Abnormality
Defining Psychological Abnormality
The specification includes:
Ø Definitions of abnormality: Statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately, and deviation from ideal mental health.
Ø limitations associated with these definitions of psychological abnormality (e.g. cultural relativism).
Past SEE questions:
ÿ Give two limitations of the definition of abnormality as a deviation from social norms. (3+3) Jan 02
ÿ Outline two limitations of the definition of abnormality as “deviation from ideal mental health”. (3+3) Jan 03
ÿ Explain what is meant by the “failure to function adequately” definition of abnormality. (3) Give one limitation of this definition. (3) Jan 04 May 05 Jan 02
ÿ Explain the “deviation from ideal mental health” definition of abnormality. (3) Give one limitation of the “deviation from ideal mental health” definition of abnormality. (3) Jan 05 Jan 07
ÿ Explain the “statistical infrequency” definition of abnormality. (3) Explain the “deviation from social norms” definition of abnormality. (3) Jan 05
ÿ Identify and explain one definition of abnormality. (3) Explain one limitation of this definition of abnormality. (3) Jan 06
ÿ Give 2 limitations of the definition of abnormality in terms of statistical infrequency. (3+3) May 02
ÿ Outline the “deviation from social norms” definition of abnormality. (3) Outline one limitation of the “deviation from social norms” definition of abnormality. (3) May 03
ÿ Explain how two definitions of abnormality are limited by cultural relativism. (3 + 3) May 03 May 04
ÿ Explain what is meant by the “deviation from ideal mental health” definition of abnormality. (3) Explain what is meant by the “failure to function adequately” definition of abnormality. (3) May 04
ÿ Outline the “statistical infrequency” definition of abnormality. (3) Outline one limitation of the “statistical infrequency” definition of abnormality. (3) Jan 07
Past Mini-essay questions:
ÿ Outline two or more attempts to define psychological abnormality and consider limitations associated with these attempts. (18) Jan 04 May 05 May 06 Jan 03
Biological and Psychological Models of Abnormality
The specification includes:
Ø Assumptions made by biological (medical) and psychological (including psychodynamic, behavioural and cognitive) models of abnormality in relation to the causes of abnormality.
Past SEE questions:
ÿ Outline two assumptions of the behavioural model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (3+3) Jan 02 May 04
ÿ Outline two assumptions made by the biological (medical) model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (6) Jan 03 May 05 Jan 07
ÿ Outline two assumptions of the psychodynamic model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (3+3) Jan 03 May 05
ÿ Outline one assumption of the psychodynamic model and one assumption of the biological (medical) model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (3+3) Jan 04
ÿ Outline two assumptions of the cognitive model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (3+3) May 02 May 06
ÿ Outline one assumption of the behavioural model and one assumption of the cognitive model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (3 + 3 marks) May 03
ÿ Outline two assumptions of the behavioural model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (3+3)
Past 6 mark Describe/Explain questions:
ÿ Outline one or more assumptions of the psychodynamic model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (6 marks) Jan 05 May 02
ÿ Explain one or more assumptions of the behavioural model in relation to causes of abnormality. (6)Jan06
ÿ Explain one or more assumptions of the cognitive model in relation to the causes of abnormality. (6) Jan 06 Jan 04
Past Mini-essay questions:
ÿ “Some models of abnormal behaviour see abnormal behaviour as rooted in the past, and some see it as due to present circumstances.” Describe and evaluate either the psychodynamic or the cognitive model as a way of explaining abnormal behaviour. (18 marks) Jan 02
ÿ Outline and evaluate one model of abnormality. (18) Jan 05
ÿ “Despite its weaknesses, the psychodynamic model is still useful in understanding and treating psychological disorders.” Outline key features of the psychodynamic model of abnormality and consider its strengths and/or limitations. (18 marks) May 03 Jan06
ÿ “Explanations of abnormality have become increasingly dominated by the biological model.” Give a brief account of the biological (medical) model of abnormality and consider its strengths and limitations. (18 marks) May 02 May 04
ÿ Outline and evaluate the behavioural model of abnormality (18) Jan 07 May 06
Eating Disorders
The specification includes:
Ø Clinical characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
Ø Explanations of these eating disorders in terms of biological and psychological models of abnormality, including research studies on which these explanations are based.
