Psycopathology

Question 1

What are the four definitions for abnormality?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

When an individual has a less common characteristic which varies from the statistical norms. e.g being more depressed or having a lower than average IQ

Question 3

What is ‘Deviation from social norms’?

Answer 3

When behaviour is different to socially acceptable standards of behaviour.

Question 4

What is ‘Failure to function adequately’?

Answer 4

When somebody is unable to cope with ordinary day-to-day demands due to their mental health.

Question 5

What is ‘Deviation from ideal mental health’?

Answer 5

When ‘normal’ mental health is defined and variations from these definitions are used to define abnormality.

Question 6

What are Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health? (there’s 8)

Answer 6

No symptoms of distress.
Rational with healthy self-perception
Self actualise (reach our potential)
Cope with stress
Realistic view of the world
Good self-esteem and lack of guilt
Independent
Can successfully work, love and enjoy leisure time.

Question 7

What are two main evaluation points for Statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 7

Has real life application - statistical infrequency can help lead to a helpful diagnosis.

Unusual characteristics can be positive - e.g higher IQ scores may be statistically infrequent but do not represent an issue.

Question 8

What are two evaluation points for ‘Deviations from social norms’ as a definition of abnormality?

Answer 8

Cultural relativism - Different cultures have different standards for social norms meaning that social norms are culturally specific.

Not a sole explanation - Always other factors to consider when diagnosing a patient.

Question 9

What are two evaluation points for the ‘failure to function adequately’ definition of abnormality?

Answer 9

Subjective judgements - there’s some element of subjectivity when judging a patients’ level of distress.

Patients perspective - a strength is that the definition tries to include the patient’s own subjective perspective on whether or not they are actually suffering.

Question 10

What are two evaluation points for the ‘deviation from ideal mental health’ definition of abnormality?

Answer 10

Cultural relativism - these criteria are western-orientated so, for more collectivist cultures, independence and personal achievement are far from a priority.

Sets an unrealistically high standard for mental health - very few people can actually meet all of the criteria but are actually mentally healthy.

Question 11

Define ‘phobia’

Answer 11

An irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 12

What are the three behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 12

Panic
Avoidance
Endurance (continuing to be in the presence of a phobic stimulus with high levels of anxiety)

Question 13

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 13

Anxiety (phobias are anxiety disorders)

Unreasonable emotional responses (fear & anxiety)

Question 14

What are the three cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 14

Selective attention to the phobic stimulus
Irrational beliefs
Cognitive distortions

Question 15

What are the three behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 15

Activity levels vary
Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour
Aggression and self-harm

Question 16

What are the three emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 16

Lowered mood
Anger
Lowered self-esteem

Question 17

What are the three cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 17

Poor concentration
Attending to and dwelling on the negative
Absolutist thinking

Question 18

What are the two behavioural characteristics of OCD?

Answer 18

Compulsions - repetitive and reduce anxiety

Avoidance - avoiding situations that may trigger anxiety

Question 19

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?

Answer 19

Anxiety and distress
Co-morbidity of depression
Guilt and disgust

Question 20

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?

Answer 20

Obsessive thoughts
Cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions
Insight into excessive anxiety (knowing their thoughts are irrational)

Question 21

Which model is used in the behavioural approach to explaining phobias?

Answer 21

The two process model:
Acquisition through classical conditioning
Maintenance through operant conditioning

Question 22

What key study has been found to prove the role of classical conditioning in the acquisition of phobias?

Answer 22

Watson’s ‘Little Albert’ study in which the researchers gave a baby a phobia to rats and other fluffy animals by causing a bang every time the child interacted with them.

Question 23

What are two evaluation points for the two process model?

Answer 23

Good explanatory power - explained how phobias are maintained and this had important implications for therapy.

Incomplete explanation - leaves out the theory of biological preparedness - some phobias don’t follow trauma

Question 24

What are the two behavioural approaches to treating phobias?

Answer 24

Systematic desensitisation

Flooding

Question 25

What are the three key processes involved in systematic desensitisation?

Answer 25

1. The anxiety hierarchy - set of anxiety inducing situations ordered from least to most frightening 2. Relaxation - Teaching the patient to relax as much as possible 3. Exposure - Patient exposed to phobic stimulus in a relaxed state

Question 26

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 26

Behavioural therapy designed to reduce anxiety by gradually working through the anxiety hierarchy whilst maintaining relaxation.

Question 27

What is flooding?

Answer 27

When a patient is exposed to an extreme form of their phobic stimulus over a couple of therapy sessions.

Question 28

How does flooding work?

Answer 28

Being exposed to their phobic stimulus without the option for avoidance leads to extinction of the phobia as the maintenance aspect of operant conditioning can not take place.

Question 29

What are the evaluation points for systematic desensitisation?

Answer 29

It is suitable for a wide range of patients - some patients with learning difficulties may not be suited to flooding. It is acceptable to patients - patients often prefer it to flooding as the treatment largely does not cause the same degree of trauma that flooding might,

Question 30

What are the evaluation points for flooding?

Answer 30

It can be traumatic - often flooding can be so traumatic that patients are not willing to see the therapy to the end due to the high stress levels of it. It is cost-effective - Studies comparing the two treatments have found that flooding is the more cost effective method as it is a lot quicker than systematic desensitisation.