Psychopathology-paper 1

Question 1

Define deviation from social norms.

Answer 1

Abnormal behaviour classified is classified in this way when any behaviour goes against societal expectations.

Question 2

Describe emotional characteristics of depression.

Answer 2

5 symptoms are required for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, these include intense sadness and often worthlessness. Sometimes there are also reports of anger.

Question 3

Describe cognitive characteristics of depression.

Answer 3

Negative thoughts cause the negative emotions associated with depression. These thoughts are irrational and often include negative expectations and thoughts of worthlessness.

Question 4

Describe behavioural characteristics of depression.

Answer 4

Either increased or reduced levels of activity, agitation, restlessness. Appetite is also often affected.

Question 5

How are phobias initiated through classical conditioning?

Answer 5

A neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (that causes fear) so this stimulus then turns into a conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response - fear.

Question 6

Describe systematic desensitisation.

Answer 6

Attempts to replace the association with fear and the stimulus, with an association of relaxation and the phobic stimulus. Patients will be exposed to scenarios the progressively cause more anxiety on than their last stage in their hierarchy.

Question 7

What is meant by statistical infrequency?

Answer 7

Indicated that a disorder is abnormal if more than 2 standard deviations away from a normally distributed bell curve.

Question 8

Explain a strength of statistical infrequency.

Answer 8

Statistical infrequency is almost always used in clinical diagnosis of mental health disorders compared to the normal value. This is used to test for the severity of a disorder.

Question 9

Explain a weakness of statistical infrequency.

Answer 9

Statistical infrequency makes the automatic presumption that any abnormal characteristics are bad, but they are not.

Question 10

Describe deviation from social norms as a definition for abnormality.

Answer 10

Deviation from social norms labels behaviour as abnormal when it deviates from behaviour which is the norm of that specific culture. There are general norms which applicable in most societies or culture specific norms.

Question 11

Explain how the deviation from social norms explanation of abnormality suffers from cultural relativism.

Answer 11

This explanation relies on subjective social norms, meaning it suffers from cultural relativism. For example hearing voices in some cultures is seen as a common symptom as schizophrenia, however in other cultures such as African and Asian cultures this would be seen as a spiritual experience and a connection to past ancestors.
Therefore it is suggested this definition may lead to some discrepancies when diagnosing different mental health disorders.

Question 12

Describe deviation of ideal mental health as an explanation for abnormality.

Answer 12

Proposed by Jahoda, instead of looking at abnormality Jahoda looked at what comprises the ideal mental health. The criteria included; being able to self actualise, having accurate perception of ourselves, not being distressed, having the motivation to carry out everyday tasks and displaying high self esteem.

Question 12

Explain how the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality is unrealistic.

Answer 12

When creating the criteria for deviation from social norms Jahoda may have been unrealistic of when the population would consider as normal. This is because if a person misses even one criteria for example not being able to rationally handle stress, they’ll be seen as abnormal. This suggests the definition may be a very limited explanation for abnormality.

Question 13

Describe deviation from social norms as an explanation of abnormality.

Answer 13

Social groups create social norms, these vary between cultures and generations. Behaviours that differ from these norms are labelled as abnormal.
e.g. anti-social personality disorder, when a persons behaviour is impulsive/ aggressive and do not follow moral/ legal rules.

Question 14

Explain why deviation from ideal mental health is culturally bound.

Answer 14

Some criterion in Jahoda’s definition are specific to westernised, individualist, cultures e.g. self actualisation and personal growth in collectivist cultures these traits would be seen as self centred. This suggests deviation from ideal mental health should be limited to specific cultures.

Question 15

Discuss real world application of deviation of social norms.

Answer 15

This criteria is used in clinical practise and offers a way of identifying undesirable and destructive behaviour. Social norms also play a role in the diagnosis of other conditions e.g. schizotypical personality disorder. Therefore, the definition has practical value in that it can help people to be able to spot behaviours signalling a person needs help.

Question 16

Describe failure to function adequately as a definition for abnormality.

Answer 16

When an individual is unable to maintain standards of hygiene, nutrition, unable to live alone, have a sturdy job or maintain relationships, as suggested by Rosenhan and Seligman.
WHODAS can be used to measure functioning in this area. e.g. those with depression often cannot work or perform everyday tasks, according to FFA they are abnormal.

