...part of psychologists and psychiatrists. David Rosenhan wondered if mental health professionals were truly able to distinguish between the mentally healthy and the mentally...
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...anti-psychiatry movement that questions the reliability and helpfulness of psychiatric treatments. Many psychiatrists such as Maurice Temerlin(1968) and David Rosenhan(1973) supported some of the objections and criticisms of the anti-psychiatry movement. Rosenhan questioned the reliability of psychiatric diagnoses and accused diagnostic labels of impairing medical judgement. David Rosenhan carried out the study “On Being Sane In Insane Places” through which he wanted to prove that psychiatric diagnoses are not reliable (Rosenhan, 1973). For the first part of the study, eight sane participants (pseudo-patients) pretended to have auditory hallucinations in order to be admitted to psychiatric hospitals in different states across the United States. Participants for the experiment included three psychologists, one psychiatrist, a graduate student, a housewife, a pediatrician, and a painter. The only false information given for admission was their name, job, and the claim of recent auditory hallucinations. All other details regarding their relationships, life experiences, daily routines, and events of life were authentic. All of the patients were admitted to psychiatric hospitals and diagnosed as mentally disabled. After admission, pseudo-patients informed the staff that they no longer heard voices and felt completely fine (Rosenhan, 1973). Nevertheless, their claims were ignored and were forced to take antipsychotic drugs if...
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...techniques and more specific diagnostic criteria than in the past, classification system is far from perfect ● Classification system said to be valid when it is able to classify a real pattern of symptoms, which can lead to an effective treatment ● However, problem with this is that the classification system is descriptive and doesn’t identify any specific causes for disorders Paragraph 2 (Study 1): Sane or Insane-Rosenhan (1973) Aim: test reliability of psychiatric diagnosis Procedure: field experiment Part 1 ● 8 healthy people (5 men, 3 women) gained admission to 12 different psychiatric hospitals ● Complained of hearing unclear, unfamiliar voices of same sex repeating words “thud” and “empty” ● Participants said they felt fine after admission to hospital (no more symptoms) Part 2 ● Rosenhan told staff at psychiatric hospital that pseudopatients will try to get admitted ● No pseudopatients were actually sent Results: Part 1 ● 7 diagnosed with schizophrenia ● Took average 19 days for discharge and were classified as “schizophrenia in remission” (possibility of symptoms coming back) upon discharge Part 2 ● 41 real patients were judged to be pseudopatients with confidence by at least 1 member of staff ● 19 were suspected to be frauds by 1 psychiatrist and 1 member of staff Conclusion: ● Not possible to distinguish sane from insane in psychiatric hospitals ● Demonstrated lack of scientific evidence on...
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...On Being Sane in Insane Places Zehra Morgan 21737604 February 17, 2016 Introduction to Sociology 125 1. Immediately after admission, the pseudo patients acted normally (asymptomatic) while discreetly taking notes for the experiment. The pseudo patients acted normally and told staff that they felt fine and had no longer experienced any additional hallucinations. All were forced to admit to having a mental illness and agree to take antipsychotic drugs as a condition of their release. The average time that the patients spent in the hospital was 19 days. All but one was diagnosed with schizophrenia "in remission" before their release. The second part of his study involved an offended hospital administration challenging Rosenhan to send pseudo patients to its facility, which its staff would then detect. Rosenhan agreed and in the following weeks out of 193 new patients the staff identified 41 as potential pseudo patients, with 19 of these receiving suspicions from at least one psychiatrist and one other staff member. 2. In 1973, psychiatrists were embarrassingly bad at distinguishing the mentally ill from the normal. Today, psychopathology is still very subjective and arguably as much of an art as it is a science, with questionable criteria as to what is considered a mental "illness" or not. Despite constantly and openly taking extensive notes on the behavior of the staff and other patients, none of the pseudo patients were identified as impostors by the hospital staff...
