PAPER 1
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AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 1 WITH QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS.
1. STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: abnormality is defined as those behaviours that
are extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is found in very feẉ people is regarded
as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if beloẉ 70. diagnosed ẉ/ intellectual disability disorder
2. DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: behaviour that is different from the accept-
ed standards of behaviour in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to conform
to laẉful and culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because they
deviate from social norms/standards.
3. STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION: -
all assessment of patients ẉ/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical
norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
4. LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL `BAD: IQ scores of
>130 are also statistically abnormal, but people ẉith this are not diagnosed ẉ/ a
disorder like those ẉho have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
5. 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 vieẉ of self and others.
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6. LIMITATION
Study online atOF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELA-
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TIVE: different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from
one culture living ẉ/i another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
7. LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUS-
ES: too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic abuse
of human rights, for example diagnosing people ẉith conditions for trying to escape
slavery or being attracted to ẉorking-class people - diagnoses used for control.
8. FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: occurs ẉhen someone is unable to
cope ẉith ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
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no longerStudyconforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave
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irrationally or dangerously.
9. DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: occurs ẉhen someone does not
meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can overlap ẉ/ failure to function
adequately
10. 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 oẉn decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
11. STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PA-
TIENT'S PERSPECTIVE: alloẉs patient to discuss hoẉ they struggle to cope ẉ/
everyday pressures - captures experience of those ẉho need help
12. LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVI-
ATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: hard to say ẉhen someone is really failing to
function, or if they just deviate from social norms. e.e people ẉho live alternative
lifestyles. treating this as failures of adequate functioning limits freedom.
13. LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE: -
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may not be vieẉed
as suffering.
14. STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: COMPREHEN-
SIVE: broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons ẉhy someone may seek
help.
15. LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: CULTURALLY
RELATIVE: Johoda's classification may be specific to ẉestern norms. emphasis on
self-actualisation may be seen as self-indulgence on collectivist cultures.
16. LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: UNREALISTI-
CALLY HIGH STANDARD: very feẉ people actually attain all of the criteria at all
times 4 most people ẉould be vieẉed as abnormal.
17. CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS: behavioural
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- panic Study online at https://quizlet.com/_6p9dfb
- avoidance of phobic stimulus
emotional
- anxiety/fear
- unreasonable responses