Past outline/ describe/ explain 6 mark questions:
ÿ Describe one psychological explanation of anorexia nervosa. (6 marks) Jan 02
ÿ Outline three clinical characteristics of bulimia nervosa. (2+2+2) Jan 02 May 06
ÿ Outline three clinical characteristics of anorexia nervosa. (2 + 2 + 2) May 02 Jan 07
ÿ Outline three differences in the clinical characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. (2+2+2) May 04
ÿ Outline one explanation of anorexia nervosa. (6 marks) May 06
Past APFCC questions:
ÿ Describe the findings and conclusions of one study of bulimia nervosa. (6) Jan 03
ÿ Describe the findings and conclusions of one study of the biological causes of bulimia and/or anorexia nervosa. (6) Jan 04
ÿ Describe the procedures and conclusions of one study of bulimia nervosa. (6) Jan 05
ÿ Describe the findings and conclusions of one study into psychological explanations of eating disorders. (6) Jan 06
ÿ Describe the findings and conclusions of one study of anorexia nervosa. (6) May 03 May 05
ÿ Describe the procedures and findings of one study of eating disorders (6) May 06
Past Mini-essay questions:
ÿ “Eating disorders are complicated behaviours with complicated causes.” Consider whether psychologists have been successful in explaining anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa using a biological approach. (12) Jan 02 May 03 Jan 06 Jan 04
ÿ Briefly outline two or more explanations of anorexia nervosa and evaluate these explanations using research evidence (theories and/or studies). (18) Jan 03
ÿ “Psychologists disagree on whether anorexia nervosa has psychological or biological origins.” Outline and evaluate one explanation of anorexia nervosa. (18 marks) Jan 05 May 04 Jan 07
ÿ Consider whether research supports the view that eating disorders are caused by psychological factors. (18 marks) May 02
Stress
Stress as a bodily response
The specification includes:
Ø The body’s response to stressors (e.g. pituitary-adrenal system);
Ø The General Adaptation Syndrome (Selye).
Ø Research into the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disorders and the effects of stress on the immune system.
Past SEE questions:
ÿ Identify the three stages of Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome in the correct order. (3 marks) Give one criticism of this model. (3 marks) Jan 02
ÿ Give two criticisms of Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome. (3 marks + 3 marks) Jan 04
ÿ Outline two ways in which the body responds to stressors. (3 + 3 marks) Jan 05 Jan 06 May 02
ÿ Outline the General Adaptation Syndrome (3) Give one criticism of the General Adaptation Syndrome (3) May 05
Past explain/outline describe 6 mark questions:
ÿ Describe Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome. (6 marks) May 03 May 06
Past APFCC Questions:
ÿ Describe the procedures of one study of the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disorders. Give one criticism of this study. (3 marks + 3 marks) Jan 06
ÿ Describe the findings and conclusions of one study of the effects of stress on the immune system. (6 marks) Jan 03
ÿ Describe the procedures and findings of one study of the effects of stress on the immune system. (6 marks) Jan 04 Jan 05 May 05 May 02
ÿ Describe the procedures of one study of the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disorders. Give one criticism of this study. (3 marks + 3 marks) Jan 06
ÿ Describe the procedures and findings of one study of the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disorders. (6 marks) May 03
ÿ Describe the findings and conclusions of one study of the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disorders. (6 marks) May 04
Past Mini-essay questions:
ÿ Outline and evaluate research (theories and/or studies) into the relationship between stress and physical illness. (18 marks) Jan 05
ÿ To what extent does research support a link between stress and the immune system? (18 marks) May 02 May 06
ÿ Discuss research into the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disorders (18) Jan 07
Sources of stress
The specification includes:
Ø Research into sources of stress, including life changes (e.g. Holmes & Rahe), and workplace stressors (e.g. Johansson, Marmot).
Ø Individual differences in modifying the effects of stressors, including the roles played by personality (e.g. Type A behaviour, hardy personality) and gender (e.g. physiological reactivity, social support).
