling prophecy whereby if you expect negative things to happen, then they probably will +ve in their life = ignored, cognitive bias

Question 48

Absolutist thinking

Answer 48

Most situations are not all bad or all good Sufferers of depression tend to think in this format, and they usually think about events in absolutist terms, “it was a complete disaster” rather than, “that was good, but there are a few things that could have been better

Question 49

What’s OCD

Answer 49

characterised by the DSM-5 as a disorder whereby the patient shows repetitive behaviour (compulsions) and obsessive behaviour

Question 50

The behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 50

Compulsions are repetitive Compulsions reduce anxiety Avoidance

Question 51

The emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 51

anxiety and distress accompanying depression guilt and disgust

Question 52

The cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 52

Obsessive thoughts Cognitive coping strategies Insight into excessive anxiety

Question 53

Compulsions are repetitive B C of OCD

Answer 53

Repeat B Hand washing Couting, tidying groups pf objects

Question 54

Compulsions reduce A B C of OCD

Answer 54

10% people with OCD= compulsive B alone no obsessions, just general sense of irrational A, X obsession For majority, compulsive B manages A produced by obsessions, like Hand washing (response) due to germs (obsessive fear) Compulsive checking, door locked, response to obsessive thought might be left unsecured.

Question 55

Avoidance B C of OCD

Answer 55

keep away from situation triggering it People who wash hands repetitively avoid contact with germs can = avoiding ordinary situations, like emptying rubbish bin. interferes with normal life.

Question 56

Anxiety and distress E C of OCD

Answer 56

OCD= unpleasant emotional experience due to powerful A which accompanies obsessions + compulsions. obsessive thoughts= unpleasant, frightening, overwhelming urge to repeat B= anxiety

Question 57

Accompanying depression E C of OCD

Answer 57

OCD = accompanied by D so A accompanied by low mood. lack of enjoyment in activities. Brings relief from A but this is temporary.

Question 58

Guilt and disgust E C of OCD

Answer 58

as well as A + D, OCD involves -ve emptions, like irrational guilt, minor moral issues, disgust, directed against something external like dirt, or themselves

Question 59

Obsessive thoughts C C of OCD

Answer 59

90% people, major C feature= obsessive thoughts recur over and over vary from person to person, unpleasant example, contaminated by dirt + germs

Question 60

Cognitive coping strategies C C of OCD

Answer 60

Obsessions= major aspect people respond by adopting C coping strategies Religious person tormented by obsessive guilt, respond by praying or meditating Manages A, distracts from everyday tasks

Question 61

Insight into excessive A C C of OCD

Answer 61

OCD sufferers recognize their obsessions are irrational. Key for diagnosing disorder If someone believed thoughts were based on reality, would be symptom of different mental disorder. People with experience catastrophic thoughts about worst case scenarios if anxieties were justified. Often hypervigilant, focusing on potential hazards.