Cognitive approach & Cognitive therapies

This page focusses on the Cognitive approach to identifying the cause of abnormality (thinking) and then what method cognitive psychologists would employ to treat mental illness

Below is the Cognitive Approach handout used in class followed by...

...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it

If the problem has been caused by an individuals' thinking then the treatment is going to focus on correcting the thinking.

Below is the Cognitive Treatment handout used in class followed by...

...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it

Behavioural approach & Behavioural therapies

This page focusses on the Behavioural approach to identifying the cause of abnormality (learning) and then what method behavioural psychologists would employ to treat mental illness

Below is the Behavioural Approach handout used in class followed by...

...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it



Video that demonstrates Classical Conditioning



Link to disorder - Remember that classical conditioning can be used to explain the development of phobias using the classical conditioning schedule

 Video that demonstrates Operant Conditioning

Link to disorder - Remember that operant conditioning can be used to explain the development of Anoerxia Nervosa explaining that if an individual receives a compliment regarding weight loss then that behaviour is encouraged and can develop into an eating disorder (please remember that this isn't going to be the case for everyone and that individual differences are in play here!)

Video that demonstrates Social Learning Theory

Link to disorder - Remember that social learning thoery can also be used to explain the development of Anoerxia Nervosa explaining that if an individual observes others (usually celebrities) being praised for weight loss then that behaviour is encouraged in the observer and can develop into an eating disorder (please remember that this isn't going to be the case for everyone and that individual differences are in play here!)

If the problem has been caused by an individuals' learning then the treatment is going to focus on more learning.

Below is the Behavioural Treatment handout used in class followed by...

...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it

Systematic Desensitisation evens works on horses!!!

Psychodynamic approach & Psychodynamic therapies

This page concentrates on Freud's ramblings about abnormality being caused by unconscious processes

Below is the Psychodynamic Approach handout used in class followed by...

...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it

Little Hans fear of horses

Link to disorder - If the SuperEgo becomes dominant as a result of intra-psychic conflict then it might manifest itself as OCD in adult behaviour. Another link to disorders would be that when defence menchanisms fail then the adult could develop a phobia (remember Little Hans?!) Finally, the psychodynamic approach would suggest that fixation at the oral stage of psychosexual development could result in the development of an eating disorder.

If the problem is unconscious then the treatment would focus on accessing the unconscious

Below is the Psychodynamic Treatment handout used in class followed by...



...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it

Remember how Marge was treated for her fear of flying?



Psychological Approaches and Psychological Therapies

The Approaches to Psychopathology section of the specification is focussed on what the 4 different approaches would identify as the cause of an abnormality and then how the approaches would treat abnormality

There are 3 Psychological approaches that you need to know-

Psychodynamic approach - unconscious

Behavioural approach - learning

Cognitive approach - thinking

Biological approach & Biological therapies

The Approaches to Psychopathology section of the specification is focussed on what the 4 different approaches would identify as the cause of an abnormality and then how the approaches would treat abnormality

- The Biological Approach - Physical

Below is the Biological Approach handout used in class followed by...

...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it

Link to disorders - To link the biological approach to disorders you need to find a biological link. Depression is associated with low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin and Schizophrenia is linked with enlarged ventricles in the brain. If you want to discuss genetics then you must be aware of what a concordance rate is - the rates for SZ are as follows Stranger = 1%, MZ twins = 48%, DZ twins = 17%

- If the problem is physical then the treatment would focus on changing the brain or body

Below is the Biological Treatment handout used in class followed by...

...the powerpoint presentation that you need to follow in order to complete it



Definitions of abnormality

This area of the specification is concerned with how was would identify and define someone as having an abnormality - there are 3 different definitions you can choose from and you need to know all 3 definitions, an example of how they'd link to a disorder and their limitations.

Below are the handouts provided in lesson and the powerpoint we went through as a class

1. Deviation from Social Norms - relates to how society expects us to behave

The DSN definition links to the disorder Tourettes - this is because the characteristics of Tourettes syndrome can include loud vocal outbursts of inappropriate comments in public - this breaks implicit social norms

2. Failure to Function Adequately - relates to the presence of 5 specific criteria

The FFA definition links to the disorder Depression - this is because the characteristics of Depression can cause Personal Distress, Observer Distress and Irrational Behaviour (e.g. not being able to get out of bed) - this means an individual would have the FFA criteria, making them 'abnormal'

3. Deviation from Ideal Mental Health - relates to the absence of 5 specific criteria

The DIMH definition links to the disorder OCD - this is because the characteristics of OCD are indicative that the individual isn't Resistant to Stress and in unable to be Autonomous - this means an individual would lack the DIMH criteria, making them 'abnormal'

 

The powerpoint below along with the comments above will guide you through the class notes to enable you to complete the sheets above if they are missing from your Psychology notes