Question 17

Explain how failure to function adequately has practical value.

Answer 17

According to a leading mental health charity, 25% of people in the UK will experience a mental health problem in any given year. In most cases these people will not get help until they’re unable to function adequately. This suggests the FFA criteria is a sensible threshold and that treatment can therefore be targeted at those who need it most.

Question 18

Explain how failure to function adequately can be confused with a normal response to certain situations.

Answer 18

There are situations in which most individuals would fail to function adequately, e.g. bereavement. It would be inappropriate to term these people abnormal for reacting as most would in the situation. However, failure to function is no less real because the cause is clear, these people may still need professional help.
This means sometimes it is difficult to make a judgement of abnormality based on this criteria.

Question 19

What is the difference between major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder?

Answer 19

Major depressive disorder: sever, but ofter short-term depression.
Persistent depressive disorder: longer- term/ recurring depression including sustained major depression.

Question 20

What are behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 20

Panic and avoidance

Question 21

What are emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 21

Anxiety, fear and unreasonable emotional reactions.

Question 22

What are cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 22

selective attention to the source of the phobia, irrational beliefs, cognitive distortions.

Question 23

Wha is meant by resistant to extinction in terms of phobias?

Answer 23

As they are maintained through reinforcement of avoidance behaviours, phobias are never faced and therefore cannot become extinct.

Question 24

Explain how the behavioural explanation to phobias has real-world application.

Answer 24

Research into phobias has allowed the development of exposure therapies to treat phobias. The exposure means the phobias can no longer be avoided, stopping the reinforcement of avoidance, this cures the phobia. This shows the 2 process model has value as it has been used to effectively treat phobias through the development of therapy.

Question 25

Explain alternative explanations to the behavioural approach for phobias.

Answer 25

Research suggests we are likely to acquire phobias of stimuli which were a danger in our evolutionary past. It is believed some phobias are innate, biological preparedness (Seligman). Additionally, some people have traumatic experiences but do not develop a phobia of that specific stimulus. This suggests the behavioural explanation is a limited explanation for phobias.

Question 26

Describe how flooding is used to treat phobias.

Answer 26

Flooding is usually in one long session, in which the patient is immediately exposed to the phobic stimuli. Without avoidance, the behaviour becomes extinct as the patient realises it's harmless. So the conditioned stimulus will no longer produce a conditioned response of fear. Alternatively, the patient may become exhausted from the fear response to the stimulus which sets in a sense of relaxation and calmness.

Question 27

Describe how systematic desensitisation is used to treat phobias.

Answer 27

Systematic desensitisation used classical conditioning to gradually reduce anxiety by associating relaxation with the stimulus (counterconditioning). Systematic desensitisation also uses the principle of reciprocal inhibition, this means a person cannot be afraid and relaxed at the same time.

Question 28

Explain how systematic desensitisation is an effective treatment for phobias.

Answer 28

Gilroy et al followed up on 42 patients who has systematic desensitisation for their phobias, 3 and 33 months later. A control group had relaxation but no exposure as a treatment. It was found that the group that had the systematic desensitisation were far less fearful of the phobic stimulus than the control. Wechser et al concluded that systematic desensitisation is an effective treatment or social phobias, specific phobias and agoraphobia.

Question 29

Explain how systematic desensitisation is an appropriate treatment for phobias.

Answer 29

SD is appropriate for those with learning disabilities which means it can be used by everyone. Flooding on the other hand could be too confusing and distressing for those with learning disabilities and CBT may be too hard for them to engage with. However, SD is suitable for all sowing that it is highly applicable.

Question 30

Explain how flooding is cost-effective.

Answer 30

The NHS costs must be considered as well as applicability and effectiveness. Flooding can be effective in one session, whereas SD needs multiple sessions for the same result to occur, flooding can also allow for longer sessions needed as well. Therefore, many people can be treated with flooding for the same cost as one or a couple people with SD.

Question 31

Describe how the experience of flooding being unpleasant is a limitation of the treatement.

Answer 31

Schumacher et al found that both patient and psychologists rated flooding as significantly more stressful than SD. This also raises ethical issues as the psychologist are purposefully causing distress to their patients.

Question 33

Explain what is meant by catastrophising,

Question 34

Explain what is meant but absolutist thinking.

Question 35

Explain what is meant by overgeneralisation.