Mental Health and Social Factors

This assignment delves into the complex relationship between mental health and social factors. It analyzes concepts such as self-compassion, social support, and the impact of social constraints on mental well-being. The document draws upon various theories and research findings to illustrate how social interactions and experiences influence psychological health.

Psychology for Health and
Social Care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................................1
TASK1............................................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Various theories of life span development....................................................................................................1
1.2 Relation of psychological theories with specific life stages..........................................................................4
TASK2............................................................................................................................................................................5
1.1 Social and biological factors affecting human behaviour..............................................................................5
1.2 Importance of social roles in relation to health and social care settings........................................................5
TASK 3A........................................................................................................................................................................6
Covered in PPT....................................................................................................................................................6
TASK 3B.........................................................................................................................................................................6
3.3 Analyse of psychological theories that informs about mental disorders.......................................................6
3.4 Application of psychological principles affecting behaviour change............................................................7
3.5 Analyse psychological theories understanding relationships in health and social care.................................7
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Psychology is intense study of human behaviours and its response to the various conditions and situation
of life. Physiology is a detailed science human nature and mind. This defines various reason behind any specific
response of person in relation to particular situation or life event. Psychology studies changing behaviour of a person
during its changing life stages and human development. Physiology is an in-depth study of various factors
influencing human decision, behaviours and mind. This science of human behaviour shows a detailed information
about patterns of nature and behaviour of individual (Braveman, Egerter and Williams, 2011). This report studies
various theories explaining human nature and behaviour. This assignment provide a science to study about the
various factors influencing psychology of individual.
The point of care foundation is organisation dealing with health and social care services and provide a
better opportunity to user to serve them a good quality life. This organisation helps particular sufferer from abuse
any harm and domestic violence and patient of mental disorders supporting them to live independently. Point of care
organisation studies the behaviour of particular service user and identify their needs and fulfil them to attain
objectives of foundation appropriately. Organisation works for social welfare and provide quality health care
services to service users. In this report various theories of the psychology is studies in response to different mental
disorders and nature of individual.
TASK1
1.1 Various theories of life span development.
Life span of an person follows various stages of growth and maturity in individual period of life. The
person goes through various physical mental, social and psychic changes with development of various stages of life.
Human body goes through various chemical changes inside body for development and growth of body. Human body
grows in size and develops various behavioural changes during spending different life stages. Psychology of an
individual is behavioural study and changing behaviour and responsiveness towards things and situation while going
through various stages of life (Carpenter, 2010).
The life span process of an human beings starts from the fertilization of female egg with sperm and
development of zygote, embryo and foetus going through different stages in womb for 9 months. In this stage foetus
stages developing organ by taking up nutrition from mothers placenta. Next to this life stage of human foetus take
birth and infancy stage starts in which baby is dependent on mother milk. This is followed by childhood stage and
adolescence stages of lifespan where child grows and enters stage of puberty followed by some adolescence
changes. After this stage body enters in adulthood span of life where body is fully developed but maturity increases
with time spends till final stage of life and last stage is continued by death of human being. The various life span
stages followed by growing human body are described below:
Fertilization: This is first stage of life span of an human being. This is stage where birth of human starts
and life span of a person starts. This stage involves fertilization of female egg by sperm of male. This involves
various chemical reaction in order to fusion of sperm and egg cell and forms zygote (Clark, 2011).
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Embryo: This is an early stage of growth of zygote where establishment of pregnancy occurs and embryo
get attached to the mothers uterine wall. Both embryo and mothers body goes through lots of hormonal changes in
order to successful implantation of embryo and establishment of pregnancy. This is identified by early stages of
pregnancy.
Foetus: This stage involves development of various organs in foetus and baby is dependent on nutrition
from placenta of mothers body. This time span of this stage if normally 9 months.
Infancy: This stage if first stage of human being outside mothers womb. In this stage baby is very much
sensitive and new to external environment. This stage involves feeding of child from mothers milk only. The time
period of this stage ends about 1 years after birth of child.
Early childhood: Early childhood stage is identified by learning of new task and children are involved in
various activities. The baby start learning speaking, walking, eating etc. In this stage brain and memory shows large
pace scale of growth. In this stage child start developing emotions and physiological behaviour according to
different situation (Coleman and et. al., 2012).
Adolescence: This stage is identified by achievement of puberty recognised by many physical, chemical ad
hormonal changes in human body. This stage is also known as teenage stage of life span. In this stage body enters
adolescence and body goes through various hormonal and physical changes. This stage involve change in pitch of
voice if male and female, staring of menstruation cycle in female and breast enhancement, hair growth in male and
female both etc. This is differentiating stage of female from male. Life span of this stage is about from 13 to 19
years of child.
