Introduction to Psychology and Myths
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Introduction to Psychology and Myths

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Questions and Answers

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour.

True

Psychology does not consider biological influences on behaviour.

False

Health Psychology is part of the Population Health and Healthcare Delivery vertical theme.

True

Child development is excluded from the study of psychology.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Resilience training is a component of the Personal & Professional Identity theme.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Psychology and Psychiatry are the same discipline.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Psychotherapy is the same as Psychology.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Human memory functions like a video recording.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Most people use only 10% of their brain capacity.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Psychology is essential in healthcare settings.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Behavior change acts as a defense against COVID-19.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Alzheimer's Disease patients use less than 10% of their brain capacity.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Expectations and biases do not affect memory recall.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine include Physical Activity, Sleep, and Smoking cessation.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

A fixed mindset believes that abilities are incremental.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

One principle of a growth mindset is that mistakes should be hidden.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Positive Education includes concepts such as resilience and growth mindset.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Feedback is viewed as criticism in a growth mindset.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Learning from mistakes is considered a positive practice.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'I can't do this yet' reflects a fixed mindset.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Complex problems and the willingness to take risks contribute to productive educational environments.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Short-term memory can hold an unlimited amount of information.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

People addicted to nicotine can be distinguished from social smokers.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Pain management is not a topic covered in health psychology.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Adherence refers to following prescribed health regimens in health psychology.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Resilience skills are considered unnecessary in health systems.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Health psychology explores personality's influence on health outcomes.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Lifestyle medicine is not a component of the core curriculum at RCSI.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The psychology of aging is a topic studied within health psychology.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of human experience does psychology investigate?

<p>The functions of the brain and behaviours in various settings</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what area does health psychology primarily fall within the RCSI curriculum?

<p>Population Health and Healthcare Delivery</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about psychology is false?

<p>Psychology is focused solely on emotional health.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which common myth about psychology is accurately outlined?

<p>Psychology includes the study of all human behaviors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors is not considered by psychology when studying behavior?

<p>Astrological influences</p> Signup and view all the answers

What key question does health psychology address regarding memory?

<p>How much information can be held in short-term memory?</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which topic in health psychology focuses on motivations behind behavioral changes?

<p>Illness attributions and beliefs</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of addiction is explored in health psychology?

<p>Distinction between addiction and social use</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary goal of lifestyle medicine as part of health psychology?

<p>Encouraging lifestyle modifications for better health outcomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which topic is associated with resilience in health psychology?

<p>Positive aging concepts</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception about smoking is addressed in health psychology?

<p>All smokers are addicted to nicotine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenges does health psychology address regarding medication adherence?

<p>Understanding the psychological barriers to following treatment</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is understanding risk perception significant in health psychology?

<p>It influences lifestyle choices and health outcomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a growth mindset from a fixed mindset?

<p>Willingness to seek challenges</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine?

<p>Mental Visualization</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a fixed mindset typically respond to mistakes?

<p>Hide mistakes and avoid accountability</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of positive education, which concept is emphasized alongside resilience?

<p>Growth mindset</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a productive educational environment according to the content?

<p>Encouragement to take risks and work on complex problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects a belief associated with a growth mindset?

<p>I can learn from my mistakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine?

<p>Physical and mental health behaviors</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which mindset encourages viewing feedback as advice rather than criticism?

<p>Growth mindset</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Psychiatry?

<p>Focusing on mental health and wellness</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is Psychology different from Psychotherapy?

<p>Psychology studies mental processes and behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes human memory?

<p>It is constructed and influenced by various factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does fMRI play in understanding brain activity?

<p>It confirms that most brain areas are engaged in even simple tasks</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about the brain's capacity?

<p>Most people only use about 10% of their brain's capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor affecting public health messaging related to behavior change?

<p>Pandemic fatigue and prevailing conspiracy theories</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what primary way does psychology contribute to healthcare?

<p>By addressing the mental and emotional aspects of health</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Medicine – Behavior relationship primarily highlight?

