Application of Positive Psychology Unit 5 PDF

Application of Positive Psychology TABLE OF CONTENTS Across Life Span Positive Change Prevention of Problems Resilience in children & Stages of change, change Adolescents, Life tastks of...

Application of Positive Psychology TABLE OF CONTENTS Across Life Span Positive Change Prevention of Problems Resilience in children & Stages of change, change Adolescents, Life tastks of processes adulthood, successful ageing  Positive 01 Psychology Resilience in Children Definition Meaning A class of phenomena Bouncing back characterised by dynamic patterns 1970’s fcus on childhood of positive adaptation in the resilience context of significant adversity or risk. (Luthar, Cicchetti & Becker, 2000) External Adaptation Internal Adaptation Meeting the Positive Psychological Well-being Social, Educational, Cultural, Occupational expectations of society Resilience and Culture Connectivity and Enculturation Cultural Context Question of “Bounced “Positive feelings back to what?” about the self, one’s culture and ethnic group promotes resiliency and are linked to positive behaviours” Protective Factors in children and youth Problem Solving Self Regulation Easy temperament Skills Skills in infancy Positive Self Meaning in life Positive Outlook Perceptions and on life Self efficacy Protective Factors in family and close relationship Positive attachment Close Authoritative relationships relationships parenting Positive family Organised home Education of climate environment parents Parental Socioeconomic Peer and partner Involvement in advantages influence child’s education Community Effective Ties to High High public Schools prosocial collective safety organisations efficacy Strategies for Promoting resilience in children and youth – Masten et al (2009) Risk Focused Asset Focused Strategies Strategies Preventing/Reducing risk Improving number or and Stressors quality of resources or social capital Process focused strategies Mobilizing the power of Human Adaptation Systems Research Emmy Werner – “Mother of Resiliency” Werner & Smith 1982, 1992 – 700 children born on Hawaiian Island of Kauai (1955 to 1995) Working in Sugarcane plantation. One-third were considered at high risk for academic and social problems because of their deficits in family support and home environments One-third – invulnerable to undermining risk factors 2/3rd – problems in childhood or adolescence. Mid 30s – bounced back (80%) D’Imperio, Dubow, and Ippolito (2000) – Protective factor may not always help in distinguishing between two groups Culture and other experiences sich as past experiences with adversity Doll and Lyon – Resilience programmes may not be reinforced in the cultural context Finding Strength: How to Overcome Anything by Deborah Blum Life tasks of Adulthood  2 main studies Terman’s Life Cycle Harvard Study of study of gifted Adult Development children Lewis Terman (Terman & Oden, 1947) Intelligence Experiment study 1920’s Physically hardy healthier Adaptive quality, Life Most graduated success Secured professional 1500 intellectually jobs gifted children (IQ However, elevated > 140) childhood IQs did not guarantee adult successes and better mental health  Peterson, Seligman, Yurko, Martin and Friedman (1998) Response to open-ended questions in childhood Explanatory style – Catastrophizing Explanatory style and longevity/mortality mediated by lifestyle choices. Genius IQ level and good health in childhood will not protect from bad choices, poor health and premature death Harvard Study of Adult Development Harvard Cohort – Boston Cohort – Grant Study Glueck Study 19 years Old 456 Caucasian men from Boston 268 Caucasian men 11-16 years Classes of 1939-1944 disadvantaged, non-delinquent Founder – William Thomas Grant inner-city youths By Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck.  Primary Tasks of Adulthood – George Valliant Reviewed subset of Terman Sample Both gender Erickson’s stage theory of development Mastery of tasks = Objective of adulthood for successful ageing Intentional work leads to sequence of next task  Tasks of adult development George Vaillant Intimacy Generativity Integrity Identity Career Keeper of Consolidation meaning  People’s views, values, and interests begin to become their own rather than a reflection of their caregivers’ beliefs. Adolescence to early adulthood. Failure – no /low meaningful engagement with people and work Independence Committed relationship  Through Identity Intimate relationship WOMEN (Terman Sample) – close female friendships MEN (Harvard Study) – wives “It is not the bad things that happen to us that doom us; it is the good people who happen to us at any age that facilitate enjoyable old age.”  Social Identity Contentment Compensation, Competence and Commitment Can be ongoing process Due to need to transition to new job career adaptability has emerged as a prerequisite of career consolidation Adaptability – Ability to adjust to layoffs, loss of income, and lack of new job opportunities  Building broader social circle “Giving away of self” Competence and Altruism - mentor the next generation of adults Social goals – beyond achievement oriented goals Contributes to longer life and less impairment in daily living activities  In larger social circle Perspective on workings of the world and of people Willing to share that wisdom with others Protects traditions and rituals for development of younger people  Peace to person’s life Increased spirituality Greater sense of contentment with life Successful Aging Successful Aging Popularised by Robert Havinghurst (1961) The Gerontologist (“Adding life to years”) Healthy aspects if getting older Components – Aspects of maintaining a lifestyle that involves normal, valued, and beneficial activities. Valiant - successful aging as joy, love, and learning Different ways and means to achieve this for different genders, racial and ethnic groups and other social identity Three Components