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...diagnosis of schizophrenia. Classification systems are essential in diagnosing schizophrenia, with two of the most important classification systems being the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' (DSM) and the 'International Classification System for Diseases' (ICD). However for these systems to work effectively, they must be both valid and reliable. Reliability in the context of classification systems means that each time a classification system is used (to diagnose a particular cluster of symptoms) then it should produce the same outcome each time. For DSM and ICD to be classed as reliable, those using it must be able to agree when a patient should or should not be given a particular diagnosis, which is also known as 'inter-rater reliability'. Recent research by Whaley have found have found inter-rater reliability correlations as low as +0.11, this may be to so with cultural differences in classification. Copeland gave 134 US and 194 British psychiatrists a description of a patient, 69% of US psychiatrists diagnosed the patient as suffering from schizophrenia, but only 2% of British psychiatrists gave the same diagnosis. Therefore showing there are cultural differences in diagnosing schizophrenia, thus making the classification systems lacking in reliability. Another reliability issue concerned with the classification of schizophrenia is whether the psychiatrists are diagnosing the situation, or the actual symptoms being presented. Rosenhan stated that...
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...and contrast psychological and biological explanations of schizophrenia. Jessica F Smith University Of Sussex Schizophrenia has been termed a heterogeneous group of disorders with varied etiologies (Walker, Kestler, Bollini, & Hochman, 2004) which includes biological, social, cognitive and psychodynamic perspectives. To progress knowledge of schizophrenia, this essay focuses on how the biological and psychological explanations are independent and interdependent and how they may differentiate from one another. This includes: how our biological predisposition, neuro transmitter dysfunction and genetic inheritance, affects how people with schizophrenia respond to social environments, the importance of socio-economic factors and their ability to shape psychotic symptoms, and how people with schizophrenia have faulty cognitions, which arguably develop from social influence and upbringing. The overruling theory, that is important in explanations of schizophrenia, is known as the Diathesis Stress Model (Davey, 2011), which identifies that psychotic symptoms arise from a combination of both biological predisposition and environmental stress. Servan-Schreiber, Bruno, Carter, & Cohen, (1998) alleviate that dopamine is an important neurotransmitter with a function in regulating movement and guiding attention. The dopamine hypothesis suggests that the dysfunction of movement and attention in those with schizophrenia may be a result of excess dopamine due to an increase of...
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...Abnormal Psychology - Models of Abnormality Behavioral Model Taking over psychology in the first half of this century, particularly in the USA, the behavioural model focuses on the observable behaviour of a person. Its assumptions were that behaviour is primarily the result of the environment rather then genetic and so the behaviourists reject the view that abnormal behaviour has a biological basis. the focus is on reinforcing positive behaviors and not reinforcing maladaptive behaviors. Maladaptive behaviours can be un-learnt by changing the environment. Behaviourists have a deterministic view believe that our actions are based on life experience. This model is completely opposite to the biological model. Classical conditioning is behaviour learned through stimulus-response association. Stimulus being the environment and response being the reaction given. This is an early form of behaviourism pioneered by Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov (1897) demonstrated classical conditioning by using dogs. the dogs would salivate every time meat was put before them he then rang a bell. Eventually the dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell so when they heard the sound of the bell they would salivate even though there was no meat present. Watson and Rayner (1920) proposed that children learn phobias through paired associations. It is suggested that through classical conditioning people can learn to associate an unconditioned response with a neutral stimulus. Therefore resulting...
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...Core study 1 Asch 1955 : Aims and Context Summarise the aims and context of Asch’s 1955) research opinions and social pressure An individual is said to conform if they chose to study a course of action that is favoured by the majority or that is considered socially acceptable .When an individual is influenced by how the majority of people think this is considered socially acceptable Conformity is a form of social influence that results from exposure to the majority position , the tendency for people to adopt the behaviour, attitudes and values of other members of a reference groups, This was a study of conformity in an ambiguous situation ‘unclear’. Jenness asked students to guess how many beans there were in a jar,they were then asked to discuss in groups. Lastly they were asked to give their estimates again, individuals estimates tended to converge to the group norm.It seems reasonable that when in an ambiguous situation (were the answer isn't obvious ) we look to others to get some ideas about behaviour . Jenness's research is limited as he specifically asked participants to produce a group estimate rather than just observing if they would produce group estimates. Sherif conducted a similar investigation into responses to an ambiguous stimulus using the auto kinetic effect ( this is where a stationary spot of light projected on to a screen appears to move) Sherif told participants he was going to move the light , he asked the pp’s to estimate by how far the spotlight...