<p>Behavior change serves as an important defense against diseases</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts in health psychology with their definitions:

<p>Adherence = Following prescribed health regimens Behavior change = Modification of behaviors for better health outcomes Resilience = Ability to recover from difficulties Personality = Influence of individual traits on health outcomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following pillars of Lifestyle Medicine with their focus areas:

<p>Physical Activity = Engaging in regular exercise Sleep = Importance of restorative sleep Smoking cessation = Quitting smoking habits Nutrition = Adopting a healthy diet</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following common myths about psychology with their clarifications:

<p>'We only use 10% of our brain' = Myth; most of the brain is active 'Psychology is the same as psychiatry' = Myth; different disciplines 'Therapy is only for mental illness' = Myth; beneficial for well-being too 'Young children have no memory capabilities' = Myth; they can form memories</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following areas covered by health psychology with their descriptions:

<p>Public Health = Focus on population-level health outcomes Epidemiology = Study of disease distribution and determinants Health Psychology = Examination of psychological factors in health Personal &amp; Professional Identity = Development of individual identity in healthcare settings</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following growth mindset principles with their meanings:

<p>Learning from mistakes = Valuing the experience of failure Feedback as constructive = Viewing feedback as a way to improve Embracing challenges = Seeking growth through difficult tasks Effort leads to mastery = Believing that skills can be developed over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following myths about psychology with their correct explanations:

<p>Psychology and Psychiatry are the same = Psychiatry focuses on medication while Psychology studies mental processes and behavior. Human memory works like a video recording = Memory is influenced by a variety of factors and is often unreliable. Most people use only 10% of their brain capacity = fMRI demonstrates that most tasks activate large areas of the brain. Psychology and Psychotherapy are the same = Psychotherapy is a treatment process conducted by trained professionals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following statements about health psychology to their relevance:

<p>Behaviour change is crucial against COVID-19 = Behavioral adjustments can mitigate health threats. Expectations affect memory recall = Individual perceptions influence how memories are formed. Public health messaging faces challenges = Pandemic fatigue and conspiracy theories complicate compliance. Resilience training is part of healthcare = Skills to bounce back from challenges are necessary in health systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following professionals to their primary role within health psychology:

<p>Psychologist = Studies mental processes and behavior. Psychiatrist = Prescribes medication and treats mental disorders. Psychotherapist = Provides treatment through specific therapeutic processes. Neuropsychologist = Examines the relationship between brain function and behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following misconceptions about memory with their accurate propositions:

<p>Memory is a video recording = Memory is reconstructive, not perfectly accurate. Everyone recalls memories perfectly = Eyewitness testimonies can be misleading. Memory does not change over time = Memories can be altered by new information. Emotions do not impact recall = Emotional states can significantly influence memory retrieval.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects of health psychology with their key focus:

<p>Adherence to health regimens = Understanding factors that affect treatment compliance. Lifestyle Medicine pillars = Promoting overall health including physical activity and nutrition. Psychology of aging = Studying the effects of aging on mental health and behavior. Neurodegenerative conditions = Research on how diseases like Alzheimer's affect cognitive function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following behavioral theories with their definitions:

<p>Fixed mindset = Believes talents and abilities are static. Growth mindset = Emphasizes learning and improvement through effort. Resilience = Ability to recover from setbacks. Conspiracy theories = Alternative beliefs that challenge established facts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms related to memory with their descriptions:

<p>Eyewitness testimony = Often unreliable and subject to distortion. Memory biases = Systematic errors in recall influenced by beliefs. Expectations = Can shape what details are remembered. Contemporaneous events = Recent experiences that can interfere with memory recall.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following health psychology challenges with their implications:

<p>Pandemic fatigue = Reduces compliance with health guidelines. Conspiracy theories = Can undermine trust in public health information. Social influences = Impact individual behaviors related to health. Cognitive biases = Affect decision-making in health-related contexts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the pillars of Lifestyle Medicine with their focus areas:

<p>Physical Activity = Promoting regular exercise Nutrition = Healthy eating habits Stress Management = Coping with stress effectively Smoking cessation = Quitting tobacco use</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the components of Growth Mindset with their definitions:

<p>Seek challenge = Embrace difficult tasks I can't do this YET = View limitations as temporary Examine mistakes = Learn from errors Feedback is ADVICE = Accept constructive criticism</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the statements about Fixed Mindset with their implications:

