A Psychology Report: Reminiscing Experiences, Self-Help Group Analysis

This report delves into the psychological aspects of reminiscing, examining its positive and negative impacts on individuals, particularly in later life. It explores how recollecting memories can improve mood, enhance well-being, and aid those with memory loss, while also acknowledging the potential for traumatic experiences to resurface. The report also investigates the dynamics of self-help groups, outlining various reasons why individuals may choose not to participate, such as inconvenient venues, discomfort discussing personal issues, confidentiality concerns, lack of trust, and social stigmas. It highlights the challenges faced by diverse ethnic groups and the impact of family barriers. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the interplay between reminiscing, self-help groups, and mental health, drawing on relevant research and practical examples.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. Positives and Negatives of reminiscing experiences in later life............................................1
2. Reasons for not joining a self help group................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
1. Positives and Negatives of reminiscing experiences in later life
Reminiscing is the activity of writing or taking about the pleasurable moments of life.
There are positive things of recollecting the old memories for people. They are discussed below:
 Reminiscing helps people in improving their moods. It also helps in enhancing well being
of the people.
 Recollecting memories greatly helps people with dementia who lose their memory and
identity. This practise is applied by healthcare systems for helping such patients in
improving their memory and relationships with their friends and family.
For example, Robert Butler a psychogeriatrician of USA dealt with mental health of older
people. He suggested the idea of making older people to feel free to recollect their memories.
His idea changed the thinking of people who were care taking old people such as nursing
settings, day care etc. Many practitioners now uses this as a therapeutic tool for understanding
people's mental health by recalling them their pleasant memories which ultimately helps in
providing needed support to such people (Butter, 1963).
However, reminiscing does not always give positive results to people.
 Traumatic experiences in the past shakes up the people. For example, wartime soldiers
and others people did not recall the victorious and happy memory on the 60th anniversary
of ending of second world war. They said that scenario, unpleasant memories still haunts
them. Other illustration is when a man was imprisoned by Chinese army recalled
traumatic memories, had anger and grief when he was shown pictures of starving men
surrounded by barbed wire.
 Experiences related to accidents, violent activities and intentionally cruel incidences
awakes the most scary memories of the people.
These negative memories can be healed by regular counselling as suggested by some
psychiatrists. Providing social supports, financing and housing assistance, reuniting with families
and friends could help the wartime victims, victims of some disastrous accidents, violent acts etc.
Being a part of social group helps people in recovering from the traumatic experiences in life.
Activities of recalling memories of the old people by day care entities might re awake
those memories which senior people have ignored during all their life. People find it difficult to
discuss their past because they may not be able to put their feelings in words, they think that they
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will believe by others and sometimes feels that others have stated their painful stories and
nothing more could be said (Dobroff, 1984).
2. Reasons for not joining a self help group
A self help group is a group of people formed for the purpose of providing aid to its
members. It is basically a mutual aid group of individuals that agree to help each other. The self
help groups are mainly concerned with health care. These groups establish a room for mutual
support and learnings from the experiences of its members.
People have cited various reasons for not joining a self help group. They are discussed
below:.
 People avoid joining any self help group because of distant and inappropriate venues for
discussing their issues.
 Sometimes people are not comfortable in discussing their matters in front of opposite
gender. Many a time a people from different religions might not understand each others
cultures and religions.
 People have a fear regarding the confidentiality of the information which they might
share. Lack of trust factor restricts them in joining the SHGs.
 Perceptions of people towards SHGs that it promotes individualistic approach, it has
middle class image etc., which makes people not to join any group.
 Some people are afraid of getting recognised as stigmatised personality by the society if
they join a group.
 Another barrier is family barrier. Families of the individuals sometimes stops them from
joining a community group.
 Individuals themselves are reluctant of sharing their personal problems relating to
families with others.
 Language might refrain people in joining the groups they do not feel comfortable taking
about their situations in language other than their mother tongue.
Ethnic group is a social group in which people share similar backgrounds and cultures.
There are some challenges which people face while joining such an ethnic group such as people
from different culture stays away from such groups. They think that members might not
welcome people from religion and culture like black people joining any SHGs dominated by
white people.
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There are groups that are built voluntarily which sometimes is headed by a professional
practitioner where people discuss their mental conditions, illness they having such as aids. Mick
& Owen suffered aids and faced problems in joining groups as they felt that joining of the group
would attract social stigma, on their personalities.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Butter, R (1963) ' The life review : an interpretation of reminiscence in the aged', Psychiatry, vol.
26. pp. 65-76.
Dobroff, R (1984) ' Introduction: a time for reclaiming the past', Journal of Gerontological
Social Work, vol. 7, no. 1/2.pp. xvii-xviii.
Online
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