Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the case of Mary, a female of Aboriginal descent, who is 29 years of age and in generally good physical condition. The writer notes that Mary does have some problems with her weight, which is often in considerable flux, and is concerned about diabetes. In addition, the writer points out that Mary also possesses an inherited genetic disability that runs in her family. This paper approaches the health profile of Mary from a multidimensional perspective. The writer concludes that Mary's health profile reveals not only the importance of a multi-dimensional bio-psychosocial approach to health, but also the extraordinary degree to which psychological, biological and social factors overlap each other as primary determinants of her state of health as revealed in the health profile.
From the Paper "Eating and weight are issues of prominent concern in Mary's life. These concerns are associated with her concern about diabetes given her Aboriginal heritage, as noted above. However, they are also connected to family history concerns as well as personal body image problems in youth. She recognizes this is a socialized model of beauty as being equated with extreme thinness that she has inherited from society. Nonetheless, however, Mary is committed to weight reduction through dieting and exercise. It must be noted, however, that her weight has often been in flux due to her admitted habit of "binge eating" on occasion to cope with severe stress or depression."
Abstract This paper examines how workplace psychology is a relatively new dimension within the industry of psychology, and within this new field is a list of important motivational reasons for the administration of psychological testing to both existing employees and potential employees. It shows how the motivation for the application of psychological testing within the workplace can range anywhere from the desire to apply psychological science to work style varieties and, therefore, job descriptions, to assessing the psychologicalhealth of workers in potentially stressful roles. It also looks at how other reasons why psychological testing may occur within the workplace may include use as a tool for the recruitment of new employees or as a tool to assess productivity or workplace problems some associated with social issues and some associated with nonsocial problems.
From the Paper "It must be made clear to the employee that the responses and results of the testing are not conditional to their continued employment and that changes made to benefit them and the workplace are the intended results of any assessment. An employee must understand that it is his or her work that will determine continued employment and not his or her answers on any survey. Whether problems are associated with a social situation or a logistic situation may be assessed through the tools of workplace psychology. It is important with this type of psych testing to make clear to all employees through a wide distribution of the assessments that everyone will have an interest in the results. Employees must not feel singled out as if the results of the test that only they take will determine his or her continued employment."
Abstract This paper examines dentistry from a sociological/psychological perspective. The paper begins by defining oral health, as well as sociology and psychology. Next the paper investigates the sociological and psychological problems a dentist may encounter in his practice. The paper offers many researched recommendations for addressing these issues.
From the Paper "Sociology is concerned with the social and political organizations of society and how these affect the behavior of a person living in a particular community, whereas psychology is concerned with individuals and their relationships with others."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of the field of abnormal psychology and the treatment of mental illness. This paper examines the many different components of this field, including the historical treatment and explanation of mental iIllness, the role of the criminal justice system as a tool used to treat the mentally ill and the benefits and dangers of using labels in mental health. The author also looks at different models that have been applied in this field and presents both the advantages and disadvantages to their use. Also examined in detail is the treatment of children, uses and abuses of medication and child's rights when being treated by a therapist.
The following is a table of contents for the paper:
Historical Treatment and Explanation of Mental Illness
Criminal Justice System as Treatment for Mentally Ill
The Benefits and Dangers of using Labels in Mental Health What is Concordance?
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Medical Model Approach to Mental Disorders
Inter-Rater Reliability of the DSM-IV
Why has ADHD's prevalence recently increased so dramatically?
Who should have control over the treatment of children?
The right of the mentally ill to have children
What are: Mental Retardation, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and Learning Disorders?
There is a bibliography, but no footnotes or endnotes.
From the Paper "The advantages of this view include getting faster results, attaining functionality, and avoiding stigmatization through labeling. The medical model's approach of treating the behaviour can often achieve much faster results because it does not spend time searching for an often difficult to find, underlying cause. It treats what is already obvious, the behaviour, and thus can attain much faster results. The medical model is also capable of restoring a person to a level of functionality much faster than the non-medical model. By treating the behaviour problems, a person can become able to function within their daily lives. The medical model would advocate teaching coping skills rather than trying to cure the unconscious causes of behaviour, which they may not even admit exist. Another advantage of the medical model is that it avoids the labeling associated with the traditional diagnoses offered by the DSM-IV. By only treating the behaviour, the medical model does not provide a label for the patient and thus avoids the associated stigmatization of labeling."
Abstract This paper discusses the contemporary state of the health care system in terms of how some seniors are over-medicated by health practitioners, particularly when it comes to psychoactive drugs (i.e. antidepressants). In this research, the writer demonstrates a lack of accountability by the federal and provincial governments in terms of monitoring the use of medications in seniors.