of Successful aging - Rowe and Kahn Engagement Avoiding with Life Disease Maintaining high cognitive and Physical functioning Studies MacArthur Study of Prospective study of Successful Aging Vaillant (2002) John Rowe – 1988 to 1996 Systematic Study Physical, social and Based on Adult Development psychological factors related Study to abilities, health and well- being. The MacArthur Foundation Study of Successful Aging  Social Support Productivity Glass, Seeman, Herzog, Kahn, Potent when mutual & Berkman, (1995) – patterns Given and received mut be of change highly functioning balanced and moderate to low Socioemotional Support (Liking functioning sample of 70 – 79 and Loving) years old over 3 years. Instrumental Support Highest functioning – more (Assistance when someone is in productive need) Changes in productivity – more Increased over time hospital admissions and More social ties – less decline in strokes functioning over time Age, marriage and increased Varies according to gender and mastery of certain skills – baseline physical capabilities greater protection against Married couple difference declines Systematic approach as opposed to subjective evaluation of functioning Physical, Psychological, Occupational Past 80 years 80% and above – past 80th birthday 30% contemporaries 2 groupings of health spectrum – Happy-well and Sad-Sick Lifestyle Predictors of healthy aging Not Smoking or stopping smoking while young coping adaptively, with mature defenses Not abusing alcohol Maintaining a healthy weight Stable marriage Some exercise Being educated Other Studies Danner, Snowdon and Lamond et al (2009) Friesen (2001) Autobiographies of 180 Catholic Resilience related to ability to nuns accept and tolerate negative Positive emotional content – effect in older adults inversely correlated with risk In younger – correlation with of mortality (60 years) active coping Increased age – more positive emotion laden stories  02 Stages of Change Positive Change Change Processes Meaning Transtheoretical model (TTM) of change Health Psychology Explains or predicts a person's success or failure in achieving a proposed behavior change, such as developing different habits. Research literature shows that individuals move through a series of five stages in the adoption of healthy behaviors or cessation of unhealthy ones. On variety of simple and complex health behaviors, including smoking cessation, weight control, sunscreen use, reduction of dietary fat, exercise acquisition, quitting cocaine, mammography screening, and condom use (Prochaska, et al., 1994) Both cognitive and performance based components Predicting factors Decisional Balance Comparing benefits (pros) and costs (cons) of two situations (Status quo vs Self-efficacy change) An individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments Process of change Enables us to understand how shifts in behavior occur Stages of Positive change? Precontemplation 1 Contemplation Not yet acknowledging that Acknowledging that there is there is a problem behavior a problem but not yet ready that needs to be changed 2 or sure of wanting to make a change Preparation/Deter 3 mination Action/Willpower Getting ready to change Changing behaviour 4 5 Maintenance Relapse Maintaining the behaviour Returning to older behaviors change 6 and abandoning the new changes Stage 1: Precontemplation Not serious thought on changing Not interested in help Tendency to defend current bad habit/s Tendency to not discuss the problem with others Habit is not seen as a problem Defensive in the face of other people’s effort “Denial” Stage 2: Contemplation Awareness of personal However ambivalent in consequences of bad habit nature Sufficient time and energy – Weighing the pros and cons thinking about the problem of modifying or quitting Consider the possibility of Doubt long-term benefits changing More open to receiving associated with change information about bad habit Can range from couple of Educational intervention weeks to lifetime Reflect on feelings and thoughts Stage 3: Plan Stage 4: Action/Willpower Belief that they have the ability to change Actively involved in taking steps to change Usage of various techniques Shortest of all stages Time spent varies from individual to individual (around 6 months) Most depend on willpower Overt efforts to quit or change the behaviour Greatest risk for relapse Review commitment to themselves Development of plans to deal with personal and external pressures leading to slips. Stage 5: Maintenance Stage (6): Relapse Reverting back to old habits Can be accompanied with sense of shame and guilt Prochaska’s Model Precontemplation Contemplation Preparation Lack of awareness Recognition of the Introspection about that life can be problem, initial the decision, improved by a consideration of reaffirmation of change in behavior change, the need and behavior and information desire to change gathering about behavior, and possible solutions completion of final and actions pre-action steps  Action Maintenance Termination Implementation of Consolidation of the Former problem the practices behaviors initiated behaviors are no needed for during the action longer perceived successful stage as desirable behavior change (e.g. exercise class attendance)  02 Change Process Overt and covert activities that people use to progress through the stages. Important guide for intervention programs Independent variables that people need to apply, or be engaged in, to move from stage to stage. Prochaska et at 10 processes under two major classifications 2 categories Experiential Behavioural Primarily for early stage Primarily for later stage transitions transitions  Environmental Consciousness Dramatic Relief Revaluation Raising Increased Increased Combination of awareness about emotional affective and the causes, experiences – cognitive consequences reduced affect assessments and cures for a Interventions - Absence or particular problem Psychodrama, presence