<p>Abilities are INNATE = Undermines personal development Avoid challenge = Limits growth opportunities Hiding mistakes = Prevents learning Excuses = Avoidance of responsibility</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the educational principles to their descriptions:

<p>Positive Education = Focuses on wellbeing and resilience Growth mindset = Encourages learning through challenges Complex problems = Promotes critical thinking Risk-taking = Fosters a culture of experimentation</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the concept to its characteristic mindset:

<p>Fixed Mindset = Prove abilities to others Growth Mindset = Seek opportunities for improvement Avoidance of challenge = Preference for comfort Examining mistakes = Encouragement for progress</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the person to their contribution in education:

<p>Carol Dweck = Identified fixed and growth mindsets Beth Frates = Promoted lifestyle medicine in education James Nottingham = Advocated for challenging learning environments Boaler = Explored productive classroom strategies</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the key themes of Lifestyle Medicine with relevant topics:

<p>Physical Activity = Exercise regimens Nutrition = Dietary guidelines Sleep = Healthy sleep practices Alcohol and Drugs = Substance use management</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the perspective on feedback with its type of mindset:

<p>Growth Mindset = View feedback as advice Fixed Mindset = Consider feedback as criticism Adaptive feedback = Encourages improvement Defensive feedback = Cowers from critique</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following health psychology topics with their descriptions:

<p>Pain = Management of physical discomfort Stress management = Techniques to cope with stress Illness attributions = Beliefs about the causes of health issues Adherence = Following recommended health behaviors</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their related fields:

<p>Positive aging = Developmental lifespan psychology Resilience = Positive psychology Growth mindset = Educational theory Lifestyle medicine = Preventive health measures</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following addiction types with their identifying characteristics:

<p>Nicotine addiction = Dependence beyond social smoking Alcohol addiction = Usage beyond social drinking Prescription drug misuse = Deviation from medical advice Caffeine dependence = Regular intake causing withdrawal symptoms</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following literature references with their respective focuses:

<p>Morrison &amp; Bennett = Introduction to Health Psychology vanTeijlingen &amp; Humphris = Psychology and Sociology Applied to Medicine James JE = Health of Populations: Beyond Medicine Hickey A = Resilience skills in health systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following key terms with their definitions:

<p>Memory = Information retention and recall Learning outcomes = Skills and knowledge acquired through education Risk perception = Understanding personal health risks Personality &amp; Health = Impact of personality traits on health</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following health behaviors with their possible interventions:

<p>Smoking cessation = Support groups and behavior therapy Medication adherence = Education and reminder systems Stress reduction = Mindfulness and relaxation techniques Healthy eating = Nutritional counseling and meal planning</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following psychological concepts with their applications:

<p>Fixed mindset = Avoids challenges and fears failure Growth mindset = Embraces challenges and learns from feedback Social support = Influences emotional and mental well-being Health beliefs = Shape health behaviors and decisions</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following educational concepts with their representations in health psychology:

<p>Positive education = Promotes resilience and growth mindset Core curriculum = Essential knowledge in lifestyle medicine Reflective assignment = Encourages critical thinking Personal &amp; Professional Identity (PPId) = Integrates personal growth in healthcare practice</p> Signup and view all the answers

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and ______.

<p>behaviour</p> Signup and view all the answers

Health psychology is part of the Population Health and ______ Delivery vertical theme.

<p>Healthcare</p> Signup and view all the answers

Psychology includes the biological influences, social context, and environmental ______ that affect how people behave.

<p>factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

In every setting, psychology is focused on the understanding of ______.

<p>behaviour</p> Signup and view all the answers

The psychology of aging is a topic studied within health ______.

<p>psychology</p> Signup and view all the answers

Health psychology addresses questions about how much information a patient can hold in ______ memory.

<p>short-term</p> Signup and view all the answers

In health psychology, one inquiry focuses on how to tell when someone is addicted to nicotine and not just a '______' smoker.

<p>habit</p> Signup and view all the answers

A topic covered in health psychology is the ______ of aging.

<p>psychology</p> Signup and view all the answers

Coping strategies for managing ______ are a significant focus in health psychology.

<p>stress</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ______ of populations is a key concept in health psychology.

