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Mental Health

a person’s mental state and wellbeing functioning

By Shanie WalkerPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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potential to cope with normal stresses of life

Mental health today is perceived as a state of wellbeing where individuals can realize their own potential to cope with normal stresses of life, work productively or successfully and contribute to their community (Beyond Blue, 2019). As an opinion, mental health is linked to wellness as well as illness, with some experts using phrases like “good mental health”, “positive mental health”, “mental well-being” and “subjective wellbeing”, even “happiness” to emphasize a person’s mental state and wellbeing functioning. Whereas, mental illness or poor mental health can be represented on the other end of the mental health spectrum to present mental health conditions or symptoms to affect thoughts, feeling and behaviors on a negative scale (Beyond Blue, 2019).

Cherry, (2018) proposes there are many ways of thinking about human behavior to utilize a variety of perspectives when studying how people think, feel and behave. The major perspectives in modern psychology includes structuralism, functionalism, psychoanalysis, behaviorism and humanism. As a result, researchers generally focus on specific schools of thoughts to categorize their work accordingly to specific perspectives.

behaviors, drives and personality

Different Approaches

Behaviorism: - Psychology today, (2019) offers principles that are identifiable, observable and measurable to explain human behavior. John. B Watsons (1912) Classical Behaviorism focuses on observable behavioral output tasks that can be modified with the right conditioning, regardless of individual traits and thinking patterns. Behaviorist argues that conditions can be neutral or include consequences, for instance rewards or punishments.

Psychodynamic: - Psychodynamic techniques refers to a range of treatments based on psychoanalytic concepts and methods to understand what is going on in the mind of an individual or their unconscious (Shedler, 2010). This approach provides insight into the patient relationships, experiences, and their world and how that affects their preferences, behaviors, drives, and therefore personality.

Humanistic Psychology: - This psychological approach states the human is the most important, more important than the complex, disorder, behavior, or environment. Humanistic psychology seeks to enhance people’s lives through practical therapeutic measures (Psychologist World, 2019).

Cognitive Behavior Therapy: - CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that works by changing a person’s cognitive process, changing their attitudes and behavior to focus on their thoughts, images, beliefs, and attitudes held. CBT is used to treat an array of issues in a person’s life, such as sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, drug and alcohol abuse or anxiety and depression (Martin, 2018).

Biological & Evolutional Psychology: - This approach focuses on the physiological and evolutionary aspects which explains human behavior. Expert opinion enlightens the development of the brain is determined by the genes a person inherits and therefore behavior is influenced by their genetic factors. Because of evolution, some Bio psychologists believe behavioral and psychological characteristics have evolutionary explanations (Sammon, A. Biopsychology).

There are many different approaches useful in the mental health field and psychology today. Consequently, the same topic can be looked at in diverse ways when applying different approaches (Cherry, 2018). That is, a biological perspective may consider the subject of aggression, relating how the brain and nervous system impacts on aggressive behavior, whereas a behaviorist who stresses a behavioral approach examines how the environmental variables reinforce aggressive action.

therapeutic measures

In our understanding of mental health problems today the Human givens approach also shows positive benefits with a strength based wellness approach. It’s premise, posits a basis upon needs as species of innate psychological and physical needs to seek fulfilment in the environment. These needs evolved for our survival and when they are met in a healthy balanced way, we experience wellness. These givens are physical and emotional needs which are the focus of human givens focused psychology.

In sum, psychology and mental health treatments today are moving back to natural treatments including meditation and mindfulness because they are proven to be highly effective therapies that we can use in our modern health service.

References

Beyond Blue Ltd. (2019). What is mental health? Retrieved from https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/what-is-mental-health

Cherry, K. (2018). Perspectives in Modern Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/perspectives-in-modern-psychology-2795595

Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. (2019). Humanistic Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/humanistic-psychology

Griffin, J. and Tyrrell, I. (2004) Human Givens: A new approach to emotional health and clear thinking. Human Givens Publishing. Retrieved from https://humangivensnc.com/research/

LoveToKnow,1996-2019). Examples of Psychodynamic Perspective. Retrieved from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-psychodynamic-perspective.html

Marin, B. (2018). In-Depth: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/lib/in-depth-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/

Psychologist World, (2019). Humanistic Approach. Retrieved from https://www.psychologistworld.com/issues/humanistic-approach

Sammons, A. (2019). Approaches to Psychology: Biopsychology. Retrieved from http://www.psychlotron.org.uk/newResources/approaches/AS_AQB_approaches_BiopsychologyBasics.pdf

Shedler, J. (2010). The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. American Psychologist

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About the Creator

Shanie Walker

Shanie Walker is a Holistic Behavioural Therapist, awards, and honours in Art Therapy, Dialectic and CBT. Shanie is a Psychologist and Registered Professional Hypnotherapist. Accredited Nutritionist, and Master Degree in Fitness.

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