Adulthood: Adolescence stage is followed by adulthood stage till age of 30 years. In this stage body is
fully matures and well developed organs. The growth stage of body is completed here.
Late Adulthood: This stage starts from initiation of old age and ends with death of human body. This stage
involves various changes in physical and internal body structure. At this stage metabolic rate of body slows down
and body shows various physical changes like sagging of skin, wrinkles, brittle bones lack of hearing and vision etc.
Final Stages of Life: old age stage of life span is followed by death of human being. This is final stage of
an individual (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). metabolism stops and human body comes into equilibrium stage.
changing behaviours and nature of human in relation to various condition, situation and stages of life span
is studied many theories given by different researchers. There are many principles, findings and theories related to
changing behaviour of person in different stages of life. Some of the theories are defined as follows:
Continuity versus discontinuity theory: The continuity theory of psychology study of person defines that
person or individual goes through continuous changes in response to various changing factors in physical
environment. Continuous theory can be described as the continuous behavioural and physical changes of body
while going through various life stages. This theory defines that different physical and physiological changes occurs
with development of life stages of individual in response to changing physical, sociological environment. The
changing external and internal environment of body leads to various changes in body also. This theory says that
changes in human body occurs gradually and slowly with development of body in different stages of life span.
There is no specific marks of initiation and ending of life stages of different stages of life of human body. Increase
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in weight of a body is gradual with changing life stages of individual from his birth to adult age (Heider, 2013).
Increase in size and weight can not follow discontinuous or step by step procedure of growth. While Discontinuity
theory is opposite to continuity theory. Discontinuity theory defines that development of human body is through
step by step process of growth in various stages of physical and physiologic changes. The changes follow step by
step growth of human being according to this theory. Ex. At stage of puberty person start developing adolescence or
maturity characteristics through going through various physical changes and hormonal changes in body. male
develops beards and moustaches, hoarse voice. All these changes follows step by step or discontinuous growth while
going through various stages of life.
Stage versus Open ended theory: This theory of life span stage and open ended depends upon stage of
emotional behaviour and physical changes followed by the very individual or human being. The stage theory defines
that every individual or human being body goes through some specific stages of emotional, physical changes not
dependent on different person. Every individual goes through 6 sates of psychological changes in their life span
these are love, care, Hope, purpose, Will, Competence and Fidelity (Lepore and Helgeson, 2011). Human being goes
through period of learning and challenge during development in every stages of life. While open ended theory can
be described as every person and human body response differently to various situation, the body react differently to
various environmental factors affecting life span of human being. These behaviour of individual is affected by
various physiological an psychological response of person. The Child growing in a better environment and
developing and supportive family will act positively to challenges of life as compared to demotivated person or
individual living in negative environment of development or family environment.
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1.2 Relation of psychological theories with specific life stages.
There is a huge and important relationship between theories of psychology with development stages of
lifespan of human being. The various theories helps in study of psychology of individual and their response to
particular situation of life. Various theories following relationship with stages of life are described below.
Behavioural psychological theory: This theory of psychology defines the change in behavioural and
environment of nature due to external environmental factors affecting lives of human being. This theory studies
various type of behavioural changes shown due to external factors affecting the mind, perception and nature of
individual. Thus theory helps in developing services of health and social care responses by studying behaviour of
individual in response to particular problem and issues of life. This helps organisation point of care to study analyse
behaviour of person related to specific problem or past experiences of individual (Maslach and Jackson, 2013). For
ex., An child who is ill treated by parents will show many changes in physical health and emotional behaviour and
towards his physiological health also. Child will become socially excluded and identified by non participation
behaviour of child in various activities. The changes in heath observed in person who is ill treated by family can be
stressed life, higher blood pressure and leads to various physical health issues.
Cognitive psychological theory: This study the psychology with a new perspective. This theory studies
behaviour of person due to existence of new situation or contingent condition in external environment. Behaviour of
human being is followed by changes of external environment which is affected by others behaviour and perception
and past experience with other objects. This theory defines behaviour and nature of individual expressed by person
by collecting information, perceiving information and his reaction. For ex. Cognitive psychology studies behaviour
of two friends that are living far from each other and meet after long time (Maslow, 2013). The one friends sees
other and try to communicate with other but other friend did not recognise his voice and didn't see him and not give
any response to first person. After observing behaviour of second friend person perceive that his friend has become
rude and angry because of something went wrong. This is internal behaviour shown by person towards other
person by perceiving something about contingent situation that has been occur between two friends.