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...Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality (12 marks) One definition of abnormality is “deviation from social norms” and under this definition a person’s thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the unwritten rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group. Behaviour may be incomprehensible to others or make others feel threatened or uncomfortable. For example, someone would be classified as being abnormal if they laughed at a funeral, as this is socially unacceptable. A weakness of this definition is that it lacks cultural relativity as social behaviour varies when different cultures are compared. For e.g. it’s common in south Europe to stand much closer to strangers than in the UK. As well as this voice pitch and volume, touching, directions of gaze and acceptable subjects for discussion have all been found to vary between cultures. This means what is considered deviant or abnormal varies considerably across cultures, thus weakening this definition. Another limitation of deviation from social norms is that it lacks time validity. This is because social norms change over time; behaviour that was once seen as abnormal may be acceptable and vice versa. For example, drink driving was once considered acceptable but is now seen as socially unacceptable whereas homosexuality has changed the other way. Until 1980 homosexuality was considered a psychological disorder but is considered acceptable today. This is a weakness...
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...Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality (12 marks) One definition of abnormality is “deviation from social norms” and under this definition a person’s thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the unwritten rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group. Behaviour may be incomprehensible to others or make others feel threatened or uncomfortable. For example, someone would be classified as being abnormal if they laughed at a funeral, as this is socially unacceptable. A weakness of this definition is that it lacks cultural relativity as social behaviour varies when different cultures are compared. For e.g. it’s common in south Europe to stand much closer to strangers than in the UK. As well as this voice pitch and volume, touching, directions of gaze and acceptable subjects for discussion have all been found to vary between cultures. This means what is considered deviant or abnormal varies considerably across cultures, thus weakening this definition. Another limitation of deviation from social norms is that it lacks time validity. This is because social norms change over time; behaviour that was once seen as abnormal may be acceptable and vice versa. For example, drink driving was once considered acceptable but is now seen as socially unacceptable whereas homosexuality has changed the other way. Until 1980 homosexuality was considered a psychological disorder but is considered acceptable today. This is a weakness because...
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...Clinical Psychology 8 • Exemplar exam paper 9 PART A – INFORMATION TO HELP EVALUATE STUDIES • Evaluation sheet for the theories/studies of Health Psychology 10 • Guide for answering part A & part B exam questions 11 PART B – HEALTHY LIVING • Introduction to Healthy Living 14 • Theories of Health Belief 17 • Compliance with a Medical Regime for Asthma (Becker 1978) 18 • Internal versus External Locus of Control (Rotter 1966) 21 • Analysis of Self-Efficacy Theory of Behavioural Change (Bandura and Adams 1977) 23 • Summary of the health belief theories 26 • Comprehension questions for theories of health belief 27 • Part A exam question 28 • Part B exam question 29 • Evaluation sheet of health belief theories/studies 30 Introduction to Health Promotion 31 • Theories of Health Promotion • Chip pan fire prevention (Cowpe 1983) 32 • Legislation-Bicycle helmet laws and educational campaigns (Dannenberg et al. 1993) 34 • Effects of Fear arousal (Janis & Feshbeck 1953) 37 • Summary of the health promotion studies 41 • Comprehension questions for health promotion 42 • Part A exam question 43 • Part B exam question 44 • Evaluation sheet of health promotion theories/studies 45 Introduction to Theories of Adherence 46 • Theories of Adherence • Reasons...
