Psychology Unit 4 AOS 2

Operant conditioning

Perpetuates

Classical Conditioning

Precipitates

The western view of mental health is 4 different ways

Levels of functioning, social wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, Resilience

Levels of functioning is

How a person approaches everyday demands and operates within their environment.

Social wellbeing is

Being able to develop positive relationships with family and friends that are authentic and energizing

Emotional wellbeing

Expressing a range of emotions that are relevant to the context.

Resilience

the ability to cope with and manage change and uncertainty.

What is a mental health problem

a relatively short term disruption that impacts on a persons everyday functioning

Mental disorder

A condition that impairs mood, thinking and behavior and is typically long lasting

The social and emotional wellbeing framework (SEWB) is

Multidimensional (has many different components) and is holistic (considers the whole person)

The determinants are

1. Historical determinants

2. Political determinants

3. Social determinants

what are the 7 domains of the SEWB

1. Connection to country

2. Connection to spirit and ancestors

3. Connection to body

4. Connection to mind and emotions

5. Connection to family and kinship

6. Connection to community

7. Connection to culture

Social determinants include

1. Socio economic status

2. exposure to violence and trauma

3. impact of poverty, unemployment, housing

Historical determinants

1. impact of past government policies (white Australia policy, stolen generation)

2. extent of historical oppression and cultural displacement

Political determinants

1. control of resources

2. cultural security

3. the rights of self determination and sovereignty

4. unresolved issues of land

Positives of mental health continuum

decreased stigma, increased ability to see if functioning has improved, increased ability to see if treatment is helping

Disadvantages of the mental health continuum

difficulty knowing the point of intervention as there is no clear categories

Internal factors are

arise from within an individual

External factors are

arise from an individuals environment

Example of internal factors

levels of stress, genetic predisposition

Example of external factors

loss of significant relationship, trouble at school

Biological factors are (with example)

Relate to the physiological functioning of the body including genetics, sex, hormones

Psychological factors are (with example)

relate to the functioning of the brain and the mind including styles of thinking, beliefs and attitudes, emotions

Social factors are (with examples)

relate to the social components of a persons environment including relationships, early life experiences, education level

Stress is defined as

A state of psychological or physical tension

Anxiety is defined as

A state of physiological arousal associated with feelings of apprehension, worry or uneasiness that something is wrong.

Phobia is defined as

An anxiety disorder involving a persistent, irrational and intense fear of a particular object/situation

The biological contributing factors are

1. Long term potentiation

2. GABA dysfunction

GABA is defined as

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS

What does GABA do

inhibits post synaptic neurons stopping them from receiving and passing on the neural impulse from the presynaptic neuron to post synaptic neuron.

What is GABAs role

regulates anxiety, arousal and sleep

Low levels of GABA lead to

higher anxiety (not enough GABA to regulate anxiety and arousal levels)

Long term potentiation is defined as

An experience dependent type of brain plasticity where a neural pathway is strengthened as a result of repeated stimulation at a high intensity.Llo

Long Term potentiation contributes to the development of phobuas by

1. Strengthening the association between neural signals involved in perceiving a stimulus.

2. Through their repeated co activation the signals involved in perceiving the phobic stimulus more easily trigger fear response.

What are the two biological interventions

1. Benzodiazepines (GABA agonists)

2. Breathing retraining

What do Benzodiazepines do

Act as an agonist by stimulating the activity of GABA/ Amplifying its effects - reducing physiological arousal.

Strengths of Benzodiazepines

provide rapid relief from the symptoms of a phobia by increasing the effectiveness of GABA.

Weaknesses of Benzodiazepines

High potential for addiction, do not address underlying cause of the phobia

What is breathing retraining

Breathing retraining is the process of identifying incorrect breathing habits and replacing them with new ones.

What does breathing retraining consist of

rapid, small shallow breaths and resulting in an inbalance of carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Strengths of breathing retraining

can be taught by a therapist and then used in a public setting without drawing much attention to the individual using the technique.

Limitations of breathing retraining

needs to be well practiced, especially in the absence of the phobic stimulus

What are the two psychological contributing factors

1. Behavioral models

2. Cognitive biases

What are the two behavioural models of psychological contributing factors

1. Precipitating a phobia using classical conditioning

2. Perpetuating a phobia using Operant conditioning

Operant conditioning involves

Avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus leads to negative reinforcement

• antecedent

• Behavior

• Consequence

What are the cognitive models

1. Cognitive biases

2. Memory bias

3. Catastrophic thinking

Cognitive biases is defined as

lead to an inaccurate judgement or interpretation of a situation that affects the decisions people make

Memory Biases is defined as

a type of error that may either enhance or impair the recall or it may alter the content of what we report remembering.

Catastrophic thinking is defined as

occurs when an individual repeatedly overestimates the potential dangers of an object or event and assumes the worst.

Psychological interventions are

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy

2. Systemic desensitization

Cognitive behavioral therapy is defined as

An intervention comprising of a range of cognitive and behavioral therapies and learning principles to help people identify, challenge and replace unhelpful thought processes.

Strengths of CBT

Addresses the underlying faulty cognitions and avoidance behaviors.

Weaknesses of CBT

Time consuming usually requires weekly sessions, relies on patient buy in

Systemic desensitization is defined as

a psychological intervention that utilizes classical conditioning to gradually teach the individual to replace their fear response with feelings of relaxation.

Strengths of systemic desensitization

helps break the cycle of avoidance that maintains the phobia, aims for a long term solution to the fear response

Limitations of systemic desensitization

focuses on changing behaviour rather than challenging the irrational thoughts, individual must actively participate in exposure exercises and relaxation training.

Stigma is defined as

Refers to the negative attitudes, judgements, stereotypes or embarrassment associated with having a mental condition or seeking professional help.

What is the only social intervention

Psychoeducation

What are the two things to remember for psychoeducation

1. Challenging unrealistic or anxious thoughts

2. Not encouraging avoidance behaviors

Challenging unrealistic or anxious thoughts are defined as

overestimating the danger involved in a particular object, activity or situation. Family support the sufferer to challenge these thoughts.

Not encouraging avoidance behaviors is defined as

Attempt to prevent exposure to the fear provoking object, activity or situation.

What are the two different types of cultural determinants

1. Cultural continuity

2. Self determination

Cultural continuity is defined as

the ability to preserve the historical traditions of a culture and carry them forward with that culture into the future generations. through things like songlines

Self determination is defined as

the right to make decisions on matters that affect their lives and communities.