AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 1
TOPICS | STUDY GUIDE AND EXAM
REVISION | 100% VERIFIED | A+
GUARANTEE
Updated Questions and Answers | 100% Verified Exam Prep
,Statistical infrequency Number of times it is observed
Different/rare = abnormal
E.g. IDD - average IQ 85-115, only 2% below 70
Statistical infrequency - real life applications All MI assessments include comparison to statistical norms
IDD demonstrates how it can be used
Useful in clinical assessment
Statistical infrequency - unusual characteristics can be positive Statistically abnormal but may not need treatment
E.g. IQ of 130 not undesirable
Should never be used alone to make diagnosis
Statistical infrequency - not everyone benefits from labels Happy/fulfilled life
Low IQ, not distressed/unemployed = not necessary
May negatively affect how others view them/how they view themselves
Deviation from social norms Abnormality based on social context (different than expected)
Collected judgement on 'correct'
Few behaviours universally abnormal (cultural context)
Historical differences e.g. homosexuality
APD: failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour
Deviation from social norms - not sole explanation APD: place for deviation from social norms in thinking what is abnormal
Other factors: e.g. distress to other people from APD (a failure to function adequately)
Never sold reason for defining abnormality
Deviation from social norms - cultural relativism Ethnocentrism: one person may judge someone from another culture as abnormal using
their own cultural standards
Hearing voices acceptable in some cultures
Problems for people living outside of own cultural group
,Deviation from social norms - could lead to human rights Systematic abuse of human rights
abuse Drapetomania (black slaves trying to escape) + nymphomania (women attracted to
working class men) = used for social control
Argued that some modern classifications abuse right to be different
Failure to function adequately Cannot cope with everyday life
E.g. maintain job/relationships/hygiene
Rosenhan & Seligman: signs
1. No longer conform to interpersonal rules
2. Experience personal distress
3. Behave irrationally/dangerously
IDD: must be clear signs that they are unable to cope for diagnosis
Failure to function adequately - patient's perspective Difficult to assess distress
Acknowledges experience of patient is important
Captures experiences of those who need help
Failure to function adequately - same as deviation from social Really failing to function or just deviating?
norms Alternative lifestyles/extreme sports = maladaptive behaviour
Treat as 'failures' = limit freedom
Failure to function adequately - subjective judgement Patients may say they are distressed but judged as not
Ways of making judgement as objective as possible (Global Assessment of Functioning
Scale)
Do they have the right to make the judgement?
, Deviation from ideal mental health Change emphasis - what makes normal/psychologically healthy
Identify who deviates
Jahoda (1958) criteria
1. No symptoms/distress
2. Rational/perceive ourselves rationally
3. Self actualise
4. Cope with stress
5. Realistic view of world
6. Good self esteem / lack guilt
7. Independent of others
8. Successfully worklove/enjoy leisure
Overlap of explanations
Failure to keep a job - deviation from ideal of successfully working or failure to cope with
pressures?
Deviation from ideal mental health - comprehensive Covers broad range of criteria
Covers most reasons someone would seek/be referred for help
Good tool for thinking about mental health
Deviation from ideal mental health - culturally relarive Some ideas specific to individualistic cultures
Imposed etic
Emphasis on self actualisation: self indulgent to collectivist cultures
Culturally specific traits
Deviation from ideal mental health - unrealistically high Very few people attain - most people abnormal?
standards Clear ways in which we could benefit from help
No value in who might benefit from treatment against their will
Phobia Irrational fear of object/situation
Phobias - behavioural characteristics Panic: crying, screaming, running away
Avoidance: effort to avoid coming into contact with phobic stimulus (can make it difficult
to go about everyday life)
Endurance: alternative to avoidance, remains in presence but continues to experience
high levels of anxiety
TOPICS | STUDY GUIDE AND EXAM
REVISION | 100% VERIFIED | A+
GUARANTEE
Updated Questions and Answers | 100% Verified Exam Prep
,Statistical infrequency Number of times it is observed
Different/rare = abnormal
E.g. IDD - average IQ 85-115, only 2% below 70
Statistical infrequency - real life applications All MI assessments include comparison to statistical norms
IDD demonstrates how it can be used
Useful in clinical assessment
Statistical infrequency - unusual characteristics can be positive Statistically abnormal but may not need treatment
E.g. IQ of 130 not undesirable
Should never be used alone to make diagnosis
Statistical infrequency - not everyone benefits from labels Happy/fulfilled life
Low IQ, not distressed/unemployed = not necessary
May negatively affect how others view them/how they view themselves
Deviation from social norms Abnormality based on social context (different than expected)
Collected judgement on 'correct'
Few behaviours universally abnormal (cultural context)
Historical differences e.g. homosexuality
APD: failure to conform to lawful and culturally normative ethical behaviour
Deviation from social norms - not sole explanation APD: place for deviation from social norms in thinking what is abnormal
Other factors: e.g. distress to other people from APD (a failure to function adequately)
Never sold reason for defining abnormality
Deviation from social norms - cultural relativism Ethnocentrism: one person may judge someone from another culture as abnormal using
their own cultural standards
Hearing voices acceptable in some cultures
Problems for people living outside of own cultural group
,Deviation from social norms - could lead to human rights Systematic abuse of human rights
abuse Drapetomania (black slaves trying to escape) + nymphomania (women attracted to
working class men) = used for social control
Argued that some modern classifications abuse right to be different
Failure to function adequately Cannot cope with everyday life
E.g. maintain job/relationships/hygiene
Rosenhan & Seligman: signs
1. No longer conform to interpersonal rules
2. Experience personal distress
3. Behave irrationally/dangerously
IDD: must be clear signs that they are unable to cope for diagnosis
Failure to function adequately - patient's perspective Difficult to assess distress
Acknowledges experience of patient is important
Captures experiences of those who need help
Failure to function adequately - same as deviation from social Really failing to function or just deviating?
norms Alternative lifestyles/extreme sports = maladaptive behaviour
Treat as 'failures' = limit freedom
Failure to function adequately - subjective judgement Patients may say they are distressed but judged as not
Ways of making judgement as objective as possible (Global Assessment of Functioning
Scale)
Do they have the right to make the judgement?
, Deviation from ideal mental health Change emphasis - what makes normal/psychologically healthy
Identify who deviates
Jahoda (1958) criteria
1. No symptoms/distress
2. Rational/perceive ourselves rationally
3. Self actualise
4. Cope with stress
5. Realistic view of world
6. Good self esteem / lack guilt
7. Independent of others
8. Successfully worklove/enjoy leisure
Overlap of explanations
Failure to keep a job - deviation from ideal of successfully working or failure to cope with
pressures?
Deviation from ideal mental health - comprehensive Covers broad range of criteria
Covers most reasons someone would seek/be referred for help
Good tool for thinking about mental health
Deviation from ideal mental health - culturally relarive Some ideas specific to individualistic cultures
Imposed etic
Emphasis on self actualisation: self indulgent to collectivist cultures
Culturally specific traits
Deviation from ideal mental health - unrealistically high Very few people attain - most people abnormal?
standards Clear ways in which we could benefit from help
No value in who might benefit from treatment against their will
Phobia Irrational fear of object/situation
Phobias - behavioural characteristics Panic: crying, screaming, running away
Avoidance: effort to avoid coming into contact with phobic stimulus (can make it difficult
to go about everyday life)
Endurance: alternative to avoidance, remains in presence but continues to experience
high levels of anxiety