Psychodynamic psychological theory: This is part of psychology science of studying human behaviour and
mind in accordance to different stages and situations of life. This theory defines different behaviour shown by an
individual due to his sub conscious mind and internal desires. This theory defines three stages of behaviour of
human being Id, ego, superego. All theses factors affect nature and response of individual to particular situation
(Neff and McGehee, 2010). The person is not aware of some desires, wants and fear to which individual respond sub
consciously. Ex. The girl who has faced sexual harassment in his childhood from their close relatives will create a
fear and superego in girl about all relatives in her adulthood. This will create a negative and hatred sub conscious
behaviour towards all relative of girl.
Humanistic psychological theory: This theory defines the humanistic behaviour shown by individual in
welfare of both self and others also. This focuses in good behaviour expressed by human being and positive
response expressed to particular object and situation of life. This they studies the behaviour shown by individual in
response to expressing good personalty and self realization. This theory helps in develop changes in behaviour of
individual improving things to live better life by completing all challenges of life confidently. For ex. A couple
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facing some problem in their relationship will shows an approach to resolve problems by discussing issues faced in
relationship by their humanistic behaviour.
TASK2
1.1 Social and biological factors affecting human behaviour.
There are many factors that can help health and social care organisation like the Point of
care foundation to study impact of various external environment and internal structure of human
body on behaviour of individual person (Neisser, 2014). The social and biological factors affects
nature and behaviour of person largely. Various factors affecting human response towards
particular situation are as follows: Social factors: Society and external factors is having great effect on nature and response
of individual to particular situation of life during developing through various stages of
life. The social factors like family, education affects individual behaviour. Social
inclusion and participation also affects behaviour of individual to large extent. Political
instability and policies us having large impact on nature of individual to large extent.
Good social environment creates positivity and unity in behaviour of individual.
 Biological factors: These are the factors that are permanent to behaviour and physical
structure of human body. These characteristics of person are with individual from birth.
Genetic factors influence human nature to large extent and their response to external
environment and climate. The body act differently to various climatic changes because of
different genetic composition of cells of body. Neurodegeneration is loss or
malfunctioning of some organs or structure of body that affects individual response to
external environment and participation of individual (Seligmam and Csikszentmihalyi,
2014). Neurodegeneration can be defined as decrease in nervous control over behaviour
and response of human body to specific situation. For ex. Parkinson's, Alzheimer and
dementia are diseases that affects memory of individual and nervous system.
1.2 Importance of social roles in relation to health and social care settings.
The society plays an important role in response to health and social care setting for organisation point of
care. Society is having a major role in motivating individual suffering from psychic abnormality or other related
disease. Some of the social roles are described below:
Psychological health: Psychological health of an individual defines any disability, abnormality or
neurodegeneration of person. Psychological health of human being is affected by various sociological factors. The
society is having great role in balancing stress level of individual.
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Self esteem: Person suffering from any abnormality is having lack of self esteems and less motivated to
live life independently and happily. Society plays very important roles in maintaining self esteem of person by
providing equal opportunity of growth to them and behaving equally important as other members of society
(Smith, 2015).
Other Disease ailments: The individual can also be recovered fast from other related disease also by
getting good support from family and society.
Environment at School: The external environment affects development of the physic patient to large
extent. For ex. An small girl who can not speak at age of 4 should be treated better with providing better
environment in learning school to motivate and helping her in curing from disability. The child needs motivation to
grow as other babies start speaking at this age easily.
Family environment: Family environment plays important role in growth of individual to large extent. The
motivating and supporting family which is concerned about heath of child shown faster recovery as compared to
other children suffering from disease or other psychological damage.
Care taker attitude: The Service provider of Point of care foundation and their response and their
behaviour influence nature of individual and speed of recovery from disease to large extent.
TASK 3A
Covered in PPT.
TASK 3B
3.3 Analyse of psychological theories that informs about mental disorders.
Different psychological theories helps in identification nature and response of individual to particular
situation. These theories helps in analysing current behaviour of human being and cause and type of mental
disturbance due to various social and biological factors that affects psychology of an person. Some of mental
disturbances are as follows:
Bad Mood: Bad mood of an individual can be observed to analysing the behaviour of person in different
situation. Bad mood can leads to various aliment of disease related to psychological health of individual (Tew and
et. al., 2012).
Schizophrenia: This is disease in which person feels that does not exist in real. Some time individual hears
different sound that not feel by other individual. The various theories of psychology can be helpful in analysing
these mental disturbances. This disease is related to sub conscious response of mind of an individual.
