Social & Emotional Development in Adulthood

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Questions and Answers

What is a common outcome for married individuals compared to single individuals?

They have higher levels of disillusionment.

They tend to be more content and satisfied. (correct)

They face greater financial instability.

They experience more relationship conflicts.

What major challenge does Erikson associate with middle adulthood?

Establishing intimate relationships.

Achieving financial independence.

Balancing generativity and self-absorption. (correct)

Developing a clear personal identity.

What is the term used to describe the responsibility adults feel for both their children and ageing parents?

Family Responsibility Dilemma.

Midlife Balancing Act.

Life Cycle Squeeze. (correct)

Generative Crisis.

Which of the following is recognized as a priority activity for both women and men?

Working. Signup and view all the answers

What does stagnation refer to in Erikson's theory during middle adulthood?

Self-centred self-absorption. Signup and view all the answers

What type of adult attachment promotes secure attachment in their children?

Autonomous attachment. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor has contributed to the Life Cycle Squeeze phenomenon?

Delayed child-bearing. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do older adults commonly face in late adulthood?

Declining independence. Signup and view all the answers

How might frustration and anxiety manifest for many women in middle adulthood?

Due to opposing demands of work and childrearing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum duration of symptoms required for a diagnosis of Schizophreniform?

1 month to less than 6 months Signup and view all the answers

What do classification systems attempt to do regarding mental illnesses?

Categorize behaviors associated with problems Signup and view all the answers

Which condition involves the presence of both mood disturbances and psychosis?

Schizoaffective disorder Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a criticism of the DSM and ICD-11?

Overemphasis on patient history Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary criticism of traditional approaches to psychopathology?

Narrow understanding of normativity Signup and view all the answers

What does decolonisation in mental health care primarily aim to achieve?

Reevaluation of normative frameworks for human behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the biomedical perspective on mental illnesses?

Attributes biological causes as central Signup and view all the answers

How have the DSM and ICD classification systems attempted to incorporate cultural understanding?

Through the use of cultural formulation interviews Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT represent an area where biological abnormalities can occur?

Lifestyle choices Signup and view all the answers

What do decolonial critics argue concerning the pathologisation of behaviors?

It often ignores culturally specific practices Signup and view all the answers

What explains a higher likelihood of developing mental illness in identical twins?

Genetic predisposition Signup and view all the answers

What role do neurotransmitters play in mental health according to the biomedical perspective?

They help conduct nerve impulses across synapses Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about structural abnormalities in the brain?

Impact the ability to control emotions Signup and view all the answers

Which approach incorporates social and spiritual elements in understanding mental illness?

Holistic approaches Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of labeling a person with a mental health diagnosis?

Stigma and negative impact on identity Signup and view all the answers

Which chemicals are primarily associated with psychiatric illnesses due to increased levels?

Dopamine and Serotonin Signup and view all the answers

What is a symptom of PTSD that involves the patient experiencing distressing memories of the traumatic event?

Re-experiencing through flashbacks Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT considered a major component in the aetiology of PTSD?

The occurrence of pre-existing mental illness Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor in the development of psychopathology according to the psychodynamic perspective?

Early trauma and deprivation Signup and view all the answers

According to the general findings, which group has a higher risk of developing PTSD after a traumatic event?

Young children and the elderly Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of patients diagnosed with PTSD remains unchanged or experiences worsened symptoms?

10% Signup and view all the answers

According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, how are repressed thoughts and feelings expressed?

As psychopathological symptoms Signup and view all the answers

What does the cognitive behavioural perspective emphasize as causing psychopathological issues?

Irrational beliefs and automatic thoughts Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible negative alteration in cognition and mood for individuals with PTSD?

Loss of interest in activities Signup and view all the answers

The intensity of an individual's traumatic reactions is NOT dependent on which of the following?

The individual's prior experiences with trauma Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes the cycle of negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors leading to depression?

Cognitive Triad of Depression Signup and view all the answers

How does contemporary psychodynamic thought differ from Freud’s original approach?

