Unit 4 AOS 2 psych

Wellbeing

A state where an individual is mentally, physically and socially healthy and secure.

Mental Wellbeing

An individual’s psychological state, indicating their ability to think, process information, and regulate emotions.

4 Ways of considering wellbeing 

Levels of functioning, resilience, social wellbeing, emotional wellbeing.

Levels of functioning

When high individual shows independence, goal setting, development, meeting demands of everyday life and ability to carry out day to day activities.

Resilience

Ability to recover quickly from setbacks and manage stress. 

Social wellbeing

Feeling connected, reciprocated, valued, desired and understanding emotions of others 

Emotional wellbeing

Feeling balanced, experiencing 
a normal range of emotions, 
having coping strategies, 
responding appropriately 

SEWB framework

A framework that includes all elements of being, therefore wellbeing, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Holistic approach, there are 7 interconnected dimensions.

3 determinants and examples

Social - socioeconomic status, racial discrimination. Historical - colonisation and it’s legacy. Political - unresolved issues of land, sovereignty rights.

7 dimensions of SEWB

Connection to country, culture, community, body, spirituality and ancestors, family and kinship, mind and emotions.

Mental wellbeing continuum

A tool used to track fluctuating mental wellbeing. 

Stress

A psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something of significance that demands their attention and/or efforts to cope. 

Anxiety

A psychological and physiological response that involves feelings of worry and apprehension about a perceived threat. 

Specific phobia

A persistent, intense, irrational fear that effects daily functioning.

Biopsychosocial model

The interconnected way that biological, psychological and social factors influence behaviour and development.

Biological factors that contribute to a specific phobia

GABA dysfunction, long term potentiation

GABA dysfunction

GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Neurons cannot be transmitted or received normally, and uncontrollable firing more likely to occur.

Long term potentiation

Long lasting and experience dependent strengthening of synaptic connections that are regularly activated. LTP can strengthen through repeated association with phobic stimulus.

Precipitating factors

Contribute to the susceptibility of developing a specific phobia.

Perpetuating factors

inhibits an individual's ability to overcome a specific phobia

Psychological factors that contribute to a specific phobia

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, cognitive bias

Classical conditioning

Precipitating factor. Before conditioning: neutral stimulus produces no relevant response. During conditioning: neutral stimulus paired with unconditioned stimulus produces unconditioned response. After conditioning: conditioned stimulus produces conditioned response.

Operant conditioning

Perpetuating factor. Antecedent: presented with phobic stimulus. Behaviour: avoiding phobic stimulus. Consequence: negative reinforcement means individual is more likely to avoid stimulus again in future.

Cognitive bias

Perpetuating factor. Memory bias: inaccurate or exaggerated memory. Catastrophic thinking: thinking worst case scenario will happen.

Social factors that contribute to a specific phobia

Specific environmental factors, stigma

Specific environmental factors

Past traumatic experiences with phobic stimulus. The more traumatic, the more likely a phobia will develop.

Stigma

feeling of shame or disgrace experienced by an individual because of something that sets them apart from others.

Biological interventions for specific phobia

Benzodiazepine agents, breathing retraining

Benzodiazepine agents

Medication that acts as an agonist which binds to receptor of neuron and acts as a neurotransmitter. Increases inhibitory response of GABA.

Breathing retraining

Using breath control techniques to calm stress response by increasing parasympathetic response.

Psychological interventions

Systematic desensitisation, CBT

Systematic desensitisation

Used to overcome phobias via incremental exposure to increasing phobic stimuli.

1. Patient learns a relaxation technique

2. Patient establishes a fear hierarchy

3. Patient is gradually exposed to stimuli on the hierarchy, starting with easiest to confront and working up. This is paired with relaxation technique.

4. This continues until phobia has been associated with the feeling of relaxation and is no longer a phobia.

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Form of psychotherapy that encourages substitution of dysfunctional cognitions and behaviours with adaptive ones.

Cognitive behavioural therapy components

Cognitive: identifying negative thoughts and feeling and replacing them with positive ones. Behavioural: identifying negative behaviours relating to the issue and replacing them with more positive ones.

Social interventions

Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation

Aids families and supporters of individuals with specific phobia in understanding, dealing with and treating phobia.

2 key components of psychoeducation

Challenging unrealistic thoughts, not encouraging avoidance behaviours

biological protective factors

adequate sleep, nutrition and hydration

psychological protective factors

cognitive behavioural strategies, mindfulness meditation

social protective factors

support from family, friends and community - must be genuine and uplifting

cognitive behavioural strategies

Uses CBT techniques. Identifying and challenging dysfunctional thinking. Exploring the causes of dysfunctional thinking and reframing these. Journaling to reflect and help identify thought patterns.

mindfulness meditation

The practice
of meditation in which an individual focuses on their present experience to promote feelings of calm. Paired with relaxation techniques

2 key cultural determinants

self determination, cultural continuity

cultural self determination

Refers to the rights of all people to pursue freely their economic, social and cultural development without outside interference. Enables communities to protect what is important to them on a wider scale. 

cultural continuity

The passing down of Aboriginal practice, cultural knowledge, traditions and values from generation to generation. Allows healing from intergenerational trauma