From the Paper "According to the American Psychological Association, the definition of health psychology is the study of scientific relationships between behavioral principles and physical health and illness such as the role of environmental, psychosocial, or socio-cultural factors that may contribute to disease or its prevention; behavioral methods used in the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation of individuals having physical disorders; and techniques that could reduce disease risk by modifying health beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors including decisions about using professional services."
Abstract The writer of this paper explores in-depth the three schools of psychology which consist of psychoanalysis, the second force of psychology and third force psychology. This paper discusses each school of thought in detail and expresses the different viewpoints each has on man's intrinsic nature regarding human nature, motivation and behavior.
Topics covered in this paper include:
Introduction
Freud - The First Force - Psychoanalysis
Watson and Skinner - The Second Force of Psychology Abraham Maslow and Third Force Psychology Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Until Freud began his study of hysteria in women in the late 19th Century, the mentally ill were thought to be possessed by evil spirits or demons. The main method of treatment was confinement and often-brutal beatings and starvation. Occasionally, a less severe patient would be treated by the application of leeches to restore the balance of the 'humours', blood, bile etc. or at best given a dose of opium to calm them. As mentally ill patients were considered to be spiritually ill or possessed, their 'babblings or outbursts were ignored as they were considered unholy words."
Abstract This paper explains how unhealthy environments can effect you and what to do when these things happen. This paper is based on an article by authors Taylor and Repetti called:" What is an unhealthy environment and how does it get under the skin?" This paper is a summary of the article and talks of different circumstances dealing with unhealthy environments which could severely effect one's health.
From the Paper "According to Taylor and Repetti, unhealthy environments can have several effects on you and the atmospheres that surround you on a daily basis. Furthermore, these unhealthy environments can cause diseases of lifestyle such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease as well as chronic illness such as health behaviors."
Abstract This paper discusses the different ways that an individual's life can be either positively or negatively affected by stress. The author defines stress as being both physical and psychological and then breaks down the responses that are associated with these two different factors. According to this paper, the general adaptation syndrome is the means by which the human body deals with stress and this can be broken down into three stages, the alarm stage, the resistance stage and the exhaustion stage. Each of these stages involved has a different impact on a person's health, both physically and emotionally. In addition to examining these negative affects of stress, the author also presents some of the positive affects that stress can have on a person's success in the workplace.
From the Paper "The effect of stress on social life is similar to that on work life. Prolonged or excessive stress can result in major problems such as marital problems, spousal abuse and psychological conditions such as anorexia, depression and compulsion disorders. At the same time, a certain level of stress and change is required, with a consistent social life that offers no challenge rarely satisfying to an individual. A reasonable level of stress allows a person to grow psychologically. This growth can also occur by major stresses. Major stresses may cause an immediate breakdown in an individual. The coping process will see the individual come to terms with the cause of the stress, with the end result being personal growth."
Abstract There are two arguments regarding the treatment of mental health. Some believe that it should receive the same amount of health care coverage as physical illness, while others argue that the costs of treating mental illness could lead to severe problems. To better understand these arguments, this paper examines two articles, "Mental Health Should be Treated on Par with Physical Health," by Lewis L. Judd, and "Mental Health Should Not be treated on Par with Physical Health," by Richard E. Vatz, as well as two of their reference sources.
From the Paper "Martin Bobgan and Deidre Bobgan, the writers of an article titled, "Mental Illness is not a Disease" would probably agree that spending money on mental illness, and treating it equally to physical illness would be a lost cause. Although their opinion is much more drastic than that of Richard Vatz, all three writers would probably seem to agree that covering mental illness in insurance coverage would not be helpful to society. In the article, Mental Illness is not a Disease," Martin and Deidre Bobgan profess that people "continue to promote the false concept of mental illness, to align it with medicine, and consign it to science." It is apparent that these writers believe that the mental state and one's physical well-being fall into completely different categories."
Abstract This paper examines the different forms of family violence and its impact on health. First, the differing types of domestic violence are detailed. Next, various health risks associate with family violence are described, including HIV and abortion. The wide range of mental health issues resulting from family violence are also presented. The paper concludes by suggesting possible assessments, intervention and nursing care for victims.
Outline:
Introduction
Family Profiles and Health Issues
Theoretical Assessments, Intervention and Nursing Care
Conclusion
From the Paper "There are numerous factors that can be discussed with regard to family profiles and domestic violence. Some studies indicate that urban rather then rural populations are more likely to experience family violence. However there are conflicting data on the subject. One statistic however that does seem to show consistency is the fact that women suffer the most through domestic violence. This is borne out by numerous facts. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Justice reports that "intimate partner violence is primarily a crime against women...Of those victimized by an intimate partner, 85% are women and 15% are men. In other words, women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner." (Domestic Violence Facts)"
Abstract This article looks at four psychology papers. The writer discusses two papers on the subject of treatments for insomnia and two papers regarding child psychology. The writer looks at the matter of child stress coping and parental emotions. In this article, the writer also discusses the effect of parental support in childhood on health in adulthood.