Recognition of environmental factors in personality formation Signup and view all the answers

What physiological response is increased in individuals with PTSD when they re-experience their trauma?

Production of catecholamines Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is a component of the psychodynamic perspective’s division of the psyche?

Id, ego, and superego Signup and view all the answers

What type of coping mechanism may the ego use to manage trauma according to the psychodynamic perspective?

Repeating distressing events Signup and view all the answers

What theory posits that early relationships shape the foundations of personality?

Object Relations Theory Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom reflects emotional numbing in PTSD patients?

Avoidance of stimuli related to the trauma Signup and view all the answers

What symptom is associated with PTSD that concerns the increased difficulty in sleep?

Insomnia Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of an individual accepting distorted negative thoughts as truth?

Increased likelihood of irrational behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of cognitive therapists in addressing psychopathology?

Changing irrational beliefs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the nature of psychopathological symptoms in the psychodynamic model?

A result of repressed emotions breaking through Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cohabitation & Marriage

Cohabitation is often a choice made in Western societies before or instead of marriage.
Married people tend to report higher levels of life satisfaction compared to single individuals.
Marriage can act as a buffer against the decrease in life satisfaction often experienced during mid-life.
While marriage offers benefits, it also carries the risk of relationship conflicts, disillusionment with partners, and potentially restricting attachments.

Parenthood

Earning an income is widely recognized as a priority for both men and women.
The combination of work and childrearing can lead to substantial stress and anxiety for many women.
An ideal scenario is when both caregivers equally share the responsibility of raising their children.

Middle adulthood is characterized by a juggling act involving family, work, hobbies, and self-care.
Erikson's theory highlights the psychosocial challenge of balancing generativity and stagnation during this stage.
Generativity refers to the drive and commitment to care for the next generation through nurturing, teaching, guiding, and mentoring.
Stagnation, on the other hand, represents a self-absorbed state typical of earlier developmental stages.
Nsamenang emphasizes that middle adulthood involves assuming crucial social roles and responsibilities.

The Life Cycle Squeeze

Many individuals in middle adulthood face the challenge of caring for both maturing children and aging parents who may rely financially on them.
The "life cycle squeeze" is attributed to increased life expectancy, delayed childbearing, and smaller families.

Late adulthood presents challenges related to declining independence, retirement, financial constraints, relationship transitions, and finding meaning in one's life achievements.

Adult Attachment

Individuals classified as "autonomous" exhibit the ability to articulate their early attachment experiences (both positive and negative) in a clear and concise manner.
This "autonomous" attachment style fosters secure attachment in the children of these adults.

Diagnostic Labels

Diagnostic labels should not be seen as defining the individual but rather as a set of behavioral patterns associated with a particular problem.
Overreliance on classification systems can lead to overlooking the individual behind the diagnosis, potentially contributing to stigma and negative impact on identity and well-being.

Critique of DSM and ICD

Both the DSM and ICD have been criticized for the validity of their diagnostic criteria.
The fact that these systems classify illnesses differently highlights a lack of consistency and potential weaknesses in their frameworks.

Alternate Approaches to Classification

Alternative approaches to classification include:
- The dimensional model, which views disorders as lying on a continuum.
- Holistic approaches, which incorporate social and spiritual elements.

Current Perspectives in Psychopathology

Biomedical Perspective

The biomedical perspective assumes that all mental illnesses have biological causes.
Social and environmental factors are considered secondary to biological factors.

