Health Psychology

Running head: HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Health Psychology Student’s Name Institution’s Name Instructor’s Name Course Name Evaluatiation of Models of Behavior An integrated behavioral service for older people is important and thus should be improved (Sadock, Kaplan & Sadock, 2007). For this reason, clinicians have to evaluate different models of behavior that are evident in patients that visit their clinics. There are several perspectives and theories that tend to explain the cause of abnormal behaviors in individuals (Sadock et al, 2007). As for the case of John, he admits his change in behavior both at home and at work place. John is not in a position to do any other thing apart from drinking, as much as he is in dept and social crisis. From the medical perspective, there is a focus on both physiological and biological factors that can alter the behavior of an individual. Clinicians can attend to this as sickness or mental ailment after a diagnosis based on the symptoms and treated through medication (Aghababia & Allison, 2006). This explains the reason as to why John had to be taken through a series of tests to diagnose the real cause of the problem. In some cases, hospitalization and drugs acts as a better intervention other than psychological care. According to research, biochemical disorders can lead to change in behavior which can only be administered medically (Sadock et al, 2007). Behavioral perspective has been supported on the basis that abnormal patterns of behavior result from wrong unproductive education and training (Brannon, 2010). The purpose of treatment in this case is to bring to the right shape the disordered characters. This is done using traditional learning methods to teach new but appropriate adoptive methods that will lead to improved behavior. For example, a case of child abuse may rise because one learned the behavior from the father who used to abuse them. For this reason, education is the only way that new ideas can be adopted to change behavior (Gurung, 2010). When evaluating models of behavior, it is important to consider the psychodynamic perspective related to the behavioral changes being witnessed. Evaluation using this method is an alternative to the medical perspective and it is adopted from the Freudian psychoanalytic theory. From this theory, it is contented that psychological disorders are part of the consequences of anxiety that results from some unresolved and comatose disagreements (Sadock et al, 2007). Treatment of this problem is mainly focused on the identification of what might have been the cause and the resolution of the conflict. Some people engage in abnormal behavior because of certain cognitive problems. People involve in unusual behavior because of certain specific thoughts and activities that are based of either their wrong assumptions or the things they cannot do but have to do them (Lessenger & Roper, 2009). For example, from the case study, John’s behavior has changed because of debts. Treatment of this kind of behavior is aimed at helping the victim develop a new thinking process and new principles. The therapy needed here is by replacing the maladaptive habits with the right and useful ones (Brannon, 2010). Finally, evaluation of models of behavior can take a social-cultural perspective. From this perspective, an abnormal behavior is learned within a given social orientation (Gurung, 2010). The social context can range from the family, to work place or even the culture. Abnormal behavior can also be as a result of cultural variations that have been learned through cognitive processes (Sadock et al, 2007). For example, symptoms of Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia are an indication of certain psychological disorders that are majorly found in the west valuing the thin female body. This is a cultural orientation that can lead to abnormal behavior if an individual does not fit into the culture. Evaluation of the mind-body connection using the theories learned There have been a lot of theoretical findings in the recent past in the field of psychology and health. From these numerous research findings, ways through which stressful emotions affect the functioning of the body immune systems have been discovered. For example, stress reduces the response of white blood cells to viral infected cells as well as the cancer cells. In addition, as much as stress and emotional problems affects the response of white blood cells, not all white blood cells are affected meaning that a person’s health can still be fine should he/she take good care (Lessenger & Roper, 2009). Different theories relating to mind-body connections include the Cartesian theory. The clear basis for this theory is that there is no mind-body causation that appears to be impossible (Sadock et el, 2007). This theory also states that knowledge of other minds is not easy and may at times be undetectable. This theory is loved in relation to mind-body connection because it gives straightforward and systematic semantics for conflicting information. According to Descartes’ theory, the mind functions differently from the body and that one cannot affect the other but can only work together. This is however arguable owing to the fact that the body is completely dependent on the mind for its functioning. According to case study, John’s physical symptoms are as a result of his psychological condition. When the mind is not well functioning as the case with John, then the body will equally not respond well leading to opportunistic diseases. According to Cartesian dualism theory, the mind and the body have different functions but compliment one another through the interaction that exists between them. (Sadock et al, 2007) The interrelation is made possible by the fact that the flow of animal spirit in the pineal gland results into an interrelated effect on both the mind and the body (Sadock et al, 2007). From this interaction, the brain is an important link between the mind and the body which finally affects the behavior of a person. When a person is psychologically disturbed as the case with John, the functions of the mind are altered which affects his body response. This can lead to low productivity, change in attitude and involvement in other unusual behaviors such as heavy drinking as witnessed in John (Brannon, 2010). Talk therapy can be of great help in solving problems related to the mind. For instance, through talk an individual tells of what he or she is suffering from thus making it easy to treat the physical symptoms that are witnessed. In addition, it alters the body immune system factor that eventually helps in enhancing the capacity of the body to fight diseases (Brannon, 2010). Assessments of the Clients needs The client has so many needs that have to be attended to. The biggest problem that has to be urgently attended to according to the doctor is the diagn...