IB Psychology SL Abnormal Psychology -
Paper 2 Questions & Studies
1. Concepts of Normality and Abnormality
Discuss the concepts of normality and abnormality.
o Rosenhan (1973): "Being Sane in Insane Places" - Explored the
difficulty of defining and identifying abnormality based on symptoms
within a psychiatric institution. Highlights the role of context in
defining normality.
o Luhrmann (2014): Cross-cultural study on hearing voices -
Investigated cultural differences in the experience and interpretation
of auditory hallucinations, suggesting that what is considered
"abnormal" can vary significantly across cultures.
2. Classification Systems of Abnormal Psychology
Discuss one classification system of abnormal psychology.
o Bolton (2002): Emic approach to understanding mental illness in
Rwanda - Argues for the importance of culturally specific ("emic")
approaches to classifying and understanding mental disorders,
contrasting with universal ("etic") approaches like the DSM or ICD.
o Lobbestael, Leurgons, and Arntz (2011): Reliability of DSM-IV
diagnosis - Examined the inter-rater reliability of diagnoses using the
DSM-IV for personality disorders, raising questions about the
consistency and reliability of classification systems.
3. Clinical Biases in Diagnosis
Discuss the role of one or more clinical biases in diagnosis.
o Temerlin (1970): Confirmation bias in diagnosis - Demonstrated how
a clinician's prior suggestion (an "anchor") of a diagnosis could
influence subsequent evaluations, illustrating the impact of
confirmation bias.
o Li-Repac (1980): Cultural bias in diagnosis - Found that clinicians'
cultural backgrounds and stereotypes could influence their diagnostic
judgments of individuals from different cultural groups.
, 4. Validity and/or Reliability of Diagnosis
Discuss the validity and/or reliability of diagnosis.
o Rosenhan (1973): Validity of hospital and psychiatric diagnosis -
Raised serious questions about the validity of psychiatric diagnoses
and the ability of professionals to distinguish between the sane and the
insane within institutional settings.
o Li-Repac (1980): Validity of diagnosis - Showed how cultural biases
could undermine the validity of diagnostic assessments when
clinicians misinterpret behaviors based on cultural stereotypes.
o Lobbestael, Leurgons, and Arntz (2011): Reliability of diagnosis
using the DSM-IV - Focused on the reliability (consistency) of
diagnoses, specifically for personality disorders using the DSM-IV,
and found significant limitations in inter-rater reliability.
5. Approaches to Research in the Study of Factors
Influencing Diagnosis
Discuss approaches to research in the study of factors influencing
diagnosis.
o Rosenhan (1973): Naturalistic observation - Utilized naturalistic
observation by having pseudo-patients enter psychiatric hospitals to
study the diagnostic process in a real-world setting.
o Bolton (2002): Case study - Employed a case study approach in
Rwanda to gain an in-depth understanding of local perspectives on
mental illness and develop culturally appropriate diagnostic
categories.
6. Ethical Considerations in the Study of Factors
Influencing Diagnosis
Discuss ethical considerations in the study of factors influencing
diagnosis.
o Rosenhan (1973): Deception and informed consent - Raised
significant ethical concerns regarding deception (the pseudo-patients
were not genuinely ill) and the lack of informed consent from the
hospital staff.
Paper 2 Questions & Studies
1. Concepts of Normality and Abnormality
Discuss the concepts of normality and abnormality.
o Rosenhan (1973): "Being Sane in Insane Places" - Explored the
difficulty of defining and identifying abnormality based on symptoms
within a psychiatric institution. Highlights the role of context in
defining normality.
o Luhrmann (2014): Cross-cultural study on hearing voices -
Investigated cultural differences in the experience and interpretation
of auditory hallucinations, suggesting that what is considered
"abnormal" can vary significantly across cultures.
2. Classification Systems of Abnormal Psychology
Discuss one classification system of abnormal psychology.
o Bolton (2002): Emic approach to understanding mental illness in
Rwanda - Argues for the importance of culturally specific ("emic")
approaches to classifying and understanding mental disorders,
contrasting with universal ("etic") approaches like the DSM or ICD.
o Lobbestael, Leurgons, and Arntz (2011): Reliability of DSM-IV
diagnosis - Examined the inter-rater reliability of diagnoses using the
DSM-IV for personality disorders, raising questions about the
consistency and reliability of classification systems.
3. Clinical Biases in Diagnosis
Discuss the role of one or more clinical biases in diagnosis.
o Temerlin (1970): Confirmation bias in diagnosis - Demonstrated how
a clinician's prior suggestion (an "anchor") of a diagnosis could
influence subsequent evaluations, illustrating the impact of
confirmation bias.
o Li-Repac (1980): Cultural bias in diagnosis - Found that clinicians'
cultural backgrounds and stereotypes could influence their diagnostic
judgments of individuals from different cultural groups.
, 4. Validity and/or Reliability of Diagnosis
Discuss the validity and/or reliability of diagnosis.
o Rosenhan (1973): Validity of hospital and psychiatric diagnosis -
Raised serious questions about the validity of psychiatric diagnoses
and the ability of professionals to distinguish between the sane and the
insane within institutional settings.
o Li-Repac (1980): Validity of diagnosis - Showed how cultural biases
could undermine the validity of diagnostic assessments when
clinicians misinterpret behaviors based on cultural stereotypes.
o Lobbestael, Leurgons, and Arntz (2011): Reliability of diagnosis
using the DSM-IV - Focused on the reliability (consistency) of
diagnoses, specifically for personality disorders using the DSM-IV,
and found significant limitations in inter-rater reliability.
5. Approaches to Research in the Study of Factors
Influencing Diagnosis
Discuss approaches to research in the study of factors influencing
diagnosis.
o Rosenhan (1973): Naturalistic observation - Utilized naturalistic
observation by having pseudo-patients enter psychiatric hospitals to
study the diagnostic process in a real-world setting.
o Bolton (2002): Case study - Employed a case study approach in
Rwanda to gain an in-depth understanding of local perspectives on
mental illness and develop culturally appropriate diagnostic
categories.
6. Ethical Considerations in the Study of Factors
Influencing Diagnosis
Discuss ethical considerations in the study of factors influencing
diagnosis.
o Rosenhan (1973): Deception and informed consent - Raised
significant ethical concerns regarding deception (the pseudo-patients
were not genuinely ill) and the lack of informed consent from the
hospital staff.
