Psychopathology

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    • What does statistical infrequency imply about a disorder?
      A disorder is abnormal if its frequency is more than two standard deviations away from the mean incidence rates.
    • How is statistical infrequency used in clinical diagnoses?
      It is used as a comparison with a baseline or 'normal' value to assess the severity of the disorder.
    • What percentage of the general population is affected by Schizophrenia?
      1%
    • What is a limitation of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality?
      It assumes that any abnormal characteristics are automatically negative.
    • What is the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality?
      It suggests that individuals may be considered abnormal if their mental state prevents them from leading a 'normal' life.
    • Who proposed the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality?
      Rosenhan and Seligman (1989)
    • What behaviors might indicate failure to function adequately?
      Not obeying social norms, being in distress, or exhibiting dangerous behavior.
    • What is a strength of the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality?
      It takes into account the patient's perspective, leading to potentially more accurate diagnoses.
    • What is a weakness of the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality?
      It may lead to labeling patients as 'strange' or 'crazy', reinforcing negative stereotypes.
    • What does the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality suggest?
      Abnormal behavior is based on straying away from social norms specific to a culture.
    • What is an example of a behavior that could lead to a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (APD)?
      Behaving aggressively towards strangers.
    • How has the deviation from social norms definition historically led to discrimination?
      It has been used as a mechanism for social control, reflecting societal biases.
    • What is an example of a culturally specific norm that could affect mental health diagnoses?
      Hallucinations may be viewed positively in some cultures as a sign of spirituality.
    • Who proposed the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality?
      Jahoda (1958)
    • What are some criteria for ideal mental health according to Jahoda?
      Self-actualization, accurate self-perception, and high self-esteem.
    • What is a major issue with Jahoda's definition of ideal mental health?
      It may set unrealistic expectations that most people cannot meet.
    • How does the concept of cultural relativism affect the deviation from ideal mental health definition?
      Self-actualization may be viewed as selfish in collectivist cultures.
    • What are the behavioral characteristics of phobias?
      Panic, avoidance, and endurance.
    • What physiological response occurs during panic in phobias?
      Heightened physiological arousal caused by the hypothalamus.
    • How does avoidance behavior impact a patient's life?
      It severely impacts their ability to continue with day-to-day activities.
    • What is endurance in the context of phobias?
      Remaining exposed to the phobic stimulus for an extended period while experiencing anxiety.
    • What are the main emotional characteristics of phobias?
      Anxiety and unawareness of the irrationality of the anxiety.
    • What cognitive characteristics are associated with phobias?
      Selective attention, irrational beliefs, and cognitive distortions.
    • What does selective attention mean in the context of phobias?

      The patient remains focused on the phobic stimulus despite severe anxiety.
    • How do irrational beliefs contribute to phobias?
      They lead to unreasonable responses of anxiety towards the phobic stimulus.
    • What are cognitive distortions in the context of phobias?
      The patient does not perceive the phobic stimulus accurately, often seeing it as grossly distorted.
    • What are the behavioral characteristics of depression?
      Changed activity levels, aggression, and changes in sleeping and eating patterns.
    • What emotional characteristics are associated with depression?
      Lowered self-esteem, constant poor mood, and high levels of anger.
    • What cognitive characteristics are common in depression?
      Absolutist thinking, selective attention towards negative events, and poor concentration.
    • What are the main behavioral characteristics of OCD?
      Compulsions and avoidance behavior.
    • What emotional characteristics are associated with OCD?
      Guilt, disgust, depression, and anxiety.
    • What cognitive characteristics are typical in OCD?
      Patients acknowledge their anxiety is excessive and develop cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions.
    • What is Mowrer's theory regarding the acquisition of phobias?
      Phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning.
    • How did Watson and Rayner demonstrate classical conditioning in phobias?
      Little Albert associated fear from a loud bang with a white rat.
    • What is the role of operant conditioning in maintaining phobias?
      Avoidance behaviors are negatively reinforced by avoiding the anxiety associated with the phobic stimulus.
    • What is a strength of Mowrer's theory of phobias?
      It explains the mechanism behind the acquisition and maintenance of phobias.
    • What is systematic desensitization?
      A behavioral therapy designed to reduce phobic anxiety through gradual exposure to the phobic stimulus.
    • What principle does systematic desensitization rely upon?
      Counterconditioning, learning a new response of relaxation to the phobic stimulus.
    • What is the anxiety hierarchy in systematic desensitization?
      A list of situations involving the phobic stimulus, ordered from least to most nerve-wrecking.
    • What is reciprocal inhibition in the context of systematic desensitization?
      It is impossible to be both relaxed and anxious at the same time.
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