Ø
Past SEE questions:
ÿ Outline one way in which personality may modify the effects of stressors. (3 marks) Outline one way in which gender may modify the effects of stressors. (3 marks) Jan 02
ÿ Describe two ways in which personality may modify the effects of stressors. (3 marks + 3 marks) Jan 03 Jan 05
ÿ Outline two ways in which gender may modify the effects of stressors. (3 + 3 marks) Jan 04 Jan 05
ÿ Identify and explain two sources of stress. (3 marks + 3 marks) May 02
Past APFCC Questions:
ÿ Describe the procedures and findings of one study of workplace stressors. (6 marks) Jan 02 Jan 07
ÿ Outline findings of research into life changes as a source of stress. (6 marks) Jan 03 May 05
ÿ Outline findings of research into workplace stressors. (6 marks) Jan 06 May 04 May 05
ÿ Outline findings of research into the role of control in stress. (6 marks) May 04
ÿ Describe the findings and conclusions of 1 study of workplace stressors (6 marks) May 06
Past Mini-essay questions:
ÿ “Life changes, even if they are positive, are always a source of stress.” To what extent have life changes been shown to be a source of stress? (18 marks) Jan 02
ÿ “A major cause of stress is the sense of not being in control of events.” Describe and evaluate the role of control in the perception of stress. (18 marks) Jan 02
ÿ “A major problem with investigating workplace stress is that so many factors might be involved.” Outline and evaluate research (theories and/or studies) into the workplace as a source of stress. (18 marks) Jan 03 Jan 04
ÿ ‘Research has shown that factors such as personality and gender can affect how people cope with stress.’ Discuss ways in which individual differences can modify the effects of stressors. (18 marks) Jan 06
ÿ To what extent have the effects of stressors been shown to be modified by personality and/or by gender? (18 marks) May 02 May 04 May 06
ÿ “The problem with studying life changes is that they have different effects on different people.” Outline and evaluate research (theories and/or studies) into life changes (e.g. Holmes and Rahe) as a source of stress. (18 marks) May 03 May 04
Stress management
The specification includes:
Ø Approaches to managing the negative effects of stress, including physiological (e.g. drugs, biofeedback) and psychological methods (e.g. stress-inoculation, increasing hardiness).
Ø The strengths and weaknesses of methods of stress management.
Past SEE questions:
ÿ Explain one strength and one weakness of one physical approach (e.g. biofeedback, drugs) to stress management. (3 marks + 3 marks) Jan 02
ÿ Outline one physiological approach (e.g. drugs, biofeedback) to stress management. (3 marks) Describe one strength of the approach you have outlined . (3 marks) Jan 03 Jan 04
ÿ Outline one psychological method of stress management (e.g. increasing hardiness, stress inoculation). (3 marks) Outline one weakness of the method you have outlined. (3) May 03 Jan 07
ÿ Outline one psychological method of stress management (e.g. increasing hardiness, stress-inoculation). (3 marks) Outline one strength of the psychological method of stress management you have identified. (3 marks) May 04
Past explain/outline describe 6 mark questions:
ÿ Describe one psychological approach (e.g. Hardiness, stress-inoculation training) to stress management. (6 marks) Jan 02
ÿ Describe one physiological approach to stress management (eg drugs, biofeedback). (6 marks)Jan 06 May 02
ÿ Outline 1 methods of managing the negative effects of stress (6) May 06
ÿ Outline strengths and weaknesses of 1 method of stress management (6) May 06
Past APFCC Questions:
ÿ Outline findings of research (theories and/or studies) into the role of control in stress. (6 marks) May 04
Past Mini-essay questions:
ÿ Outline and evaluate one or more psychological approaches to stress management (e.g. stress-inoculation, increasing hardiness). (18 marks) Jan 04 Jan 03 Jan 06
ÿ Outline and evaluate two methods of stress management. (18 marks) Jan 05
ÿ Consider two physiological methods of stress management (e.g. drugs, biofeedback) in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. (18 marks) May 03
ÿ Outline and evaluate one or more physiological approaches to stress management (18 marks) Jan 07