Psychopathology A Level AQA GRADED A+ 2022

Psychopathology A Level AQA GRADED A+ 2022 2 behavioural characteristics of OCD Compulsions Avoidance What does it mean by compulsions as a characteristic Actions that are carried out repeatedly e.g. handwashing. The same behaviour is repeated in a ritualistic way to reduce anxiety What is meant by avoidance for OCD The OCD is managed by avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, e.g. sufferers who washs repeatedly may avoid coming into contact with germs What are 2 emotional characteristics of OCD Anxiety and distress Guilt and disgust What is it meant by anxiety and distress in OCD Obsessive thoughts are unpleasant and frightening, and the anxiety that goes with these can be overwhelming What is meant by guilt and disgust in OCD Irrational guilt, for example over a minor moral issue, it disgust which is directed towards oneself or something external like dirt What are the 2 cognitive characteristics for OCD Obsessive thoughts Insight into excessive anxiety What is it mean by obsessive thoughts About 90% of OCD sufferers have obsessive thoughts, e.g. recurring intrusive thoughts about being contaminated by dirt or germs What is it meant by insight into excessive anxiety Awareness that thoughts and behaviour are irrational. In spite of this, sufferers experience catastrophic thoughts and are hypervigilant, i.e. 'over aware' of their obsession What are the 2 behavioural characteristics of phobias Panic Avoidance What is meant by panic This may involve a range of behaviours such as crying, screaming or running away from the phobic stimulus What is meant by avoidance in phobias Considerable effort to avoid coming into contact with the phobic stimulus. This can make it hard to go about everyday life, especially if the phobic stimulus is often seen What are the 2 emotional characteristics for phobias Anxiety and fear Responses are unreasonable What does it mean by anxiety and fear Fear is the immediate experience when a phobic encounters or thinks about the phobic stimulus. Fear leads to anxiety What does it mean by responses are unreasonable Response is widely disproportionate to the threat posed What are the 2 cognitive characteristics of phobias Selective attention to the phobic stimulus Irrational beliefs What does it mean by selective attention to the phobic stimulus The phobic finds it hard to look away from the phobic stimulus What does it mean by irrational beliefs For example, social phobias may involve beliefs such as 'if I blush people will think I'm weak' or 'I must always sound intelligent' What are the 2 behavioural characteristics for depression Activity levels Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour What does it mean by activity levels Sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy making them lethargic. In extreme cases, this can be so severe that the sufferer cannot get out of bed What does it mean by disruption to sleep and eating behaviour Sufferers may experience reduced sleep (insomnia) or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia). Appetite may increase or decrease, leading to weight gain or loss What are the 2 emotional characteristics of depression Lowered mood Anger What does it mean by lowered mood More pronounced than the daily experience of feeling lethargic or dad. Sufferers often describe themselves as 'worthless' or 'empty' What does it mean by angry On occasion, such emotion leads to aggression or self harming behaviours What are the 2 cognitive characteristics of depression Poor concentration Absolutist thinking What does it mean by poor concentration Sufferers may find themselves unable to stick with a task as they usually would, or they might find simple decision making difficult What does it mean by absolutist thinking 'Black and white thinking', when a situation is unfortunate it is seen as an absolute disaster What are the 3 points for Beck's cognitive theory of depression Faulty information processing Depressed people have negative self-schemas The negative triad What does it mean by faulty information processing Aaron Beck (1967) suggested that some people are more prone to depression because of faulty information processing, i.e. thinking in a flawed way. When depressed people attend to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives, they tend to blow small problems out of proportion and think in 'black and white' terms What is it meant by schemas A schema is a 'package' of ideas and information developed through experience What does it mean by depressed people have negative schemas We use schemas to interpret the world, so if a person has a negative self-schema they interpret ALL information about themselves in a negative way What are the 3 elements of the negative triad and give an example of each Negative views of the world, e.g. 'the world is a cold hard place' Negative views of the future, e.g. 'there isn't much chance that the economy will get any better' Negative views of the self, e.g. 'I am a failure' and this negatively impacts upon self-esteem What are the 2 positive evaluation points of the cognitive approach of depression Supporting Evidence Practical applications What was the supporting evidence of the cognitive approach of depression Grazioli & Terry (2000) assessed 60 pregnant women for vulnerability of it. They found those to be high in cognitive vulnerability were more likely to develop post-natal depression. Suggests that theory is valid in terms of cognitive leading to depression. What was the practical application of the cognitive approach of depression CBT to Becks explanation. CBT aims to identify and challenge the components of the negative triad and changes cognition - success of CBT supports theory What were the 2 negative evaluation points of the cognitive approach of depression Can't explain all types Underestimates the role of biology Cognition may not cause all aspects of depression Ellis' model is a partial explanation of depression What does it mean by can't explain all types (fully explain this point) of the cognitive approach of depression Can only explain reactive depression with a clear activating event, for many there isn't. Also, it cannot explain the hallucinations that some experience - only certain forms of depression can be explained by this theory Fully explain how the cognitive approach of depression underestimates the role of biology It places too much emphasis on thought - underestimates other factors e.g. biology ( neurotransmitters - serotonin - casts doubt in the idea that cognition is always the root cause of depression Cognition may not cause all aspects of depression Cognitive explanations are closely tied up with concept of cognitive primacy, idea emotions are influenced by cognition. Sometimes case but not always. Other theories of depression see emotions as stored like physical energy, to emerge some time after causal event. Casts doubt on idea cognition are always root cause of depression & suggests cognitive theories may not explain all aspects of disorder Ellis' model is a partial explanation of depression There's no doubt that some cases of depression follow activating events. Psychologists call this reactive depression and see it as different from the kind of depression that arises without an obvious cause. This means that Ellis' explanation only applies to some kinds of depression Who made the ABC model Albert Ellis What does the A stand for Activating events What does the A mean Ellis suggested that depression arises from irrational thoughts. According to Ellis depression occurs when we experience negative events, e.g. failing an important test or ending a relationship What does the B stand for Beliefs What does the B mean Negative events trigger irrational beliefs What is musterbation The belief that we must always succeed What is 'I-can't-stand-it-itis' It is the belief that is a disaster when things do not go smoothly What is utopianism The belief that the world must always be fair and just What does the C stand for Consequences What does the C mean When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequences Behavioural activation As individuals become depressed, they tend to increasingly avoid the situations and becomes isolate, which may worsen symptoms If an individual has behavioural activation, what will be the goal treatment Decrease their avoidance and isolation What are the 2 positive evaluation points of the treatment of depression CBT is effective in reducing symptoms and preventing relapses Newark et al study shows treatment is due to emotional thoughts What does it mean by CBT is effective in reducing symptoms and preventing relapses in the treatment of depression Large body of evidence to prove this - most effective psychological treatment for moderate depression - as effective as drugs for many types of depression and prevents relapses