Psychological Perspectives, Approaches, And Their Applications In Health And Social Care Practice

1: Explain the principle psychological perspective

1: Explain the principle psychological perspective .
1.1: assess different psychological approaches to study .
2: Explain different psychological approaches to health practice .
2.1: compare two psychological approaches to health and social care service provision .
2.2: evaluate two psychological approaches to health and social care service provision.
3: Explain different psychological approaches to social care practice.

The principal psychological perspectives attribute to the development of perceptions and assumptions related to the functionality of human behaviour, psychosocial instincts, mind approaches, cognitive function, self-esteem and biological factors influencing the psycho-socio-somatic health of individuals. Evidence-based research literature reveals the potential of the human face and associated behavioural reflection in terms of undertaking transformation for becoming a social animal (Meadows, 2014, p. 19).

Different psychological approaches to study include the behaviourist, psychodynamic, cognitive, biological, humanistic and social learning strategies in the context of their implementation for enhancing the health and social care outcomes.

Behaviourist approach emphasizes the role of the environment in influencing behavioural instincts of individuals under controlled conditions. Pavlov’s behaviourist theory advocates the influence of conditioning attributing to differentiation, acquisition, generalization, experimental neurosis and extinction on the inhibition and excitation processes of the brain (Goodwin, 2015, p. 300). Classical conditioning (researched by Pavlov) objectively induces behavioural outcomes in preconceived environmental conditions. Skinner advocates the principles of operant conditioning that emphasizes the direct linkage of voluntary responses on their subsequent consequences (Weiten, Dunn, & Hammer, 2012, pp. 46-47). The favourable, unfavourable and neutral responses (of organisms) governed by reinforcement, punishment and extinction in the context of operant conditioning theory. Positive motivation results in the repetition of responses; however, negative reinforcement and punishment exhibit the potential to reduce or nullify the pattern of behavioural outcomes.     

Psychodynamic approach explores the impact of experiences of life and the unconscious state of mind on the behavioural outcomes. Freud advocates the influence of events of life in terms of unprecedented incidents, happenings and positive or negative relationship patterns on the behavioural strengths and weaknesses of individuals (Higdon, 2012, p. 14). Freud emphasizes the effect of these events on the unconscious mind leading to the behavioural variations among individuals. The analysis of dreams and communication patterns by Freud further confirms his psychodynamic contention for evaluating the behaviour of living beings. The life cycle approach advocated by Erikson emphasizes the requirement of the resolution of interpersonal conflicts with the implementation of effective coping strategies for strengthening the relationships and consequent behavioural outcomes among individuals (Lishman, 2015, p. 99).    

1.1: Assess different psychological approaches to study

Cognitive psychological approach deals with the evaluation of mental physiology attributing to attention, perception and memory for determining the behavioural manifestations. Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory describes cognitive and logical developmental processes as truly spontaneous in the absence of readily observable instructions. This theory correlates the logical development of individuals with the patterns of their reading development under the influence of culture and system of education (Berger, Pezdek, & Banks, 2009, pp. 62-63). The cognitive strategy advocated by Kelly discusses the behavioural strategies for controlling the emotional responses of individuals for initiating reappraisal. This approach eventually alters the responses of individuals in relation to various emotions after modifying their perspectives regarding these particular emotions across the community environment. Emotional modification among individuals attained after empathizing with them and controlling their thought processes while establishing patterns of consistent interaction in regular intervals (Kelly, 2012, p. 149).    

The biological approach to study evaluates the genetic predisposition of individuals towards developing behavioural manifestations. This approach also evaluates the impact of endocrine and nervous systems on the patterns of human behaviour. Gesell advocates the relationship between the patterns of behavioural ontogeny with the development of human brain (Bornstein & Lamb, 2011, p. 217). The theory correlated the capacity of stair climbing and walking with the enhancement of motor abilities of individuals. Furthermore, the biological approach considers behaviour as an inherited instinct that potentially influences the adaptive capacity of human beings. This approach also explores the environmental influences on the human genome that consequently influences the behavioural outcomes.              

The humanistic approach deals with the evaluation of self-actualization of individuals with the application of holistic strategies for diagnosing the human behaviour. The individual experiences of people and their perceptions utilized as potential tools for evaluating their behaviour across the community environment. Rogers’s humanistic approach considers the instincts attributing to active listening and positive interaction as a tool for strengthening the patterns of relationship between individuals, rather than merely enhancing their productivity across the corporate environment (Schneider, Pierson, & Bugental, 2015, p. 726). These patterns of positive relationship lead to the enhancement of well-being and psychosocial health of the human population.     

The social learning approach emphasizes the positive or negative influence of cultures and individualized contentions on human behaviour. Bandura’s theory of social learning advocates the influence on self-reinforcement strategies on the patterns of human behaviour (Corey, 2009, p. 233). This social cognitive theory further emphasizes the role of self-organization, self-reflection and proactive social interventions for the enhancement of behavioural outcomes. Bandura evidentially presents the role of life attributes including business activities, healthcare, education and social interventions on the modification of human behaviour.   

2: Explain different psychological approaches to health practice

Psychological approaches have numerous applications in health and social care practices across the globe. These evidence-based strategies utilized as potential tools by healthcare practitioners and psychologists across the globe for enhancing the health outcomes across hospitals, health clinics, counsellors, day centres, schools and nurseries. The biological approach helps in understanding the predisposition of individuals towards developing various disease patterns. This approach also assists in configuring the developmental protocols and stress management strategies for the individuals affected with psychosomatic disorders. The behaviourist approach assists in the development of behaviour management strategies for mitigating the manifestations of challenging behaviour. Furthermore, social learning strategies assist in the configuration of role models in decreasing the frequency of discriminatory behaviour among the psychologically unstable individuals. Cognitive approaches assist healthcare professionals in developing cognitive behavioural interventions for reducing the intensity of cognitive communication deficit and helping the patients affected with various learning difficulties. Psychodynamic approaches assist healthcare professionals in configuring therapeutic strategies for resolving the patterns of anxiety (and associated psychosocial conflicts) experienced by the affected individuals. The humanistic approach helps in the development of patient centered strategies while evaluating the individualized requirements of the affected patients for enhancing the health outcomes across the community environment.         