From the Paper "The study by Shaw Krause Chatters Connell and Ingersoll-Dayton looked at the relationship between emotional support from parents in early life and its effects on physical and mental health throughout life and into old age. Previous studies have shown a correlation between a lack of parental support in childhood and psychological problems in later life, but few have looked at the effects of parental support on physical health. This study looked at the effects of parental support on adults from age through years. It found ... "
Abstract The paper discusses how, since the first employer-employee relationship, people have been engaging in an informal study of industrial and organizational psychology. The paper further discusses how, building on the experimental methods developed in psychology and other fields of science, industrial and organizational psychologists have developed specific research methods aimed at assessing and improving work environments. The paper shows how these research efforts have resulted in the development of aptitude tests, which industrial and organizational psychologists use to ensure that employees are in the most appropriate work environment. The paper concludes that industrial and organizational psychology has expanded beyond the application of aptitude testing, and industrial and organizational psychologists are now involved in almost every aspect of the employment process.
Outline:
Introduction
History
Basics of I/O
Tools Used by I/O Psychologists
The Application of I/O to the Workplace
Conclusion
From the Paper "Other than aptitude testing and the development of aptitude tests, it is somewhat difficult to identify the tools and methods used by I/O psychologists. This is not because there is a lack of tools or methodology, but because I/O is such a broad category. In fact, research in I/O is very similar to research in other areas of mainstream psychology. It is "based largely on positivism, using quantitative studies and the scientific method to test and disprove hypotheses, often in an experimental context." (Wikipedia, Psychology, 2005). Quantitative research methods rely on tests, rating scales, questionnaires, and physiological measures. (Ehigie and Ehigie, 2005). In addition, I/O psychologists also utilize qualitative research, which "utilizes interpretive techniques and is descriptive in nature, enabling the gathering of rich clinical information unattainable by classical experimentation." "
This paper is an admission essay for a clinical healthpsychology doctoral program, emphasizing an interest in research to change destructive behaviors of pregnant women through cessation of smoking and proper nutrition.
1,185 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 40.95
Abstract This paper presents the author's experience in research. Her current research project is the Family Smoking Prevention Study, which assesses how parents influence their children's choices of tobacco use. The author points out that her research experience shows that she has the ability to contribute to the future of clinical healthpsychology research. The paper reports that the author has completed an internship at the Women's Primary Care Center, from January 2002 to May 2002, which was the same place she worked as an interventionist from May 2001 to August 2002.
From the Paper "Research in my undergraduate years began when I worked on the poster presentation mentioned earlier in this essay. As a research assistant, I conducted two surveys on the health and lifestyles of college students, familiarized myself with the current literature on different aspects of health and lifestyles, and prepared a Power Point presentation based on the results of both surveys. The results were then presented in a competition at the University of Rhode Island and Pace University at New York, May 2001. I was one of eight presenters."
Abstract This paper reviews two articles: "How Americans Are Living Dangerously", relating to how Americans perceive risks and the second article "The Science of Anxiety" dealing with the phenomenon of anxiety and its effects. The author explains that both articles were written for a readership of lay people unfamiliar with the field of healthpsychology, and points out that although the articles are informative, they lack credibility of an article from more specialized publications.
From the Paper "The article is comprehensive in that it compiles the opinions of many experts in risk assessment. It is a multispecialty field, comprised of neuroscientists, psychologists, risk consultants and other academicians in various fields related to risk. Direct quotations from these experts are used often to emphasize points made by the author. The article is written in a type of "inverted triangle" format used such that it attracts attention before discussion of facts in a logical manner such that the reader is engaged by both anecdotes and facts, interwoven to provide a flow that all readers are accustomed to. Technical jargon is explained by examples and are easily comprehendible, perhaps more so than through the use of the strictly scientific (but otherwise precise) definition. This is in stark contrast to the structured format adhered to by the academe, particularly journal articles. This is understandable, since laymen reading this article can absorb the essence of the article rather than details which may be of trivial significance to them.
"While the article is informative and presents much insight into the concept of risk, the article's target audience is left with "just enough" information to be able to process and assimilate it. While the information it provides is indeed useful in promoting well-being, there is a superficial essence to it. This is understandable, since anyone with a more formal educational background would have the tendency to scrutinize this - and any - article relevant to his field of study. In this case, while facts are presented on after the other, there is an unsettling paucity of alternative, negating or even contradictory explanations."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed discussion about the benefits of sports psychology for athletes and their lives and performance. The author takes us on a tour of what an athlete endures as he perfects his craft and moves toward the top. We are given examples as well as ideas regarding the needs of an athlete and his psyche.
Tags: SPORTS / HEALTH (MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY), psyche for athletes