<p>health</p> Signup and view all the answers

Addressing medication ______ is a challenge in health psychology.

<p>adherence</p> Signup and view all the answers

One of the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine is ______ activity.

<p>physical</p> Signup and view all the answers

Understanding ______ perception is significant in health psychology.

<p>risk</p> Signup and view all the answers

One of the 6 pillars of Lifestyle Medicine is ______.

<p>Nutrition</p> Signup and view all the answers

A ______ mindset believes that abilities are innate.

<p>Fixed</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a growth mindset, mistakes are seen as ______.

<p>Opportunities</p> Signup and view all the answers

The second pillar of Lifestyle Medicine is ______.

<p>Sleep</p> Signup and view all the answers

Feedback in a fixed mindset is perceived as ______.

<p>Criticism</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Carol Dweck, a growth mindset embraces ______.

<p>Challenges</p> Signup and view all the answers

One of the components of Positive Education is ______.

<p>Resilience</p> Signup and view all the answers

Managing ______ is one of the pillars of Lifestyle Medicine.

<p>Stress</p> Signup and view all the answers

Psychology and ______ are not the same discipline.

<p>Psychiatry</p> Signup and view all the answers

In psychology, ______ is a process of treatment by professionals with specific training.

<p>Psychotherapy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Human memory is often mistakenly believed to function like a ______.

<p>video recording</p> Signup and view all the answers

Many people believe they only use ______% of their brain capacity.

<p>10</p> Signup and view all the answers

Behavior change is considered a major defense against ______.

<p>COVID-19</p> Signup and view all the answers

Expectations and biases can heavily influence ______.

<p>memory recall</p> Signup and view all the answers

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans reveal that even simple tasks require most of the ______ to be active.

<p>brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

Psychology is important in healthcare settings due to its focus on the ______ relationship.

<p>Medicine-Behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Psychology

  • Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour.
  • It encompasses all aspects of the human experience, from brain function to development.
  • Psychology is focused on understanding behaviour, including biological, social, and environmental factors.

Common Myths about Psychology

  • Psychology and Psychiatry are distinct disciplines.
    • Psychiatry is a medical specialty focused on mental health and wellness, including medication.
    • Psychology is a behavioural science focused on mental processes and behaviour across various settings.
  • Psychology and Psychotherapy are different.
    • Psychotherapy is a treatment process carried out by trained professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists.
    • Psychology is the broader study of the mind and behaviour.
  • Human memory is not like a video recording.
    • Memory is influenced by expectations, biases, and contemporaneous events.
    • Eye-witness testimony is unreliable due to memory's malleability.
  • The 10% brain capacity myth is false.
    • fMRI scans show that even simple tasks activate most of the brain.
    • Individuals with neurodegenerative conditions utilize more than 10% of their brain capacity.

Why Study Health Psychology as a Medical Student

  • Health Psychology is part of the Population Health and Healthcare Delivery vertical theme in the RCSI curriculum.
  • It helps understand the relationship between medicine and behaviour, and how to address challenges to public health messaging.

Important Topics in Health Psychology

  • Memory and learning
  • Pain
  • Lifestyle medicine
  • Stress management
  • Psychology of aging
  • Positive aging
  • Illness attributions and beliefs
  • Adherence
  • Smoking
  • Personality and health
  • Risk perception

Developments in RCSI

  • Positive Education:
    • Focus on personal and professional identity (PPId) and resilience.
    • Includes the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Centre's approach.
  • Lifestyle Medicine:
    • Integrated into the core curriculum and offered as a student choice topic.
    • Emphasizes six pillars: physical activity, sleep, stress management, smoking cessation, alcohol/drug use, and nutrition.
  • Growth Mindset:
    • Fosters a learning culture where students are encouraged to take risks and learn from mistakes.

Fixed vs Growth Mindset

  • Fixed Mindset: Believes abilities are innate and unchanging.
  • Growth Mindset: Believes abilities are incremental and can be developed through effort.

Key Points to Consider

  • Mistakes are not good, but learning from mistakes is.
  • The most productive learning environments encourage risk-taking, struggle, and learning from failure.
  • Mindset influences learning and achievement.
  • Growth mindset fosters a positive learning environment.

