AQA Psychology A-level: Psychopathology (A* notes)

AQA Psychology A-level: Psychopathology
From specification 7181, 7182 - Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)

Includes

• Definitions for abnormality and evaluation of each

• Phobias - types of phobia, behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias

• Behavioural explanations for phobias - two-process model, Watson and Rayner (1920) and evaluation

• Alternative explanations - biological preparedness Seligman (1970)/ Ohman et al (1975) and social learning theory and evaluation

• Behavioural approach to treating phobias - systematic desensitization, flooding and evaluation

• OCD -behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of OCD

• Biological explanations of OCD - genetic basis (candidate genes) and neural basis (neurotransmitters/brain structures) and evaluation

• Biological approach to treating OCD - drug therapy, SSRIs and SNRIs and evaluation

• Depression - categories, behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of depression

• Cognitive explanation for depression - Beck’s Negative Triad and Ellis’ ABC model and evaluation

• Cognitive approach to treating depression - CBT, Beck’s cognitive therapy, REBT and evaluation