Humanistic Approach	Behaviourist Approach
1.      Humanistic approach based on the concepts of holism, human values and reductionism. This theory assists healthcare practitioners in terms of configuring strategies for enhancing the functionality of nervous, endocrine and alimentary systems in the context of maintaining the psychosomatic state of individuals (McCarthy & Rose, 2010, pp. 70-71).	1.      This approach focuses on the development of observable learning and reinforcement strategies, rather than the enhancement of somatic systems for elevating the intellectual, interpersonal and psychomotor potential of individuals (Biech, 2008, p. 203).
2.      This approach requires the successful processing of effective communication with the client for the development of customized psychosocial interventions in accordance with client’s personal requirements.	2.   This approach does not correlate with the communication skills of individuals; it rather evaluates psychosocial symptoms for determining the behaviour modification strategies for enhancing the mental outcomes.

Advantages of Humanistic Approach

Humanistic approach is a client-centered strategy that takes into account the positive intentions of the client for enhancing the behavioural outcomes (Plante, 2011, p. 133). This approach facilitates the establishment of an effective therapeutic relationship between client and healthcare professionals and keeps both of them at ease during the process of psychosocial intervention.

Disadvantages of Humanistic Approach

Humanistic approach fails to identify congenital conditions influencing the development of behavioural manifestations among individuals. This strategy works for a shorter tenure and subjective understanding of the behavioural outcomes by the healthcare professionals is difficult to achieve in a practical scenario.

Advantages of Behaviourist Approach

Behaviourism is a comparatively scientific approach that assists healthcare professionals in analyzing observable behaviour of individuals while obtaining their responses in terms of agreement on the behavioural outcomes (Gould, 2012, pp. 7-8). It facilitates the implementation of behavioural modification models for obtaining the desirable responses in the shortest possible timeframe.  

Disadvantages of Behaviourist Approach

Behaviourist approach objectively evaluates the behavioural manifestations and exhibits limited scope of identifying the thought process of individuals and their tendency for manipulating the psychosocial responses. This strategy does not take into account the individual perspectives, requirements, contentions and choices of the patients requiring psychosocial evaluation for elevating the behavioural outcomes.  

2.1: Compare two psychological approaches to health and social care service provision

The behaviourist and social learning approaches assist in the development of a healthy society while promoting anti-discriminatory interventions for the eligible individuals with the effective utilization of positive reinforcement strategies through behavioural counselling sessions and health education campaigns. Indeed, in any behavioural intervention, the instincts attributing to empathy, acceptance, authenticity, warmth and permissiveness significantly assist in bringing the behaviour change among the affected individuals (Burger, 2014, p. 194).

The psychodynamic approach helps the social care teams in evaluating the patterns of difficult behaviour to devise the mitigating strategies in the context of reducing the psychosocial manifestations attributing to anxiety, stress and panic attacks.  

The cognitive approach helps the social care workers in effectively extending the assistive interventions to the individuals affected with psychological disorders attributing to depression, emotional controversies and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Subsequently, this approach works as a potential tool for reducing the burden of psychosomatic disorders across the community environment.

The biological approach facilitates the determination of biological factors influencing the behavioural outcomes of individuals. Resultantly, development of treatment strategies assists in improving the psychosomatic state of the affected individuals.

The humanistic approach helps the social care workers in empathizing with the affected individuals through actively listening their concerns and contentions while safeguarding their dignity during the course of assistive interventions.

References

Berger, D. E., Pezdek, K., & Banks, W. P. (2009). Applications of Cognitive Psychology: Problem Solving, Education, and Computing. New York: Routledge.

Biech, E. (2008). ASTD Handbook for Workplace Learning Professionals. Virginia: ASTD.

Bornstein, M. H., & Lamb, M. E. (2011). Cognitive Development: An Advanced Textbook. New York: Great Britain.

Burger, W. R. (2014). Human Services in Contemporary America (9th ed.). California: Cengage.

Corey, G. (2009). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (8th ed.). USA: Thomson.

Goodwin, C. J. (2015). A History of Modern Psychology. USA: Wiley.

Gould, J. (2012). Learning Theory and Classroom Practice in the Lifelong Learning Sector (2nd ed.). London: Sage.

Higdon, J. (2012). Psychodynamic Theory for Therapeutic Practice (2nd ed.). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Kelly, T. M. (2012). Empathy: A Quantum Approach – The Psychical Influence of Emotion. USA: University of Alternative Studies.

Lishman, J. (2015). Handbook for Practice Learning in Social Work and Social Care (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Kingsley.

McCarthy, J., & Rose, P. (2010). Values-Based Health & Social Care: Beyond Evidence-Based Practice. California: Sage.

Meadows, C. M. (2014). A Psychological Perspective on Joy and Emotional Fulfillment. New York: Routledge.

Plante, T. G. (2011). Contemporary Clinical Psychology (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Wiley.

Schneider, K. J., Pierson, J. F., & Bugental, J. F. (2015). The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology: Theory, Research, and Practice. USA: Sage.

Weiten, W., Dunn, D. S., & Hammer, E. Y. (2012). Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century. California: Wadsworth Cengage.