Psychology Definition

  • The scientific study of the mind and behaviour.
  • Encompasses all aspects of human experience, including neuroscience, child development, and care for older adults.
  • Focuses on understanding behaviour in various settings.
  • Includes biological influences, social context, and environmental factors that influence behaviour.

Common Myths about Psychology

  • Psychology and Psychiatry are NOT the same.
    • Psychiatry is a medical specialty focused on mental health and wellness, including prescribing medication.
    • Psychology is a behavioural science focusing on the study of mental processes and behaviour across various settings.
  • Psychology and Psychotherapy are NOT the same.
    • Psychotherapy is a treatment process conducted by trained professionals like psychiatrists and psychologists.
  • Human memory is NOT like a video recording.
    • Memory is influenced by expectations, biases, and contemporaneous events.
    • Eyewitness testimony can be unreliable.
  • Most people DO NOT use only 10% of their brain capacity.
    • fMRI scans show most of the brain is active even during simple tasks.
    • People with neurodegenerative conditions use more than 10% of their brain capacity.

Importance of Health Psychology in Healthcare

  • Biopsychosocial model highlights the interconnectedness of biological, psychological, and social factors in health and illness.
  • Behaviour change plays a crucial role in addressing health challenges, including preventative measures and adherence to treatment plans.
  • Health psychology explores behaviour and health within the context of:
    • Memory and learning
    • Pain
    • Lifestyle medicine
    • Stress management
    • Psychology of aging
    • Positive aging
    • Illness attributions and beliefs
    • Adherence
    • Smoking
    • Personality and Health
    • Risk perception

Study Materials

  • Morrison V., Bennett P. An Introduction to Health Psychology. 4th edition. Essex: Pearson Education Ltd., 2016. (Available as an ebook in RCSI Library)
  • vanTeijlingen E, Humphris G. Psychology and Sociology Applied to Medicine. 4th edition. UK: Elsevier Ltd., 2019. (Available as an ebook in RCSI Library)
  • James JE. The health of populations: Beyond Medicine. UK, Elsevier, 2016.

Developments in RCSI Curriculum

  • Positive Education
    • Personal and Professional Identity (PPId)
    • Resilience
    • University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Centre
    • Lifestyle Medicine as a core curriculum and Student Choice topic
  • Growth Mindset
    • Emphasizes learning and improving abilities rather than innate talent.

6 Pillars of Lifestyle medicine

  • Physical Activity
  • Sleep
  • Stress Management
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Alcohol and Drugs
  • Nutrition

Defining Psychology

  • Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour
  • Psychology encompasses all facets of the human experience, from the functions of the brain to child development to care for the elderly.
  • It emphasizes understanding behaviour in all contexts, considering biological, social, and environmental factors.

Common Myths about Psychology

  • Psychology and Psychiatry are distinct fields.
    • Psychiatry, a medical specialty, focuses on mental health and wellness, including medication.
    • Psychology, a behavioural science, studies mental processes and behaviour in various settings.
  • Psychology and Psychotherapy are not equivalent.
    • Psychotherapy is a treatment process conducted by trained professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists.
    • Psychology, again, is a broader field of study.
  • Human memory is not a perfect video recording.
    • Memory is influenced by factors like expectations, biases, and concurrent events.
    • Eyewitness testimony has proven unreliable.
  • The idea that we only use 10% of our brain capacity is false.
    • fMRI studies show that even simple tasks activate most of the brain.
    • Individuals with neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's Disease utilize more than 10% of their brain capacity.

Why Psychology is Important in Healthcare

  • Health Psychology is crucial for healthcare practitioners, addressing questions like:
    • How much information can individuals retain in short-term memory?
    • How to distinguish between nicotine addiction and habitual smoking?
    • What are the best strategies to help individuals quit smoking?
    • How to differentiate between alcohol addiction and social drinking?
    • How to intervene effectively to assist individuals in quitting alcohol?
  • Health Psychology covers topics like:
    • Memory and learning
    • Pain management
    • Lifestyle medicine
    • Stress management
    • The psychology of aging
    • Illness attributions and beliefs
    • Adherence to treatment plans
    • Smoking cessation
    • Personality and health
    • Risk perception

Reflection

  • Resources for studying Health Psychology include:
    • Morrison V., Bennett P. An Introduction to Health Psychology.
    • vanTeijlingen E, Humphris G. Psychology and Sociology Applied to Medicine.
    • Moodle platform with lecture slides, learning outcomes, recommended reading, and electronic links.
    • James JE. The health of populations: Beyond Medicine.

