Show:
Normality and diagnosing
Stress
Social, cultural and environmental factors to stress
Physiological response to stress
Phobia
100
Define abnormality.
pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are deviant, distressing and dysfunctional
100
What is stress?
A state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging.
100
Identify one cultural factor that could lead to stress.
Acculturation.
100
What is homeostasis?
The body's ability to maintain a stable physiological environment by keeping certain bodily conditions constant.
100
What is a phobia?
Characterised by an unreasonable fear directed towards a particular object, situation or event
200
What is the difference between a mental health problem and a mental illness?
Mental health problem is temporary, mild and treated within a relatively short period of time. Mental illness is acute, atypical and inappropriate, affecting daily functioning.
200
True or False. Stress is a subjective experience that can be explained universally.
Neither. True as it is subjective. Kind of true regarding 'explained universally' if we are referring to the biological perspective as we all have the same bodily reactions. False if we are referring to the psychological model as our perception of a stressor differs for each person.
200
How do social factors influence stress?
Social support has a huge impact on whether or not we feel stressed. Life events, our perception, our experiences etc can also influence whether or not we perceive an event/stimulus to be stressful. Large life changes can cause us to stress.
200
What is allostasis?
The body's ability to maintain a stable physiological environment by adjusting and changing to meet internal and external demands.
200
How does GABA influence the development of phobias?
Not enough GABA is produced which causes neural transmissions to consistently fire. Doesn't allow for fine-tuning of brain activity therefore over stimulation.
300
Identify two tests that can be used to classify mental illness based on the dimensional approach.
MMPI and the Big Five
300
Explain the role of the HPA axis.
When a stressor is identified the hypothalamus is activated. The hypothalamus then activates the pituitary gland which releases ACTH. ACTH then travels through the blood stream to the adrenal glands above the kidneys. This triggers the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol.
300
Can crowding cause us to stress? Explain.
Yes, for some people. Crowding refers to the feeling of being cramped; of having less space than preferred. Personal space refers to the immediate and small area (about 50cm) with an invisible boundary that surrounds each person. If this is invaded, people can feel 'crowded' and therefore stressed.
300
What is allostatic overload?
Represents the point at which a person actually develops a serious health problem.
300
According to Freud, why do we develop a phobia?
Due to unresolved conflicts within one of the stages of our development. Therefore we use defence mechanisms to help us cope which can develop into a phobia.
400
Compare the dimensional approach with the categorical approach.
Dimensional approach quantifies systems using a graded and transitional model to create a profile of the individual. Categorical approach organises mental disorders into groups based on similar characteristics and then provided a label as the diagnosis.
400
Identify and explain two physiological responses to a stressor.
Nervous System- fight/flight Endocrine System- HPA Musculoskeletal system- tense muscles Gastrointestinal system- upset digestive system Respiratory system- increased respiration and blood pressure Cardiovascular system- increase in heart rate
400
Explain the research that supports the notion that crowding causes us to stress.
Callhoun's research on mice. Mice in a large enclosure Plenty of space, water, food etc. Mice display normal social behaviour, mating etc. Population doubled every 55 days Mice in overcrowded enclosure showed maladaptive behaviours. -Aggression and even cannibalism -Hyperactivity or lethargy -Mothers attacked their young, stopped breeding
400
Identify an example of homeostasis and allostasis.
Homeostasis- maintaining body temperature and blood oxygen levels. Allostasis- Heart rate
400
Identify and explain two types of biases according to the cognitive model.
Attentional Memory Interpretive Catastrophic
500
How does the DSM differ to the MMPI?
DSM is a categorical approach to classifying mental illnesses. Individual reports symptoms and then, using different criteria (Inclusion, exclusion or polythetic), category of mental illness and specific illness is then given to the individual. MMPI is a dimensional approach to classifying mental illness. This test measures individuals on 10 scales. The higher the value the greater the impairment. This score provides a grade and the health professional is able to create a profile on that individual and then watch how it changes over time (transitional aspect).
500
Explain Lazzarus and Folkman's transactional model of stress and coping.
Primary appraisal- is the stimulus irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful. If stressful, is it harm/loss, threat or challenge. Secondary appraisal- evaluate our coping resources- internal and external. Reappraisal- Going back to original stressor and determining if it warrants further attention. Do our resources outweigh the stressor or vice versa?
500
Explain one way to cope with stress from a social perspective.
Social support-Appraisal, Tangible, Information and Emotional.
500
How do we manage stress according to a biological perspective?
Biofeedback.
500
How is the CBT model used to help treat phobias?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Cognitive- – a type of ‘talking therapy’ that focuses on the role of thoughts, beliefs and attitudes in determining emotions and behaviour. Uses techniques to help people become more aware of how they reason, and the kinds of ‘automatic thoughts’ that spring to mind and give meaning to things. Behavioural- clinical application of learning theories, such as classical and operant conditioning. Deals directly with maladaptive behaviours such as avoidance and reduced activity levels, which can maintain or worsen a person’s psychological problems and the thoughts and feelings associated with them.