Biological Abnormalities

There are three primary areas of biological abnormalities:
- Genetic predisposition:
  - Inherited from parents.
  - Genetic abnormalities can increase susceptibility to specific illnesses.
  - Twin research supports a genetic basis for disorders like schizophrenia, personality disorders, depression, and alcoholism.
- Abnormal neurotransmitter functioning:
  - Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers involved in nerve impulse transmission.
  - Imbalances in certain neurotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin, have been linked to many psychiatric illnesses.
- Structural abnormalities in the brain:
  - Different brain regions play specific roles in functioning.
  - Damage to the limbic system, which regulates emotions, can impair emotional control.
  - Causes of structural abnormalities include genetic disorders, birth abnormalities, drug-related brain damage, and physical injuries.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Approaches that emphasize the influence of unconscious internal forces on interpersonal and self-relations.
Originated from Freud's psychoanalysis.
Freud believed that repressed sexual and aggressive drives, deemed forbidden by society, can manifest as psychopathological symptoms.
The psyche is divided into three components: id, ego, and superego.
Object relations theory highlights the significant role of early relationships, especially with the mother, in shaping an individual's personality.
Early trauma and deprivation are seen as key factors contributing to psychopathology.
Contemporary psychodynamic perspectives emphasize the importance of emotional relationships and the surrounding environment in personality formation.

Cognitive Behavioral Perspective

This perspective emphasizes the direct impact of cognitions (learned ways of thinking) on emotions and behaviors.
Cognitive therapists believe that irrational beliefs and automatic thoughts are primarily responsible for psychopathology.
Aaron Beck identified negative automatic thoughts as contributing to a vicious cycle of negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Depressed individuals often harbor negative thoughts about themselves, the world, and the future, known as the "Cognitive Triad of Depression."

PTSD: Symptoms and Etiology

PTSD is characterized by distressing re-experiencing of the traumatic event, avoidance and emotional numbing, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and increased arousal.
Symptoms must persist for at least one month after the traumatic event.
Symptoms can fluctuate over time, often becoming more pronounced during periods of stress.
The most common form of PTSD is diagnosed in South Africa due to the high crime rate.
Major factors contributing to the development of PTSD:
- The traumatic stressor itself.
- The social environment surrounding the trauma.
- The individual's personality traits.
- The individual's biological vulnerability.
Factors influencing the severity of traumatic reactions:
- Suddenness of the threat.
- Duration of the threat.
- Amount of fear associated with the event.
General findings:
- Young children and the elderly are at higher risk for PTSD.
- Individuals with pre-existing anxiety vulnerability are more likely to develop PTSD.
- People with PTSD show an increased production of catecholamines (emergency response hormones) when re-experiencing trauma.
- Approximately 30% of individuals with PTSD fully recover.
- 60% experience milder anxiety symptoms associated with trauma.
- 10% remain unchanged or experience worsening symptoms.
Psychodynamic perspective proposes that traumatic events reactivate unresolved childhood conflicts.
To cope, the ego may repeat distressing aspects of the trauma to master them and reduce anxiety.

Schizophrenia: Duration of symptoms is one month or longer.
Schizophreniform Disorder: Same symptoms as schizophrenia, but duration is at least one month but less than six months.
Brief Psychotic Disorder: Duration less than one month.
Schizoaffective Disorder: Combination of mood symptoms and psychosis.

Critical Approaches to Psychopathology

Criticism of traditional approaches to psychopathology:
- Narrow understanding of normativity.
- Reliance on Westernized biomedical frameworks.
- Neglecting sociocultural dimensions of human behavior.
Critical approaches challenge the Western-centric biomedical model of abnormality, which may pathologize culturally specific behaviors.

The Decolonial Approach

Decolonization in mental health involves dismantling Westernized notions of human behavior, normativity, normality, and research methods.
Decolonial proponents highlight how diagnoses may appear more prevalent in certain populations without explanation.
Culturally contingent behaviors might be inappropriately pathologized by healthcare providers lacking cultural understanding.
Ignoring the social values and experiences of individuals being diagnosed perpetuates colonial practices.
The globalization of Westernized mental healthcare through DSM and ICD reinforces colonial influences.
Although recent attempts have been made to incorporate culture into these classification systems, these efforts are considered inadequate as they still prioritize biomedical factors.

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Explore the dynamics of cohabitation, marriage, and parenthood during middle adulthood. Understand how these social structures impact life satisfaction and emotional development. This quiz will delve into the challenges and benefits associated with family and work balance.