Depression: Depression of person can be analysed by behavioural theory of psychology. This is mental
disturbances of human behaviour due to higher stress in life. The person suffering from depression is more stressed
and shows higher BP and shows symptoms of hypertension.
Aggression: The aggressive nature shown by individual because of frustration in life and inability to face
challenges life (Thoits, 2011). This can be studied by analysing psychology ff person by humanistic theory.
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Isolation: This mental disturbance is identified by the behaviour shown by individual by non participating
nature in social activity. This is identified by social exclusion stage and person prefer to leave alone. This stage of
metal disturbance can be studied by studying and observing behaviour of person with help of Psychodynamic
psychological theory.
Lethargy and Fatigue: Lethargy and fatigue may be identified by failure in life and stress and anger.
3.4 Application of psychological principles affecting behaviour change.
Various psychological principles can be identified which affects behavioural change of individuals. Te
different principle of psychology are defined below:
Stimulation: This is the stimulation of individual can be identified by aware and alert nature shown by
person related to specific object or subject.
Socialization: Socialization is the process of increasing connective behaviour towards society. The person
shows increased interest towards participation in social activities leads to change in behaviour of person
(Umberson and Karas Montez, 2010).
Identity: The identity is major factor that affects behaviour of person. Every individual wants specific
identity and to be known in society.
3.5 Analyse psychological theories understanding relationships in health and social care.
There are different theory that helps health and social care services in implementing their strategies and
effectively help them to serve their services to service user (Department of Health and Social Sciences.
2017). The various theories that helps in creating relationship with health and care service provider and study of
psychology effectively are defined as follows:
Attachment theory: This theory defines building relationship of person with other person. For example
care taker is having great importance in growth and development of good behaviour of child from his birth to
completing his childhood.
Psychosocial theory: This theory defines the psychological response of individual in society. The health
and social care services are affected by behaviour of individual with other elements and members of society.
CONCLUSION
This can concluded from above report is that psychology affects health of an individual to large extent.
Different psychology pattern affects social participation of individual person and growth of person in society. There
are various organisation which works for welfare of psychic patents suffering from specific disease and sufferers of
mental disorder to provide them equal opportunity of growth in society. The point of care is such organisation which
identifies specific need of an psychic patient and helps them to recover faster from disease by supporting them in
day to day activities. It can be concluded from above study that many theories defined by various researcher related
to psychology and behaviour of person. This report also brief about stage of human development and changing
psychology of person in different stages of lifespan.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Braveman, P., Egerter, S. and Williams, D.R., 2011. social determinants of health: coming of age. Annual review of
public health. 32. pp.381-398.
Carpenter, C.J., 2010. A meta-analysis of effectiveness of health belief model variables in predicting behavior.
Health communication. 25(8). pp.661-669.
Clark, D.M., 2011. Implementing NICE guidelines for psychological treatment of depression and anxiety disorders:
IAPT experience. International Review of Psychiatry. 23(4). pp.318-327.
Coleman, E., and et. al., 2012. Standards of care for health of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming
people, version 7. International Journal of Transgenderism. 13(4). pp.165-232.
Csikszentmihalyi, M., 2014. Toward a psychology of optimal experience (pp. 209-226). Springer Netherlands.
Heider, F., 2013. psychology of interpersonal relations. Psychology Press.
Lepore, S.J. and Helgeson, V.S., 2011. Social constraints, intrusive thoughts, and mental health after prostate cancer.
Maslach, C. and Jackson, S.E., 2013. A social psychological analysis. Social psychology of health and illness, 227.
Maslow, A.H., 2013. Toward a psychology of being. Simon and Schuster.
Neff, K.D. and McGehee, P., 2010. Self-compassion and psychological resilience among adolescents and young
adults. Self and identity. 9(3). pp.225-240.
Neisser, U., 2014. Cognitive psychology: Classic edition. Psychology Press.
Seligman, M.E. and Csikszentmihalyi, M., 2014. Positive psychology: An introduction (pp. 279-298). Springer
Netherlands.
Smith, J.A. ed., 2015. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage.
Tew, J., and et. al., 2012. Social factors and recovery from mental health difficulties: a review of evidence. British
Journal of Social Work. 42(3). pp.443-460.
Thoits, P.A., 2011. Mechanisms linking social ties and support to physical and mental health. Journal of health and
social behavior. 52(2). pp.145-161.
Umberson, D. and Karas Montez, J., 2010. Social relationships and health: a flashpoint for health policy. Journal of
health and social behavior, 51(1_suppl). pp.S54-S66.
Online
Department of Health and Social Sciences. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/hls/hss.aspx>. [accessed on 9th June 2017].
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