Psychopathology

Year 1 / ASYear 2 / A-Level All Boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA) AQA

A-Level Psychology revision: Psychopathology. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.

Exam Board:

📌 Key Points

Key Fact: Definitions: Statistical (rare, e.g. IQ<70), Social norms (culture-specific), FFAD (distress, dysfunction), Ideal MH (Jahoda: autonomy, reality perception, etc.)

Key Fact: Phobias: Two-process (classical: fear acquisition, operant: avoidance maintenance); Preparedness (Seligman: evolved fears); CBT: exposure, cognitive restructuring

Key Fact: Depression: Biological (5-HTT gene, serotonin, cortisol/HPA axis); Cognitive (Beck: negative triad, schema, cognitive distortions); Learned helplessness (Seligman); Treatments: SSRIs (6-8 weeks), CBT (behavioural activation, cognitive restructuring)

Key Fact: OCD: Obsessions (intrusive), Compulsions (repetitive); Biological (COMT, SLC1A1, basal ganglia, serotonin); Cognitive (inflated responsibility, thought-action fusion); ERP (exposure response prevention)

Key Fact: Treatments: SSRIs (fluoxetine), Benzos (short-term), ECT (severe, resistant); CBT (gold standard for anxiety/depression); ERP (OCD)

Key Fact: Classification: DSM-5 (APA), ICD-11 (WHO); Reliability (inter-rater), Validity (construct, predictive); Comorbidity (e.g. depression+anxiety); Culture-bound syndromes

🎯 Learning Objectives

Define abnormality: statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately, deviation from ideal mental health
Understand phobias: behavioural (classical conditioning, two-process), cognitive (irrational thoughts), biological (preparedness)
Explain depression: biological (genetics, neurotransmitters, neuroendocrine), cognitive (Beck's triad, learned helplessness), psychological treatments
Understand OCD: biological (genetics, basal ganglia, serotonin), cognitive (intrusive thoughts, inflated responsibility), treatments
Evaluate treatments: biological (SSRIs, benzodiazepines, ECT), psychological (CBT, exposure, systematic desensitisation)
Understand diagnosis and classification: DSM-5, ICD-11, reliability/validity issues, comorbidity, cultural bias

💡 Worked Example

Exam-Style Question

Question: Explain the two-process model of phobias and evaluate it

Model Answer:

Classical: neutral stimulus (spider) paired with fear (trauma) -> CS elicits CR (fear). Operant: avoidance reduces fear -> negative reinforcement maintains phobia. Evaluation: explains acquisition/maintenance; ignores cognition (irrational thoughts), preparedness (why spiders not flowers?), individual differences; CBT addresses limitations

❓ Practice Questions

Model answers are being added progressively - questions marked ✗ don't have one yet. Cross-check with your teacher or the official mark scheme.

Questions:

Compare four definitions of abnormality✗ answer coming soon
Explain Beck's negative triad✗ answer coming soon
Evaluate SSRIs for depression✗ answer coming soon
Describe ERP for OCD✗ answer coming soon
Discuss cultural bias in DSM-5✗ answer coming soon

🎬 Video Resources

Psychopathology - Overview -- YouTube Search
Psychopathology - Exam Questions -- YouTube Search

📄 Past Papers & Exam Resources

AQA A-Level Psychology - Psychopathology -- AQA
Edexcel A-Level Psychology - Psychopathology -- Edexcel
OCR A-Level Psychology - Psychopathology -- OCR

🔗 Further Reading & Resources

Physics & Maths Tutor - Psychopathology -- Free notes, worksheets, and past paper questions by topic
Dr Frost Maths - Psychopathology -- Free resources, slides, and interactive questions
BBC Bitesize - Psychopathology -- BBC Bitesize revision resources

📚 Lesson Plan (50 minutes)

Starter (5 min): Recall prior knowledge of psychopathology with quick questions.
Teaching (15 min): Work through each of the learning objectives, explaining principles step by step.
Key points review (5 min): Revisit the key points together, confirming understanding.
Worked example (10 min): Model the example question: Explain the two-process model of phobias and evaluate it. Solution: Classical: neutral stimulus (spider) paired with fear (trauma) -> CS elicits CR (fear). Operant: avoidance reduces fear -> negative reinforcement maintains phobia. Evaluation: explains acquisition/maintenance; ignores cognition (irrational thoughts), preparedness (why spiders not flowers?), individual differences; CBT addresses limitations
Practice (10 min): Students attempt the practice questions independently; circulate and support.
Plenary (5 min): Review answers and address misconceptions.

🏠 Homework

Compare four definitions of abnormality
Explain Beck's negative triad
Evaluate SSRIs for depression
Describe ERP for OCD
Discuss cultural bias in DSM-5

🧾 Assessment

Check practice answers against the model answer; use the built-in practice questions as formative assessment.

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