Individual Differences and Abnormal Psychology
Core concepts
This domain examines how and why people differ, and how abnormality is defined and treated. Know definitions of abnormality: statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately, and deviation from ideal mental health. Each has strengths and cultural or contextual limitations.
Understand models of abnormality: biological (genetics, neurotransmitters, brain structure), behavioural (conditioning, reinforcement), cognitive (maladaptive beliefs, distorted thinking) and sociocultural (family, stress, culture). Know the features of specific disorders at a general level, such as phobias (classical conditioning, preparedness), depression (cognitive triad, learned helplessness) and schizophrenia (positive and negative symptoms, dopamine hypothesis).
Know treatments: systematic desensitisation, cognitive behavioural therapy, and drug therapy, with evaluations of effectiveness and side effects. Understand intelligence and personality as individual-difference constructs, including reliability and validity of measurement and the nature-nurture debate.
Common traps
- Treating statistical infrequency as sufficient; rare traits can be desirable, and common disorders are not infrequent.
- Confusing positive symptoms (added experiences such as hallucinations) with negative symptoms (losses such as flat affect).
- Assuming a biological explanation implies a biological treatment is always best.
- Ignoring cultural relativity when judging deviation from social norms.
Rule of thumb
When evaluating a definition or model, ask three questions: does it explain the disorder, does it predict or guide treatment, and does it account for cultural and individual context?
Worked example
A fear of spiders maintained by avoidance illustrates the behavioural model: classical conditioning creates the fear, and negative reinforcement (anxiety reduction from avoiding) maintains it. Treatment follows logically: graded exposure with response prevention.