Developments in RCSI

  • RCSI focuses on Personal & Professional Identity (PPId) with an emphasis on resilience training.
  • The University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Centre emphasizes the importance of resilience for health systems.
  • RCSI integrates Lifestyle Medicine into the curriculum, emphasizing six pillars:
    • Physical Activity
    • Sleep
    • Stress Management
    • Smoking Cessation
    • Alcohol and Drug Use
    • Nutrition

Growth Mindset

  • The curriculum at RCSI promotes a growth mindset, challenging the prevailing "genius" culture.
  • Carol Dweck identified two mindsets:
    • "Fixed" mindset: abilities are innate and unchanging.
    • "Growth" mindset: abilities are incremental and can be developed.
  • Growth mindset encourages seeking challenges, embracing mistakes, and viewing feedback as advice.
  • RCSI aims to create an environment conducive to learning from mistakes, similar to classrooms that encourage challenging problems, risk-taking, and feeling comfortable with failure.

What is Psychology?

  • Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour.
  • It encompasses various aspects of the human experience, from brain function to child development and elder care.
  • Psychology is focused on understanding behaviour in a wide range of contexts.
  • Psychology considers biological, social, and environmental factors that influence behaviour.

Psychology Myths

  • Psychology and psychiatry are not the same.
    • Psychiatry is a medical specialty focused on mental health and well-being, including medication prescription.
    • Psychology is a behavioral science focused on understanding mental processes and behaviour in various contexts.
  • Psychology and Psychotherapy are not the same.
    • Psychotherapy is a process of treatment that is conducted by various professionals, such as psychiatrists and psychologists, with specific training.
    • Psychology is the overarching field that studies mind and behaviour.
  • Human memory is not like a video recording.
    • Memory is influenced by various factors.
    • Eye-witness testimony is unreliable.
  • Most people do not use just 10% of their brain capacity.
    • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans show that even simple tasks require most of the brain to be active.
    • People with neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease, use more than 10% of their brain capacity.

Importance of Health Psychology in Healthcare

  • Health psychology is important because it helps understand the complex relationship between the body and mind in healthcare settings.
  • Health psychology helps bridge the gap between medicine and behaviour.
  • The course aims to address questions such as:
    • How much information can be held in short-term memory?
    • Why do patients not take medications as directed?
    • How to identify alcohol and nicotine addiction?
    • What interventions can be used to help people quit smoking?
  • It also covers topics such as memory, learning, pain management, stress management, and the psychology of aging and illness.

Studying Health Psychology as a Medical Student

  • Relevant learning materials are available in the RCSI library.
  • Moodle resources include lectures, learning outcomes, required readings, electronic links, and recommended sources.

Developments that Might Interest You in RCSI

  • Resilience: RCSI emphasizes resilience through the Personal & Professional Identity (PPId) program.
    • The University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Centre also focuses on resilience.
  • Lifestyle Medicine:
    • RCSI embeds Lifestyle Medicine in its core curriculum, aiming to improve patient health.
    • Lifestyle Medicine is also available as a Student Choice topic.
  • Growth Mindset:
    • RCSI fosters a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset.
    • This approach helps students approach learning with flexibility and an openness to improvement.
  • Positive Education:
    • RCSI integrates Positive Education principles into its curriculum, encouraging students to explore their strengths and cultivate well-being.
    • This approach aligns with the program's emphasis on resilience and growth mindset.
  • Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine:
    • Physical Activity
    • Sleep
    • Stress Management
    • Smoking Cessation
    • Alcohol and Drugs
    • Nutrition

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Description

Explore the fundamental principles of psychology, including the distinct roles of psychology and psychiatry, as well as common misconceptions. This quiz delves into the scientific study of the mind and behavior, its various aspects, and the impact of memory on our understanding of human experience.

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