Social Psychology: Clinical and Counselling

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Questions and Answers

How does the concept of 'anticipated aversive repercussions contingent on creating an undesirable impression' directly relate to the experience of social anxiety, and what are the potential implications for intervention strategies targeting this specific cognitive component?

It directly causes the gut feeling of dread. Interventions could target reshaping expectancies.

Within the framework of hopelessness theory, how do the dimensions of internality, stability, and globality interact to potentiate depressive symptoms, and what specific interventions can attenuate the impact of pessimistic attributional styles on future negative outcome expectancies?

Attributing negative outcomes to internal, stable, and global factors increases depressive symptoms. Interventions can target modifying dysfunctional causal attributions for imagined outcomes.

Given the potential for both false-positive and false-negative errors in clinical diagnosis, what specific cognitive strategies and debiasing techniques can clinicians employ to mitigate the impact of anchoring bias and confirmation bias on their assessment of client symptomatology?

Clinicians should pause and consider revising the earlier assessment. They should be taught to be more evenhanded in their questioning.

How might the principles of self-presentation theory be integrated with cognitive-behavioral techniques in the treatment of social anxiety disorder, specifically targeting the interplay between self-presentational motivation, social self-efficacy, and negative outcome expectancies?

By identifying cognitive-social targets for change. Interventions should seek to modify social self-efficacy and self-presentational motivation. Signup and view all the answers

In what specific ways can interventions informed by hopelessness theory be adapted to address the unique cognitive and emotional challenges faced by individuals with hopelessness depression, particularly with regard to modifying generalized negative outcome expectancies and fostering a sense of empowerment and agency?

The therapeutic goal shifted away from hopelessness and toward hopefulness. Those therapies should engender the expectation that desirable outcomes will occur. Signup and view all the answers

How do findings from studies on diagnostic overshadowing and attributional biases inform the development of interventions designed to enhance clinicians' awareness of and sensitivity to the influence of contextual factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, cultural background) on diagnostic decision-making?

Clinicians may inaccurately anchor their diagnosis of the client by learning of labels applied by other mental health professionals. Signup and view all the answers

How can culturally informed adaptations of self-presentation theory and hopelessness theory enhance the effectiveness of interventions targeting social anxiety and depression in collectivistic societies, where the self-concept is often interdependent and interconnected?

In collectivistic cultures, a person may be more likely to feel embarrassed and humiliated for other people, which affects therapy. Signup and view all the answers

Considering the ethical implications of labeling effects and diagnostic confirmation bias, what strategies can be implemented to promote greater transparency and client-centeredness in the diagnostic process, empowering clients to actively participate in the interpretation and management of their mental health concerns?

Avoid labels. Remember that labels can result in a loss of supportive services, low self-esteem and self-efficacy, and increased depression. Signup and view all the answers

What are the essential components of a theoretically integrated treatment protocol that draws upon both self-presentation theory and hopelessness theory to address comorbid social anxiety and depression, and how might such a protocol optimize outcomes by targeting shared cognitive and behavioral mechanisms?

Tretment shoud focus on increasing hopefulness and modifying social-self efficacy, which can be done through social skills. Signup and view all the answers

In light of recent advances in translational research, what novel pharmacological or neuromodulatory interventions hold promise for augmenting the efficacy of social-psychologically informed therapies for social anxiety and depression, and what ethical considerations must guide the integration of biological and psychosocial approaches?

These advances were not discussed in the text. Signup and view all the answers

How does the interplay between ecological validity and internal validity influence the design and interpretation of social psychological research on the etiology and treatment of psychological disorders, and what methodological innovations can enhance the real-world applicability of findings from laboratory-based studies?

Basic research is said to possess high levels of internal validity, but lacks external validity. Applied research tends to have greater external validity, but weaker internal validity. Signup and view all the answers

How does understanding social comparison contribute to the way people express their feelings of loneliness, envy and/or sadness through the use of technology, in particular cell phones?

People commented with envy and sadness in her voice on the public use of cell phones by others, saying, "A cell phone for me would be a waste because I don't have anything to say and I don't have anyone to talk to." Signup and view all the answers

What are the implications of labeling someone as `deviant` rather than `in need of help`, and what are the potential consequences for the individual's access to supportive services and overall well-being?

This stigma can even result in a loss of supportive services, low self-esteem and self-efficacy, and increased depression. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of distinguishing between `false-positive` and `false-negative` diagnostic judgments in the context of mental health care, and discuss the potential ramifications of each type of error for patient outcomes and treatment efficacy.

A false positive exists when a diagnostic label is inappropriately given to a client. A false negative is where a diagnosis should have been made, but was not. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how a clinician's initial impression or `hunch` about a client's condition can lead to confirmation bias, and explain how this bias might inadvertently influence the types of questions asked and the interpretation of information gathered during the assessment process.

Given the existence of a tentative hunch about the nature of a client's problem, confirmation bias is the tendency to be more likely to try to confirm the hunch rather than try to disconfirm it. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the roles of rational emotive therapy (RET) and social skill therapies in reducing social anxiety and bolstering or helping improve self efficacy.

RET is designed to help clients by reducing or eliminating their irrational and unrealistic concerns. Social skill therapies may reduce symptoms of social anxiety by bolstering the client's sense of social self-efficacy. Signup and view all the answers

How does making a self-enhancing attributional style (i.e., global and stable for positive events) for the positive events that happen to oneself have a positive effect, and what is the general mechanism for this effect?

It will promote the growth of hopefulness. Hopefulness, in turn, is thought to offset depression, causing a person's mood to lift. Signup and view all the answers

In the Penn Resiliency Program, what is the significance of both shifting attributional styles and obtaining behavioral skills at the same time?

