© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Two: Achieving Psychological Health

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Psychological Health Also known as emotional wellness A broadly based concept pertaining to cognitive functioning in conjunction with the way people –Express emotions –Cope with stress, adversity, and success –Adapt to changes in themselves and their environment

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Psychological Health Biopsychological model –Biological factors –Psychological factors –Social factors Positive self-concept Positive self-esteem Higher level of emotional intelligence

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Characteristics of Psychologically Healthy People Accept themselves and others Like themselves Express a full range of emotions Give and receive care, love, and support Express full range of emotions (positive and negative) Accepts life’s disappointments Accept their mistakes

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Characteristics of Psychologically Healthy People (cont.) Express empathy and concern for others Take care of themselves Trust others as well as themselves Establish goals Can function both independently and interdependently Lead a health-enhancing lifestyle

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Self-Esteem Having pride in yourself Treating yourself with respect Considering yourself valuable, important, worthy Feeling good about yourself Having self-confidence, being self-assured Accepting yourself

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Emotional Intelligence Ability to understand others and act wisely in human relations Five primary domains: 1.Know your emotions 2.Manage your emotions 3.Motivate yourself 4.Recognize emotions in others 5.Handle relationships

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Personality Specific patterns of behavior and traits that identify and characterize an individual –Thoughts –Feelings –Behaviors –Motivation –Instinct –Temperament Two factors that can influence personality: 1.nature (innate factors) 2.nurture (environmental factors)

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Self-actualization: The highest level of psychological health at which one reaches her or his highest potential and values truth, beauty, goodness, faith, love, humor, and ingenuity Basic needs: Essential and fundamental needs Metaneeds: Secondary concerns that can be addressed only after basic needs are met

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Other Characteristics that Influence Psychological Health Normal range of emotions Creative expression –Nonconformity –Independence –Motivation –Curiosity –Persistence

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Other Characteristics that Influence Psychological Health Spiritual health –Sense of purpose, direction, and awareness –Morals, ethics, intrinsic values, and beliefs

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Keys to Psychological Health Cultivate a sense of humor to build a positive outlook on life

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Keys to Psychological Health Develop communication skills to foster improved social relationships –Verbal communication—be a skilled sender and listener –Nonverbal communication—facial expression, eye contact, personal space, body posture –Managing conflict Listen Focus on what to say and how to say it Use assertive communication with “I” statements

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Optimistic Approach to Life Learned helplessness (Pavlov) vs. learned optimism (Seligman) Three key factors –Permanence—“never,” “always,” “forever” Pessimists view causes of bad events as permanent and tend to give up easily –Pervasiveness Universal explanations vs. situation specific explanations –Personalization Internal vs. external explanatory style

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Optimistic Approach to Life Building optimism—reframe thinking about events –Change thoughts and beliefs –Create strategies for solving problems –Be persistent, work to overcome obstacles

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Proactive Approach to Life Proactive approach promotes better control of one’s overall life –Construct mental pictures –Accept mental pictures –Undertake new experiences –Reframe mental pictures

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Psychological Disorders Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Schizophrenia

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Mood Disorders: Depression Affects about one in ten Americans Symptoms include –Depressed mood –Lack of motivation, lack of interest in usual activities –Social withdrawal –Disturbed sleep, eating habits Risk factors –Family history –Environmental factors

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Mood Disorders: Depression

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Mood Disorders: Depression Treatments –Counseling –Medication –Herbal supplements? –Exercise –Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Mood Disorders: Seasonal Affective Disorder Develops in response to changes in the seasons Treatments –Counseling –Antidepressant medications –Light therapy

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Mood Disorders: Postpartum Depression Affects women in the weeks and months following childbirth Can last from a few days to more than a year Different from postpartum psychosis, which is marked by hallucinations and delusions

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Suicide Third leading cause of death for young adults Men have higher rates of suicide than women Risk factors include –Little or no social support –Family history of mental illness and/or suicide –Problems with drugs or alcohol –Possession of a firearm

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Mood Disorders: Bipolar Disorder Characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania Symptoms of mania –Excessive energy –Racing thoughts and rapid speech –Impulsive and/or reckless behavior Treatment –Psychotherapy –Mood stabilizing medications

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Anxiety Disorders Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) –Intensity and frequency of worry that is excessive and out of proportion to the situation Panic disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Phobias (social phobia, specific phobia) Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) An estimated 15 million Americans suffer from ADHD Symptoms often seen in adult cases: –Difficulty getting organized –Chronic procrastination –Frequently searching for high stimulation –Low tolerance for frustration –Low self-esteem

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Schizophrenia Characterized by profound distortion of thinking, emotion, perception, and behavior Symptoms may include –Delusions –Hallucinations –Disorganized thinking and speech –Catatonic behavior Treatment with antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Health Providers for Psychological Disorders Psychiatrists (MDs) –Treatment often focuses more on medical management and less on talking through problems Psychologists –Includes a variety of subspecialties –Treatment generally focuses on behavior therapy and problem solving Counselors Social workers

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Approaches in Treating Psychological Disorders Dynamic therapy –Focuses on forces underlying an individual’s problems; may look at early childhood experiences Humanistic therapy –Client-centered approach based on idea that people can naturally grow in positive and constructive ways Behavior therapy –Focuses on behavior modification Cognitive-behavioral therapy –Focuses on changing cognitive patterns in order to change behavior and emotional state

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Approaches in Treating Psychological Disorders (cont.) Solution-focused therapy –Goal-oriented approach that stresses looking for solutions rather than dwelling on problems Couples and family therapy Group therapy –Provides support; group members can also learn from one another’s experiences

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Two: Achieving Psychological Health