Having Fun With Operational Definitions Adapted from teachpsychscience.org Directions: Identify and operationally define the independent and dependent variables in each of the following research ideas. Research Idea #1: A social psychologist was interested in whether people are more likely to exhibit conformity when they are in situations that make them feel nervous and unsure of themselves. What is the independent variable? How would you define it operationally? What is the dependent variable?
Hobson believes that because problems in our life are usually through interpersonal relationships, we should resolve these problems through a therapeutic relationship. The quality of the relationship is crucial for the effectiveness of the therapy. PIT consists of several interlinking components, of which include ‘explanatory rationale’ and ‘staying with feelings’. A potential strength of PIT is that it is just as effective if not more so than current treatments at improving depressive symptoms. Research support comes from Elkin, who found that when compared to CBT, PIT is just as effective at treating depression.
It would stress that he needed to examine what he is feeling and how to use those feelings in a positive way. Psychologists view this type of therapy combined with behavioral therapy as beneficial as you can isolate what is causing the anxiety by examining patient's cognitions and providing ways to alter that behavior into a positive one. The behavioral approach would focus on how negative thoughts were contributing to Jake's anxiety. The behavioral perspective contends that our thoughts affect the way we feel, that our thoughts could more or less contribute to the anxiety such as Jake is feeling. It would examine what would be the best way to modify his behavior.
These perspective viewpoints are known as emic perspective; however, the perspective pertains to specific psychopathologies in reference to culture. On a “cultural relativist perspective on the study of psychopathology may be important for several reasons. First of all, it may help in the development of culture-specific therapies. Second, it may provide valuable information about the psychological problems seen in particular cultures and their development as a function of the particular demands that culture places on individuals. Third, the studies of culture-bound syndromes, which are interesting in and of themselves, may help illuminate more general patterns of cultural values such as individualism or collectivism,” said plebius (2005).
Outline and evaluate 1 or more psychological methods of stress management (12) The psychological approach to dealing with stress is one of the most common used through CBT which means that behaviour is believed to be determined by the way somebody thinks about a situation. Therefore cognitive therapy attempts to change thoughts in order for an individual to change their behaviour. One of these methods, SIT, was created by Meichenbaum (1985), who believed that although we cannot change the causes of stress, we can change the way that somebody perceives stressors in order to inoculate them from disorders like anxiety and OCD, etc. To do so, he developed three phases: 1. Conceptualisation phase, where the therapist and client establish a relationship before the client is educated about stress and its impacts.
To understand the basis of abnormal psychology, it is essential to recognize that the individuals who make up these categories fall very far at the other end of the normal spectrum. Composed of troubling variables, abnormal psychology consists of behaviors that instigate problems in a person’s life or is considered disruptive to others who inevitably require some form of mental health intervention (Cherry, 2005). According to theorists, treating mental health issues can become difficult because elements of multiple disorders may also be involved. Factors related to the identification and decoding of certain behaviors must become a part of the equation to assess it properly. The best and most effective means of treatment should be assigned whether singularly or in combination with medication, in addition to therapy to gain control of the problem (Cherry, 2005).
Stress and anger management is recommended because irritability, aggression, violence and anger are all very common symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. Skills will be built to cope with volatile emotions so that an individual will learn to control their behavior before it becomes harmful to themselves or others. Medications may be recommended to deal with some of the other symptoms which are associated with antisocial personality disorder. Antidepressants may be recommended if an individual has a depressed mood, anger, impulsivity, irritability or hopelessness. Mood stabilizing medications can be used to help even out mood swings and reduce irritability and aggression.
Tsay et al. discussed emotion focused coping (EFC) and problem focused coping (PFC). EFC is a coping style based on avoidance, wishful thinking, and self blame. PFC is characterized by taking direct action to solve the problem. Wishful thinking and avoidance led to higher rates of PTSS.
According to Damour and Hansell (2008), these criteria are (a) seek help, (b) irrationality or dangerousness, (c) deviance, (d) emotional distress, and (e) significant impairment (p. 10). The first three are useful from a biological point of view, whereas the last two have a more scientific basis. For example, a person may seek help if physical changes occur as a result of depression such as weight loss. However, the emotional distress of depression or the impairment to the individual’s personality is measurable; therefore making the factors helpful in defining the scientific side of abnormal behavior. The history of abnormal behavior dates back to Before Christ (BC).
Recent research has raised the prospect that somewhat small everyday lapses of attention can have significant penalties with regard to one’s emotional state, and may even lead to emotional dysfunction. This conclusion is consistent with research conducted by Farrin, Hull, Unwin, Wykes, and David (2003), who examine the level to which cognitive failures are related. Previous work on everyday attention lapses (Cheyne, Carriere, & Smilek, 2006), in which the relation between self-report measures of attention lapses, attention-related cognitive faults, and boredom proneness. One of the results of this research was the result of a strong relation between the tendency to experience attention lapses and boredom proneness, again suggesting attention intervals can play a significant role in