PSYCHOPATHOLOGY ALL ESSAY PLANS:
Describe and Evaluate At Least 2 Definitions of
Abnormality? (16)
Statistical Deviation AO1:
Definition – Numerically unusual behaviour or characteristic
Intellectual Disability Disorder – IQ below 70, part of diagnosis of IDD
Deviation from Social Norms AO1:
Definition – Social judgements about what it acceptable
Norms are Culture-Specific – What is normal in 1 culture may not be in another
Antisocial Personality Disorder – Impulsive, aggressive, irresponsible behaviour is not socially
acceptable.
Evaluation AO3 :
Unusual Characteristics can be Positive – Some don’t require treatment
Not Everyone Unusual Benefits from a Label – Some with low IQ function fine and don’t benefit from
being labelled
Cultural Relativism – Unfair to judge someone from another culture
Characteristics of Phobias:
Characteristics AO1:
Behavioral – Panic. Avoidance. Endurance
Emotional – Irrational and unreasonable fear and anxiety
Cognitive – Selective attention. Irrational beliefs. Cognitive Distortions.
Characteristics of Depression:
Characteristics AO1:
Behavioral – Lethargy and agitation. Increased or decreased sleeping / eating. Aggression and self-
harm.
Emotional – Lowered mood. Anger towards self and others. Low self-esteem
Cognitive – Poor concentration. Negative bias. Absolutist thinking.
, Characteristics of OCD:
Characteristics AO1:
Behavioral – Compulsions usually decrease anxiety. Avoid situations that trigger anxiety.
Emotional – Intense anxiety. Depression. Guilt and disgust.
Cognitive – Obsessive thoughts. Cognitive strategies. Self-insight.
Describe and Evaluate the Behavioral Approach to
Explaining Phobias? (16)
Behavioral Explanation AO1:
2-Process Model – Mowrer: 2 processes of conditioning
Acquisitioning by Classical Conditioning – US produces a fear response, UCS then associated with
neutral stimulus
Maintenance by Operant Conditioning – Avoidance of phobic stimulus reinforced by anxiety
reduction so phobia is maintained.
Evaluation AO3:
Good Explanatory Power – Explains how phobias can be acquired and maintained
Alternative Explanation for Avoidance – May be motivated more by seeking safety rather than
anxiety reduction
Incomplete Explanation of Phobias – Cannot account for preparedness to acquire phobias of some
stimuli and not others
Describe and Evaluate the use of Behavioral Approach to
the Treatment of Phobias? (16)
Behavioral Treatment: Systematic Desensitisation AO1
Anxiety Hierarchy – A list of situations ranked for how much anxiety they produce
Relaxation – Reciprocal inhibition. Relaxation includes imagery and or breathing techniques
Exposure – Exposed to phobic stimulus whilst relaxed at each level of the anxiety hierarchy
Behavioral Treatment: Flooding AO1
What it is – Exposes patients to frightening situation without build up
How does it work – Work by extinction of conditioned fear response
Describe and Evaluate At Least 2 Definitions of
Abnormality? (16)
Statistical Deviation AO1:
Definition – Numerically unusual behaviour or characteristic
Intellectual Disability Disorder – IQ below 70, part of diagnosis of IDD
Deviation from Social Norms AO1:
Definition – Social judgements about what it acceptable
Norms are Culture-Specific – What is normal in 1 culture may not be in another
Antisocial Personality Disorder – Impulsive, aggressive, irresponsible behaviour is not socially
acceptable.
Evaluation AO3 :
Unusual Characteristics can be Positive – Some don’t require treatment
Not Everyone Unusual Benefits from a Label – Some with low IQ function fine and don’t benefit from
being labelled
Cultural Relativism – Unfair to judge someone from another culture
Characteristics of Phobias:
Characteristics AO1:
Behavioral – Panic. Avoidance. Endurance
Emotional – Irrational and unreasonable fear and anxiety
Cognitive – Selective attention. Irrational beliefs. Cognitive Distortions.
Characteristics of Depression:
Characteristics AO1:
Behavioral – Lethargy and agitation. Increased or decreased sleeping / eating. Aggression and self-
harm.
Emotional – Lowered mood. Anger towards self and others. Low self-esteem
Cognitive – Poor concentration. Negative bias. Absolutist thinking.
, Characteristics of OCD:
Characteristics AO1:
Behavioral – Compulsions usually decrease anxiety. Avoid situations that trigger anxiety.
Emotional – Intense anxiety. Depression. Guilt and disgust.
Cognitive – Obsessive thoughts. Cognitive strategies. Self-insight.
Describe and Evaluate the Behavioral Approach to
Explaining Phobias? (16)
Behavioral Explanation AO1:
2-Process Model – Mowrer: 2 processes of conditioning
Acquisitioning by Classical Conditioning – US produces a fear response, UCS then associated with
neutral stimulus
Maintenance by Operant Conditioning – Avoidance of phobic stimulus reinforced by anxiety
reduction so phobia is maintained.
Evaluation AO3:
Good Explanatory Power – Explains how phobias can be acquired and maintained
Alternative Explanation for Avoidance – May be motivated more by seeking safety rather than
anxiety reduction
Incomplete Explanation of Phobias – Cannot account for preparedness to acquire phobias of some
stimuli and not others
Describe and Evaluate the use of Behavioral Approach to
the Treatment of Phobias? (16)
Behavioral Treatment: Systematic Desensitisation AO1
Anxiety Hierarchy – A list of situations ranked for how much anxiety they produce
Relaxation – Reciprocal inhibition. Relaxation includes imagery and or breathing techniques
Exposure – Exposed to phobic stimulus whilst relaxed at each level of the anxiety hierarchy
Behavioral Treatment: Flooding AO1
What it is – Exposes patients to frightening situation without build up
How does it work – Work by extinction of conditioned fear response