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...others. 4. Deviant – Is not tolerated by cultural norms and/or is statistically odd, keeping in mind context of behavior. (Religious practice gets a pass.) 5. *Duration – Behaviors, Affects and/or Cognitions are persistent regardless of circumstance over time. 6. *Detachment – Person holds beliefs or acts in ways that do not correspond to reality. (Religious practice gets a pass.) TYPES OF RESEARCH- One and two apply only to the social sciences, whereas three, four and five apply to both natural and social sciences, with exception to history, which relies solely on case studies and archaeological based observations. In this case though, I’m only talking how these methods are used for psychology. 1. CASE STUDIES- A detailed account of a subject’s personal history that can be used to draw conclusions based on availability. While specific and possibly accurate to an individual, case studies lack internal and external validity (The confounding factors cannot be...
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...PYC4802/101/0/2015 Tutorial letter 101/0/2015 Psychopathology PYC4802 Year module Department of Psychology IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This tutorial letter contains important information about your module. CONTENTS Page 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Turorial material ....................................................................................................... 4 2. PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE ......................................... 4 2.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 4 3. LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS ............................................................ 6 3.1 Lecturer(s) ............................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Department .............................................................................................................. 7 3.3 University ................................................................................................................. 7 4. MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES ....................................................................... 7 4.1 Prescribed book.....
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...Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 BRAIN POWER Myth #1 Most People Use Only 10% of Their Brain Power Myth #2 Some People Are Left-Brained, Others Are Right-Brained Myth #3 Extrasensory Perception (ESP) Is a Well-Established Scientific Phenomenon Myth #4 Visual Perceptions Are Accompanied by Tiny Emissions from the Eyes Myth #5 Subliminal Messages Can Persuade People to Purchase Products 2 FROM WOMB TO TOMB Myth #6 Playing Mozart’s Music to Infants Boosts Their Intelligence Myth #7 Adolescence Is Inevitably a Time of Psychological Turmoil Myth #8 Most People Experience a Midlife Crisis in | 8 Their 40s or Early 50s Myth #9 Old Age Is Typically Associated with Increased Dissatisfaction and Senility Myth #10 When Dying, People Pass through a Universal Series of Psychological Stages 3 A REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST Myth #11 Human Memory Works like a Tape Recorder or Video Camera, and Accurate Events We’ve Experienced Myth #12 Hypnosis Is Useful for Retrieving Memories of Forgotten Events Myth #13 Individuals Commonly Repress the Memories of Traumatic Experiences Myth #14 Most People with Amnesia Forget All Details of Their Earlier Lives 4 TEACHING OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS Myth #15 Intelligence (IQ) Tests Are Biased against Certain Groups of People My th #16 If You’re Unsure of Your Answer When Taking a Test, It’s Best to Stick with Your Initial Hunch Myth #17 The Defining Feature of Dyslexia Is Reversing Letters Myth #18 Students Learn Best When Teaching Styles Are Matched to...
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...Definitions of Abnormality Defining a person or behaviour as ‘abnormal’ implies something undesirable and requiring change Therefore, we must be careful how we use the term Psychologists need methods for distinguishing ‘normal’ from ‘abnormal’ Our definition of abnormality must be objective: * It must not depend on anyone’s opinion or point of view * It should produce the same results whoever applies it It must not be under or over-inclusive * It must not label as ‘abnormal’ or ‘normal’ behaviours or traits that aren’t Three definitions are used to define abnormality: * Deviation from social norms * Failure to function adequately * Deviation from ideal mental health Deviation from social norms Under this definition, a person’s thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it violates the (unwritten) rules about what is expected or acceptable behaviour in a particular social group. Their behaviour may: * Be incomprehensible to others * Make others feel threatened or uncomfortable With this definition, it is necessary to consider: * The degree to which a norm is violated, the importance of that norm and the value attached by the social group to different sorts of violation. * E.g. is the violation rude, eccentric, abnormal or criminal? Abnormality is defined in terms of behavior which goes against societies accepted standards Different societies have different standards Standards change over time Strengths Should be easy...
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