Malignant Social Psychology Psychological Needs Malignant Social Psychology

Psychological Needs Malignant Social Psychology (MSP) This was Kitwood's term for a style of interaction and relationship that took away a person’s personhood It includes times when people are intimidated, outpaced, not responded to, infantilised, labelled, disparaged, blamed, manipulated, invalidated, disempowered, overpowered, disrupted, objectified, stigmatised, ignored, banished and mocked

Malignant Social Psychology This can be linked to people with dementia, the aim of person centred care is to stop the spread (malignancy) of malignant social psychology.

Why does MSP occur?

Kitwood’s flower Kitwood used a flower to illustrate what a person with dementia needed from those around them to allow them to exist as a person. The flower has overlapping petals with love being central need in the heart of the flower .

Kitwood’s Flower The love is unconditional acceptance that is generous and forgiving

Psychological Needs - Comfort This is the provision of warmth and closeness to others The provision of tenderness, closeness and soothing It helps people to relax

Psychological Needs - Comfort It is provided through physical touch, comforting words or gestures Physical comfort with your own body so if someone is experiencing pain, physically ill, unwell or in an unpleasant place then comfort will be absent.

Identity This relates to the need to know who you are and how you feel about yourself and how you think. Recent memories may fade and language become difficult so it is important identity is maintained It is having a sense and feeling of who one is

Attachment This is the forming of specific bonds or attachments Feeling attached is especially important at times of increased anxiety and change Attachment relates to bonding, connection, nurture, trust and relationship.

Attachment It also relates to security in relationships Attachment needs to be supported by acknowledgement, genuineness and validation

Occupation This is being involved in the process of life It relates in being involved in activities that are personally meaningful It is feeling you can have an impact on what is done and how it is done

Occupation It is supported by empowering, enabling, facilitating and collaborative staff skills. It is undermined by disempowerment, disruption, imposition and objectification

Inclusion This is being part of a group which is important for survival of the human race People with dementia are at a great risk of being socially isolated as they may be unable to manage inclusion alone It relates to facilitating engagement and making people feel part of a group where they are welcomed and accepted

Inclusion Including people in activities and having fun in groups supports people to feel included Stigmatising, ignoring, banishment and mockery undermine the need for inclusion being met