Marcus, a young software engineer, is plagued by persistent, intrusive thoughts that the gas lines in his kitchen are leaking and will trigger a catastrophic explosion that destroys his apartment building. To manage this overwhelming dread, he feels compelled to touch each dial on his stove exactly sixteen times in a specific counter-clockwise sequence before he can leave his flat. This ritual often takes so long that he is repeatedly late for work.
Explain what is meant by 'obsessions' and 'compulsions'. Refer to Marcus in your answer.
46 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.