September 14, 2012 Psychological Theories & Application to Midwifery

Introduction to Theories What is a theory? Definition – set of ideas that provides a framework for asking questions about a phenomenon, as well as gathering and interpreting information about that phenomenon Why Study Theories? Theory: helps ORGANIZE communications and other observations into systematic understanding of problems; puts research findings in a context serves as a GUIDE for interventions and a guide for meaningful research SOURCE of hypotheses to use in developing and testing interventions

Biological Theories Structural Genetic Biochemical Imbalances in neurotransmitters or hormones or poor functioning of receptors for neurotransmitters Two systems neurotransmitter system & endocrine system

Biological Theories - Biochemical

Psychological Theories

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalysis What is psychoanalysis? 1. Theory of personality 2. Theory of abnormality 3. A method of investigating the mind 4. A form of treatment for psychopathology Developed by Sigmund Freud during late nineteenth century These theories have grown, evolved, changed, been challenged, been dismissed, been saved throughout time

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalysis

Criticisms Sexist conceptualization of female development (i.e. penis envy) Exclusion of environmental and cultural influences on development Difficult (impossible) to scientifically evaluate One of Freud’s assertions – personality fixed in childhood, is not typically supported Developed by case studies Accolades Most comprehensive theory of personality & abnormality The first true psychological theory Helped draw attention to psychology Encouraged discourse!

Behaviorism Behaviorists focus on the influences of reinforcements and punishments on producing behaviors Learning Types: Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning Modeling & Observational Learning

Behaviorism (play top one first then video the bottom) Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) emotional responses are classically conditioned to a previously neutral stimulus (NS) Stimulus Generalization: learned response to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimuli (CS) Stimulus Discrimination: learned response to a specific stimulus, but not to other, similar stimuli

Behaviorism Operant Conditioning Increases Response Rate Decreases Response Rate Stimulus is added Positive Reinforcement Positive Punishment Stimulus is removed Negative Reinforcement Negative Punishment

Behaviorism Shaping: reinforcement by a series of successively improved steps leading to desired response

Behaviorism Modeling & Observational Learning (Social Learning Theory) Modeling – learning new behaviors by imitating behaviors of important people in one’s life Observational Learning – learning new behaviors by observing rewards and punishments an important person in one’s life receives from performing/engaging in certain behaviors

Behaviorism Criticisms Ignores/downplays the role of thoughts and emotions Role of free will? Too mechanical – best studied in labs, not real world Accolades Ability to evaluate scientifically Strong empirical support for aspects of behaviorism Clearer guidance towards treatment options?

Cognitive Cognitions (thoughts and beliefs) shape our behaviors and the emotions we experience Problems caused by disordered thinking Causal attributions – why something happens? (temporary vs. persistent) Control beliefs – was what happened in our control or not? Dysfunctional assumptions – beliefs about how things work/are (positive vs. negative)

Cognitive

Criticisms Causation! – Thoughts first or disorders first? (feedback loop) Negative beliefs may not always be irrational Some claim theory is less sensitive than other theories to diverse populations/cultural differences Accolades Appeals to many theorists/clinicians Significant support, particularly in relationship to mood and anxiety disorders May help explain how unwanted emotions, thoughts, and behaviors develop and are maintained

Humanist and Existential Focus on the ‘person’ Based on two assumptions: 1. Humans have innate capacity for goodness and for living a full life 2. Pressure from society to conform to certain norms, rather than to seek one’s most development self interferes with the fulfillment of this capacity

Humanist and Existential Client-Centered Therapy – Rogers Focus on self-actualization, without constraints of other’s values Designed to help people realize their genuine selves, accept themselves entirely, and grow Individuals need a space to be listened to, accepted, and supported Unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy

Humanist and Existential Existential anxiety – knowledge of impending death Fritz Perls – Gestalt Emphasis on the ‘here and now’ Learning to experience the presence without the baggage of the past Become more fully alive & increase optimal living Viktor Frankl – Logotherapy – Man’s Search for Meaning Nazi concentration camp survivor Influenced his ideas about human suffering being meaningful

Humanist and Existential Criticisms Sometimes considered vague Difficult to test scientifically Sometimes unclear how humanist/existential theories deal with severe psychopathology Accolades Positive and emphasis on free will Emphasis on achieving own potential not focusing on what is wrong with someone Helpful for working with individuals dealing with personal growth concerns

Social & Interpersonal Theories Interpersonal Theories Personality and distress are a result of long-standing patterns of negative relationships that have roots in early caregivers Family Systems Theories Families create and maintain problems and distress in individual family members to maintain homeostasis. Social Structural Theories Societies create distress in individuals by putting them under unbearable stress and by sanctioning abnormal behavior

Interpersonal Theories Focus on Roles in relationships Social skills Identity crisis Grief

Interpersonal Theories Criticisms Difficult to test scientifically Particularly prone to bias, self-report or historical reports of relationships with parents/caregivers Accolades Some support for the importance of prototypes in shaping adult relationships New treatments rooted in interpersonal theories have been found helpful for many disorders

Family Systems No such thing as an individual problem, instead dysfunctional family system Complex system Families work toward homeostasis

Social Theories Social Structure Theories Look beyond the individual and beyond the family to understand the causes of distress Some people live in more chronically stressful circumstances than others, and these people appear to be at greater risk. Society influences the types of distress/psychopathology by having rules about what types of abnormal behavior are acceptable and in what circumstances. Neighborhood Characteristics Social Organization _________________ Psychological stress _________________ Subcultural influences Mental Health Outcomes

Integration of Theories Feedback Loops Psychological Emphasis on psychological factors, such as early childhood experience and self-concept Biological Emphasis on biological processes (e.g., genetics) Social Emphasis on interpersonal relationships and social environment Feedback Loops

Using Theory to Understand Others What theories do and do not make sense to you?

Next Week If you haven’t already get on google + Think of 3 research papers you are considering for your research paper in the class and to me BEFORE class Look for a returned “Thoughts on Psychology” assignment