Chapter Two: Achieving Psychological Health

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Chapter Two: Chapter Two: Achieving Psychological HealthAchieving Psychological Health


Psychological HealthPsychological 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


Psychological HealthPsychological Health

• Biopsychological model– Biological factors– Psychological factors– Social factors

• Positive self-concept

• Positive self-esteem

• Higher level of emotional intelligence


Characteristics of Psychologically Characteristics of Psychologically Healthy PeopleHealthy 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


Characteristics of Psychologically Characteristics of Psychologically Healthy People Healthy People (cont.)(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


Self-EsteemSelf-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


Emotional IntelligenceEmotional 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


PersonalityPersonality• 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)


Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs


Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’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


Other Characteristics that Influence Other Characteristics that Influence Psychological HealthPsychological Health

• Normal range of emotions

• Creative expression– Nonconformity– Independence– Motivation– Curiosity– Persistence


Other Characteristics that Influence Other Characteristics that Influence Psychological HealthPsychological Health

• Spiritual health– Sense of purpose, direction, and awareness– Morals, ethics, intrinsic values, and beliefs


Keys to Psychological HealthKeys to Psychological Health

• Cultivate a sense of humor to build a positive outlook on life


Keys to Psychological HealthKeys 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


Optimistic Approach to LifeOptimistic 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


Optimistic Approach to LifeOptimistic Approach to Life

• Building optimism—reframe thinking about events– Change thoughts and beliefs– Create strategies for solving

problems– Be persistent, work to overcome

obstacles


Proactive Approach to LifeProactive 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


Psychological DisordersPsychological Disorders

• Mood disorders

• Anxiety disorders

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Schizophrenia


Mood Disorders: DepressionMood 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





• Treatments– Counseling– Medication– Herbal supplements?– Exercise– Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)


Mood Disorders: Seasonal Mood Disorders: Seasonal Affective DisorderAffective Disorder

• Develops in response to changes in the seasons

• Treatments– Counseling– Antidepressant medications– Light therapy


Mood Disorders: Postpartum Mood Disorders: Postpartum DepressionDepression

• 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


SuicideSuicide

• 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


Mood Disorders: Bipolar DisorderMood 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


Anxiety Disorders 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)


Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)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


SchizophreniaSchizophrenia

• 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


Health Providers for Psychological Health Providers for Psychological DisordersDisorders

• 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


Approaches in Treating Approaches in Treating Psychological DisordersPsychological 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


Approaches in Treating Approaches in Treating Psychological Disorders Psychological Disorders (cont.)(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


Chapter Two: Chapter Two: Achieving Psychological HealthAchieving Psychological Health

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Chapter Two: Achieving Psychological Health