of behavior. role playing, personal habit Interventions - grieving, personal affects social Feedback, testimonies and environment education, media campaigns Awareness of role confrontation, model interpretation, bibliotherapy and Interventions - media campaigns Empathy training, documentaries, and family interventions  Self re- Social Liberation evaluation Increase in social Cognitive and opportunities or affective assessment alternatives of one’s self-image Especially for people with and without a who are relatively habit. deprived or Eg. Couch potato vs oppressed dynamic person Procedures - Techniques - Value Advocacy, clarification, healthy empowerment role models, and procedures, and imagery appropriate policies  Learning of healthier behaviors that can substitute for problem behaviors. Counter Relaxation (Stress), Assertion Conditioni (peer pressure), Nicotine ng Replacements (Cigarettes), fat/sugar free food etc Caring, trust, openness and Helping acceptance and support relations Rapport Building, hips therapeutic alliance, counsellor calls, buddy system, social groups Stimulus Control Removes cues for unhealthy habits and adds prompts for healthier alternatives Techniques - Avoidance, environmental reengineering, and self-help groups  Belief and commitment (Recommitment) Willpower New year’s resolution, public testimonies, multiple choices 3 – optimal choice for willpower enhancement Self Liberation Reinforcement Consequences for taking steps Management Rewards and punishments Procedures - Contingency contracts, overt and covert reinforcements, positive self- statements and group recognition Example Consciousness Dramatic Relief Environmental Re- Raising Evaluation Increasing Awareness Emotional Arousal Social reappraisal “I recall information people “I react emotionally to “I consider the view that had given me on how to warnings about smoking can be stop smoking” smoking cigarettes” harmful to the environment” Social Liberation Self Re-Evaluation Environmental Self Appraisal Opportunities “My dependency on “I find society changing in cigarettes makes me ways that make it easier feel disappointed in for the nonsmoker” myself “ Stimulus Control Helping Counter Relationship Conditioning Re-engineering Supporting Substituting “I remove things from my “I have someone who “I find that doing other home that remind me listens when I need to things with my hands is of smoking” talk about my smoking a good substitute for “ smoking” Reinforcement Management Self-Liberation Rewarding Committing “I reward myself when I “I make commitments not don’t smoke” to smoke” Prevention of Psychological Problems 03 2 major categories Prevention Enhancement Stopping the Making more good, bad/preventing enhancing what negative things people want in their from occurring later lives Prevention the act of stopping something from happening or of stopping someone from doing something Primary Lessen or eliminate Secondary Lessen or eliminate physical or physical or psychological psychological problems before problems after they they appear have appeared. Primary Prevention Particular risk-group Eg. Home visitation for children with low birth weight Universal Prevention Selective Prevention Entire population (Childhood immunizations) Heller and Evaluation Colleagues (2000) Change norms or social structures Problem-solving and prevent regression Attractive (Motivational) Knowledge about risky behaviour to be prevented Difficulties Illusion of Program Lack of knowledge Uniqueness Effectiveness and awareness  Setting and enforcing laws allowing people to succeed because of merits and efforts, Legislation against prejudicial hiring Perception of equitable opportunities leads to 1. becoming less frustrated and aggressive (an aspect of the frustration-aggression hypothesis) 2. Continuing to exert effort in their work settings and personal lives (the negative outcome here has been called learned helplessness) 3. Being less likely to attempt suicides (Higher perceived blockages correlated significantly with higher suicide rates)  Health care Acts Preventable health issues Educational levels/ Awareness program Secondary Prevention “Fix the problem” Address problem as it begins to unfold Occurs when “the individual produces thoughts or actions to eliminate, reduce, or contain the problem once it has appeared” (Synder et al., 2000) Not necessary to know why a problem is occurring Focus is on halting the problem or danger of the consequence of the problem Psychotherapy interventions – people know that they have specific problems that are beyond their capabilities to handle, and this is what leads them to obtain help Effectiveness Improves quality of life, Interpersonal Skills lessens the severity/frequency Power of persuasion of client’s problem and Reflective skills symptoms (34% better than Optimism others) Evidence based treatments for adults, children and elderly Effectiveness of therapist = effectiveness of counselling (Wampold) Good outcome is culturally based and can be flawed  Jerome Frank – Hope as the underlying common element Snyder and colleagues – Hope theory – pathways and agency goal directed thinking Through Placebo effect – Motivation Agency effect  Bandura’s Self-efficacy model Meichenbaum’s self-instructional training Kanfer’s three-stage self-control model Seligman’s Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness Limitations Primary Enhancement Make Life Good Hedonic Eudaemonic indulgence in emphasize pleasure and the effective satisfaction of functioning and appetites and happiness as a needs desirable result of the goal- pursuit process Secondary Enhancement: “Make Life the Best Possible” augment already-positive levels to reach the ultimate in performance and satisfaction  Primary prevention: “Stop the bad before it happens.” Secondary prevention (psychotherapy): “Fix the problem.” Primary enhancement: “Make life good.” Secondary enhancement: “Make life the best possible.”