It is true that shifting one's attributional style can provide hope that problems will dissipate and that some change is possible. However, modifying explanatory biases does not provide the behavioral skills required to enact or realize that hope of change. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the difference in approach and treatment method between clinical psychologists and counselling psychologists?

Clinical psychologists usually have an area of specialty and treat people with serious mental illness. In contrast, counselling psychologists have a more general approach to treatment and focus more on psychologically healthy individuals. Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of ‘anchoring’ apply to mental illness, and what would be some ways a therapist could fall victim to the ‘anchoring’ effect?

In a clinical context, the anchoring effect is defined as a bias that occurs when a therapist's first impression about the nature of a client's problem artificially constricts the therapist's subsequent assessments. Signup and view all the answers

Outline an experiment that demonstrates the anchoring effect, and explain what the experimental results mean for the real world.

One experiment initially told mental health practitioners that the patient might be psychotic, while the other half were not given any information. the professionals that were told the patient was psychotic were more likely to judge that the client was mentally ill and in need of therapy. Signup and view all the answers

Can individuals without mental health problems show bias in the same way that mental health practictioners can? And what is the possible outcome if people are affected by this bias?

Yes, they fall into trap unconsciously. You may not that you are being affected in the first place, it is hard to catch yourself and make corrective changes. Signup and view all the answers

What does current research suggest about the level of competence in mental health services due to racial bias among mental health practitioners, and what possible effects could this bias have?

Evidence showing differential rates of clinical diagnosis is especially interesting given that there is little objective evidence for actual differential prevalence of schizophrenia in the two groups. Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for people to recognize their mental health illness, and what impact does the amount of time spent trying to recognize the illness have?

This was not discussed in provided text. Signup and view all the answers

Under what general circumstances could a patient be suffering from the wrong diagnosis?

The answer to this question can be reached on the basis of several studies, including, Rosenhan (1973) and Goddard (2011). Signup and view all the answers

Explain, in detail, how specific attributions people make for why unfortunate things happen determines whether they become prone to depression with long lasting negative expectations?

The attributional model proposed that people are depressed because of the attributions they make for why unfortunate things happen. According to the model, people who are prone to depression make pessimistic attributions that cause them to believe that there is nothing they can ever say or do to change their unfortunate circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

Why do current clinicians still carry forward bias from previous decades in cases such as those described in Rosenhan's research from the 1970s?

Rosenhan's (1973) research provides evidence showing how false-positive errors are sometimes made in clinical decision making and how the consequences of such errors can harm the very people whom professionals are trying to help. Signup and view all the answers

Why may scientists be better equipped to identify those suffering from a mental illness than the general public?

This was not addressed in the text. Signup and view all the answers

Briefly explain the study by Voelz, Haeffel, Joiner, & Wagner (2003), its aim, methodology, and the impact it had on this field of research.

In this study, depressed inpatients were assessed at intake to a psychiatric hospital and again at discharge approximately nine days later. Patients received standard cognitive-behavioral treatment to see what effects it would have. Signup and view all the answers

Why are client-centered approaches that promote greater transparency and client-centeredness important when managing mental health concerns?

This was not specifically stated in the text, but can be inferred. Signup and view all the answers

People may have difficulties socializing as a result of their background. How impactful and pervasive can this become across various demographics?

This was not addressed in the text. Signup and view all the answers

Describe and outline a scenario where a new graduate of Psychology may use social psychological concepts.

This cannot be answered from the text. Signup and view all the answers

Briefly describe how the views of clinical and social psychologists have come together. What are some general effects?

As noted at the outset of the chapter, scholars who have originated theory, research, and practice at the intersection of social psychology and abnormal/clinical psychology have constructed a special type of applied psychology. Signup and view all the answers

When the social worker is talking with Deena would is considered `confirmation bias` and give a specific prompt question to Deena the worker may ask?

The clinicians bias makes it more likely, for the worker, to ask "Have you ever felt shy and awkward when speaking with people?" Signup and view all the answers

Deena had negative thoughts towards herself. Explain to her that her thoughts may be irrational, give a summary statement about how to deal with mental health challenges due to these irrational thoughts, and the impacts to her overall self-being?

Those results suggest that mental health professionals can sometimes hold culturally derived biases that result in false-positive diagnoses. Signup and view all the answers

According to chart 5.1, what is considered, `True Positive`. If a person suffers from depression what would be required to be diagnosed as a, `True Positive`?

Client appropriately receives treatment for a condition that he or she actually has; potential to benefit from treatment exists Signup and view all the answers

Given current mental health advancements, is `Institutionalization` the appropriate method to use to cure, or, treat a patient; explain?

In 2010, Goddard travelled to the United States during a time of personal stress and upheaval. While there, he was admitted to a psychiatric institution and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He felt that he was misdiagnosed, and yet he was not allowed to leave the institution for 21 days Signup and view all the answers

Given past cases such as `Deena`, what is the purpose for trained clinicians to ask disconfirmatory questions?

The implication for improving clinical assessment and making it more accurate is that counselors should be taught to be more evenhanded in their questioning. Signup and view all the answers

What are some helpful methods that have worked with young at risk patients suffering from negative mental issues?

The Penn Resiliency Program (Gillham et al., 2007) is an excellent example of a psychotherapeutic intervention that was carefully crafted to target change in cognitive-social processes identified by the hopelessness model as being important mediators of depressive symptomatology. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Social Anxiety

Extreme upset and distress in social situations.

Loneliness

Sad yearning for intimacy due to perceived lack of friendships.

Self-presentation theory (SPT)

A cognitive-social framework applied to understanding socially anxious people, where individuals manage impressions others form of them.