Julian has recently started working as a chef in a high-profile restaurant. He is constantly plagued by persistent, intrusive thoughts that his hands are contaminated with deadly pathogens that will poison the customers. To temporarily alleviate this overwhelming distress, he washes his hands with scalding hot water exactly twelve times after preparing any dish, repeating a specific sequence of counting from 1 to 10 aloud during each wash.
In the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), what is meant by an 'obsession' and what is meant by a 'compulsion'? Refer to the case study of Julian in your answer.
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 46 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
