A Level Psychology: Psychopathology Notes

Definitions of Abnormality

  • Deviation from Social Norms:

    • Behavioral expectations vary across cultures and contexts.

    • Example: Homosexuality was viewed as abnormal in the past due to societal norms.

  • Statistical Infrequency:

    • Defines abnormality based on the rarity of behavior.

    • Example: An IQ above 130 is statistically uncommon (5% of the population).

  • Failure to Function Adequately:

    • Individuals unable to cope with everyday demands are classified as abnormal.

    • Personal distress experienced due to maladaptive behaviors.

  • Deviation from Ideal Mental Health:

    • Proposed by Jahoda, based on six principles such as positive self-attitude and resistance to stress.

Characteristics of Phobias, Depression, and OCD

Phobias

  • Behavioral: Avoidance of feared object/situation.

  • Emotional: Excessive fear and anxiety.

  • Cognitive: Irrational thoughts and selective attention to fear.

Depression

  • Behavioral: Reduced energy and altered sleep patterns.

  • Emotional: Persistent sadness and disinterest in daily activities.

  • Cognitive: Negative outlook and catastrophic thinking about the future.

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

  • Behavioral: Compulsive actions to alleviate anxiety.

  • Emotional: High anxiety and feelings of guilt associated with obsessions.

  • Cognitive: Recurring intrusive thoughts that the individual recognizes as inappropriate.

Behavioral Approach to Explaining Phobias

  • Two-Process Model: Proposed by Mowrer.

    • Classical Conditioning: Phobias acquired through association of neutral stimuli with fear (e.g., Little Albert and white rats).

    • Operant Conditioning: Avoidance of phobic stimuli is negatively reinforced by reduction of anxiety.

Treating Phobias: Behavioral Techniques

  • Systematic Desensitization: Gradual exposure combined with relaxation techniques to countercondition the fear.

  • Flooding: Immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus to extinguish the fear response.

Cognitive Approach to Explaining Depression

  • Beck's Negative Triad: Negative views of self, world, and future.

  • Ellis's ABC Model: Action (event), Beliefs about the action, and Consequences of those beliefs.

  • Cognitive Biases: Overgeneralizations and catastrophizing.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Depression

  • Identifies and challenges irrational thoughts.

  • Incorporates behavioral experiments to reinforce positive thinking patterns.

  • Aims for high recovery rates and is effective long-term compared to medication alone.

Biological Approach to Explaining OCD

  • Genetic Explanations: Polygenic nature; specific genes like exttt{COMT} and exttt{SERT} linked to OCD risk.

  • Neural Explanations: Abnormal serotonin and dopamine levels alongside dysregulated brain circuits related to anxiety and compulsive behavior.

Biological Approach to Treating OCD

  • Drug Therapy: Utilizes SSRIs and tricyclics to modulate neurotransmitter levels and alleviate symptoms.

  • Evaluation of Drug Therapies: Side effects and the fact they mainly treat symptoms rather than root causes; however, they are generally cost-effective and provide rapid symptom relief.

Evaluation of Abnormality Definitions

  • Each definition has a strength and limitation:

    • Social Norms: Accounts for social context, but may violate human rights.

    • Statistical Infrequency: Distinguishes between desirable/undesirable behaviors; however, desirable behaviors can also be rare.

    • Failure to Function: Considers personal experience; may be unrealistic.

    • Ideal Mental Health: Provides a positive framework; but may not apply universally across cultures.