psychopathology

• What is the main focus of psychopathology?


  Study of abnormal behavior and mental disorders
• What are the four definitions of abnormality?

  1. Statistical infrequency
  2. Failure to function adequately
  3. Acting against social norms
  4. Deviation from ideal mental health
• How is abnormality defined in terms of statistical infrequency?

  As behavior or characteristics that are rare
• What percentage of people fall below an IQ of 70?

  2%
• Why is the statistical infrequency definition criticized?

  It doesn't distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviors
• How is statistical infrequency used in clinical practice?

  To diagnose and assess severity of symptoms
• What is a limitation of using statistical infrequency to define abnormality?

  It cannot differentiate between positive and negative traits
• What does deviation from social norms mean in defining abnormality?

  • Standards of acceptable behavior set by society
  • Behaviors differing from these norms are classified as abnormal
• How can cultural differences affect the definition of abnormality?

  What is abnormal in one culture may be normal in another
• Why is the definition of deviation from social norms considered incomplete?

  It may not apply universally across cultures
• What is a strength of using deviation from social norms in clinical practice?

  It helps identify antisocial personality disorder
• What does failure to function adequately refer to?

  Inability to cope with daily living demands
• What are some behaviors that indicate failure to function adequately?

  Inability to hold a job or maintain relationships
• Why might failure to function adequately be seen as a deviation from social norms?

  It can be subjective and culturally dependent
• What is a strength of the failure to function adequately definition?

  It represents a threshold for seeking help
• What percentage of people in the UK experience a mental health problem annually?

  25%
• What are Jahoda's six characteristics of ideal mental health?

  Self attitudes, personal growth, integration, autonomy, perception of reality, mastery of environment
• How does depression illustrate the deviation from ideal mental health?

  It involves low self-esteem and inability to cope
• Why is Jahoda's definition of ideal mental health considered unrealistic?

  Most people would be deemed abnormal by it
• What is a limitation of Jahoda's criteria for ideal mental health?

  It may be culturally relative and specific
• What is a phobia?

  An irrational fear of an object or situation
• What are the symptoms of a phobia?

  Panic, anxiety, selective attention, avoidance, fear
• What is the two-process model in explaining phobias?

  Phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning
• What is classical conditioning?

  Learning through association
• How does operant conditioning maintain phobias?

  Avoidance of phobic stimuli reduces fear and anxiety
• Why can't the two-process model explain all phobias?

  Some phobias develop without prior negative experiences
• What is a cognitive characteristic of phobias?

  Irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus
• What are the behavioral symptoms of phobias?

  • Panic
  • Avoidance
  • Endurance
• What are the emotional symptoms of phobias?

  • Panic response
  • Anxiety
  • Fear
• What are the cognitive symptoms of phobias?

  • Selective attention to phobic stimulus
  • Irrational beliefs
  • Cognitive distortions
• What happens to fear and anxiety when we avoid a spider?

  They disappear and we calm down.
• What is likely to happen next time we encounter a spider?

  We will avoid the stimulus again.
• Why is the behavioral explanation of phobias considered incomplete?

  It cannot explain all types of phobias.
• What is a common issue with social phobias?

  They occur over time, not from stimuli.
• What are three cognitive characteristics of phobias?

  Selective attention, irrational beliefs, cognitive distortions
• How are social phobias related to cognitive disorders?

  They are often comorbid with depression.
• What is a strength of the behavioral explanation of phobias?

  It has led to effective treatments.
• What is systematic desensitization?

  • Treatment for phobias
  • Involves creating an anxiety hierarchy
  • Teaches relaxation techniques
  • Gradual exposure to phobic stimulus
• How does systematic desensitization support classical conditioning?

  It replaces negative associations with positive ones.
• Who was Little Albert?

  A child conditioned to fear a white rat.