AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is
found in very few people is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to conform to lawful and
culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because they deviate from social
norms/standards.
Brainpower
Read More
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD
IQ scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not diagnosed w/ a
disorder like those who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A LABEL
if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from being labelled as abnormal - could
cause a negative view of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
,different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from one culture living w/i
another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic abuse of human rights,
for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape slavery or being attracted to
working-class people - diagnoses used for control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave irrationally or
dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can overlap w/
failure to function adequately
JAHODA (1958)
Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE
allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/ everyday pressures - captures
experience of those who need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM
SOCIAL NORMS
,hard to say when someone is really failing to function, or if they just deviate from social norms.
e.e people who live alternative lifestyles. treating this as failures of adequate functioning limits
freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may not be viewed as
suffering.
STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: COMPREHENSIVE
broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons why someone may seek help.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
Johoda's classification may be specific to western norms. emphasis on self-actualisation may be
seen as self-indulgence on collectivist cultures.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: UNREALISTICALLY HIGH
STANDARD
very few people actually attain all of the criteria at all times ∴ most people would be viewed as
abnormal.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS
behavioural
- panic
- avoidance of phobic stimulus
emotional
- anxiety/fear
- unreasonable responses
cognitive
- selective attention twd phobic stimulus (difficult to focus elsewhere)
- irratoinal beliefs
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPRESSION
behavioural
- low activity levels
- disruption to sleep/eating
, emotional
- low mood
- anger
cognitive
- poor concentration
- absolutist thinking
CHARACTERISTICS OF OCD
behavioural
- compulsions
- avoidance
emotional
- anxiety/distress
- guilt/disgust
cognitive
- obsessive thoughts
- insight into excessive anxiety (awareness that thoughts are irrational - hyper-vigilant of
obsession)
TWO-PROCESS MODEL
a theory that explains the two processes that lead to the development of phobias - they begin
through classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning.
ACQUISITION OF PHOBIA THRO' CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
e.g. bitten (UCS) → fear (UCR)
dog (NS) associated w/ UCS. dog previously elicited no response.
NS becomes CS producing fear (now the CR)
LITTLE ALBERT
subject in John Watson's experiment, proved classical conditioning principles, especially the
generalization of fear.
whenever Albert played w/ a white rat (NS), loud bang (UCS) was heard causing fear (UCR).
when rat was paired w/ bang several times, it became associated until rat (CS) caused fear
(CR).
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is
found in very few people is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to conform to lawful and
culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because they deviate from social
norms/standards.
Brainpower
Read More
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD
IQ scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not diagnosed w/ a
disorder like those who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A LABEL
if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from being labelled as abnormal - could
cause a negative view of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
,different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from one culture living w/i
another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic abuse of human rights,
for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape slavery or being attracted to
working-class people - diagnoses used for control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave irrationally or
dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can overlap w/
failure to function adequately
JAHODA (1958)
Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE
allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/ everyday pressures - captures
experience of those who need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM
SOCIAL NORMS
,hard to say when someone is really failing to function, or if they just deviate from social norms.
e.e people who live alternative lifestyles. treating this as failures of adequate functioning limits
freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may not be viewed as
suffering.
STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: COMPREHENSIVE
broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons why someone may seek help.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
Johoda's classification may be specific to western norms. emphasis on self-actualisation may be
seen as self-indulgence on collectivist cultures.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: UNREALISTICALLY HIGH
STANDARD
very few people actually attain all of the criteria at all times ∴ most people would be viewed as
abnormal.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS
behavioural
- panic
- avoidance of phobic stimulus
emotional
- anxiety/fear
- unreasonable responses
cognitive
- selective attention twd phobic stimulus (difficult to focus elsewhere)
- irratoinal beliefs
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPRESSION
behavioural
- low activity levels
- disruption to sleep/eating
, emotional
- low mood
- anger
cognitive
- poor concentration
- absolutist thinking
CHARACTERISTICS OF OCD
behavioural
- compulsions
- avoidance
emotional
- anxiety/distress
- guilt/disgust
cognitive
- obsessive thoughts
- insight into excessive anxiety (awareness that thoughts are irrational - hyper-vigilant of
obsession)
TWO-PROCESS MODEL
a theory that explains the two processes that lead to the development of phobias - they begin
through classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning.
ACQUISITION OF PHOBIA THRO' CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
e.g. bitten (UCS) → fear (UCR)
dog (NS) associated w/ UCS. dog previously elicited no response.
NS becomes CS producing fear (now the CR)
LITTLE ALBERT
subject in John Watson's experiment, proved classical conditioning principles, especially the
generalization of fear.
whenever Albert played w/ a white rat (NS), loud bang (UCS) was heard causing fear (UCR).
when rat was paired w/ bang several times, it became associated until rat (CS) caused fear
(CR).
