Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma

Course Content

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 1 – Defining Mental Health

The Course examines ideas of mental health based upon the ‘common sense’ definitions that exist in everyday narratives through critical awareness and understanding. Abnormal behaviour covers quite a broad spectrum from behaviour that can be considered ‘quirky’ to the more serious definitions of ‘schizophrenia’ and we examine the extremes of normal behaviour to try to examine the way in which ideas about mental health are constructed in everyday life.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 2 – What is Abnormal Psychology?

In this Unit we examine the way in which ideas about mental health and well-being have developed across time. We examine philosophical and political discourses that can lead to individuals being stigmatised as ‘insane’ when they may be classed as political dissidents if different definitions were used. We look at the contextualised environments in which definitions are used and examine the assumptions and problems associated with labelling theory.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 3 – Psychoanalytic Approach

Freud was of the view that mental well-being was defined as a consequence of our early drives and needs being met in childhood. Freud believed that if these early needs were not met then our mental health may suffer in adulthood. We examine the way in which Psychoanalysis as a discipline has evolved and whether adult behaviour is determined by our early childhood experiences.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 4 – Carl Jung and the Post Freudians

Carl Jung was a disciple of Freud’s in his early career but he split with Freud in mid life because Jung’s practical experience of working in a Psychiatric Hospital led him to a different conclusion than Freud about the origin of neurosis. Jung was a mystic who believed that the study of cultures that are different than our own, the study of universal archetypes and the mid life period would lead us to integration of the psyche and liberate us from any feelings of neurosis. Jung believed that we could develop a healthy psyche by focusing upon society and the future rather than childhood fixations.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 5 – Biological, Behavioural and Humanistic Approaches

This Module examines theoretical constructions of models of mental health and discusses the biological view of mental health through adoption of the medical model by modern Psychiatry. The strengths and weaknesses of adoption of this approach is discussed. The theory of Behaviourism is also discussed in which ideas about self functioning is rejected and the focus of treatment becomes changing maladaptive behaviour patterns. This view is contrasted with humanistic approaches which adopt a person centred approach.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 6 – Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the major psychoses and patients can suffer from delusion and hallucinations and indeed may be classified as ‘psychotic’ in the medical sense because they may lose touch with reality as a consequence of their illness. We examine the success or otherwise of the different treatment regimes in alleviating the suffering of people suffering from schizophrenia and the serious side effects that some of the drugs used may have upon the sufferer.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 7 – Depression

Depression is one of the fastest growing mental disorders in the Western World and can have devastating impact upon the lives of sufferers. The biological reasons for depression are discussed together with the social issues that can precipitate the onset of the condition. Whether depression arises as a consequence of biological changes in the brain are contrasted with environmental views. The onset of depression can be chronic or acute and the different types of depression and management of the condition in modern life are discussed.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 8 – Women and Madness

Women have been over-represented in statistics relating to mental health throughout the ages. We examine the reasons for this through discussion of the way women were represented in Victorian novels to more modern day definitions. Various psychological theories are examined in this module and Freudian views of neurosis being inherent within the female condition are contrasted with modern day depictions which consider issues such as role strain and the demands of combining jobs and motherhood.

Accredited Level 3 Abnormal Psychology Diploma Module 9 – Anti psychiatry

The medical model of mental health constructs sufferers as victims of ‘ill health’ and presents the view that impaired functioning can be ‘treated’ through drugs or therapy. The Anti-Psychiatry view as portrayed by R D Laing and Thomas Ssaz considers the view that maladaptive behaviour may arise as a consequence of trying to adjust to a ‘sick and insane society’. The views of the anti-psychiatry movement are considered in this module and conclusions made about the contribution that such views make to people suffering from mental illness. Sufferers of Mental Health may be sectioned under the Mental Health Act if there behaviour becomes threatening to themselves and others and the criticisms of this view are discussed in relation to the Anti-psychiatry movement.