The Psychology and Abnormality section of the syllabus is divided in 6 topics, which include sub-topics and studies that need to be known for the exam:
a) Models of abnormality:
• definitions of abnormality –
Definitions: deviation from statistical norms, social norms, ideal mental health, failure to function adequately. Problems with defining and diagnosing abnormality.
• models of abnormality
Medical/biological, behavioural, psychodynamic, cognitive. Assumptions and applications of models.
• treatments of abnormality
Treatments derived from models: biological/medical; psychotherapies; cognitive-behavioural. Effectiveness and appropriateness of treatments.
b) Schizophrenia:
• symptoms and characteristics of schizophrenia
Characteristics; case studies/examples.
• explanations of schizophrenia
Genetic (e.g. Gottesman and Shields, 1972); biochemical (dopamine hypothesis); cognitive
(e.g. Frith, 1992).
• treatments for schizophrenia
Biochemical (antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics); electro-convulsive therapy.
Token economy (Paul and Lentz, 1977); cognitive-behavioural therapy (Sensky, 2000).
c) Abnormal affect:
• types, characteristics, examples and sex differences
Types: depression (unipolar) and mania (bipolar); causes and treatments for manic depression; sex differences in depression.
• explanations of depression
Biological: genetic and neurochemical; cognitive: Beck’s cognitive theory; learned
helplessness/attributional style (Seligman, 1979).
• treatments for depression
Biological: chemical/drugs (MAO, SSRIs); electro-convulsive therapy. Cognitive restructuring (Beck, 1979); rational emotive therapy (Ellis, 1962).
d) Addiction and impulse control disorders:
• definitions, types and characteristics of addictions
Defi nitions (e.g. Griffi ths, 2005); types, e.g. alcoholism; impulse control (e.g. kleptomania, pyromania, compulsive gambling); physical and psychological dependence.
• causes of addiction and impulse control disorders
Genetic: alcohol (e.g. Schuckit, 1985); biochemical: dopamine; behavioural: positive
reinforcement; cognitive/personality.
• coping with and reducing addiction and impulse control disorders
Behavioural, e.g. token economy; aversion therapy (for alcoholism). Cognitive- behavioural therapy (e.g. Kohn, 2000) for kleptomania.
e) Anxiety disorders (phobias):
• definitions, types/examples (case studies) of phobias
Types: e.g. agoraphobia, blood phobia, dog phobia.
• explanations of phobias
Behavioural (classical conditioning, e.g. Watson, 1920); psychoanalytic (Freud, 1909);
biomedical/genetic (e.g. Ost, 1992); cognitive (e.g. DiNardo et al., 1988).
• treating phobias
Systematic desensitisation (Wolpe, 1958); fl ooding; applied tension (Ost et al., 1989);
cognitive-behavioural therapy (Ost and Westling, 1995).
f) Anxiety disorders (obsessions and compulsions):
• definitions, measures and examples of obsessions and compulsions
Defi ning obsessions and compulsions; case studies/examples (e.g. ‘Charles’ by Rapoport,
1989); measures, e.g. Maudsley obsessive-compulsive inventory.
• explanations of obsessive/compulsive disorder
Biomedical; cognitive-behavioural; psychodynamic.
• treatments for obsessive/compulsive disorder
Drug therapy; cognitive-behavioural therapy; psychoanalytic therapy.
CIE A Level Psychology 