Mental Models Research Paper

Biopsychosocial model this describes that we all take things differently when experiencing mental health. When someone has experienced physical illness they can also experience mental health issues

In life, humanity is on a journey much like walking through a forest full of trees that requires consistent observation while navigating the path traveled. Remaining on course is a very important part of arriving at the destination of achievement and success. There is no way to have complete certainty of always arriving on time, as all the variables come into the picture of that journey which psychology also does in relation to the mind. The psychodynamic theory in comparison to the cognitive behavior theory is somewhat well viewed in focus of examining the mental process of what one does based upon what one has thought of doing. To consider the contrast of

The medical model “is a perspective of scientific materialism and the dominant perspective in biological psychiatry. This perspective uses scientific method to explore observable, measurable aspects of the individual”(Elliott Ingersoll, 2016, p. 346). The psychological perspective is “the perspective that represents the subjective experiences of the client. This includes thoughts, feelings, and worldviews as well as such things as mystical or intuitive experiences” (Elliott Ingersoll, 2016, p. 348). The medical model and the psychological model resemble each other by focusing on the brain such as the mind and behavior.

The model describes how an individual may interpret things differently when they are experiencing a mental health illness, for example an individual may develop alcohol problems. This could lead to physical problems like liver damage and economic problems, leading to further health problems, which may reduce the likelihood of the individual to work.

Mental Imagery plays a role in our lives, it helps us plan for the future and make decisions. Although there are some people who never experience mental imagery. There are many

Another model of health that evolved over time is the physical-mind model. This model purports that a person’s overall state of health or ability to heal can be affected on how or what they think. For instance, that depression or anxiety can negatively impact a critically ill patient’s ability to heal. It also recognized that feelings or emotions can physically manifest as illness. For example, someone who is extremely anxious can give themselves an ulcer, without doing something to physically harm themselves. Simply being under significant stress can cause a physiological response to stimulate the creation of more stomach acid and wears a hole in the lining of the stomach, creating an ulcer. When using this model of health, doctor and nurses can treat a person, mind and body, when they have an illness.

Perception is quite an important piece in real life as well. The power of perceptions is amazing how it can actually help one or bring one down. One has the power to determine the response from events. “Perceptions begin when the human brain receives data from the body’s five sense.” (Enayati, A., 2012, p.2). An example that demonstrates how perception is able to help is Victor Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist who lived three years in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Frankl became aware that he had only one freedom during that time which was the freedom to determine his response for a sorrowful truth. To imagine is to have the power to decide the response to events. Frankl decided that he would image seeing his wife, teaching students about what happened during the Holocaust, and the lessons learned while being in camp.

Holt N., Bremner A., Sutherland E., Vliek M., Passer M., Smith R. (2012), Psychology The Science Of Mind And Behaviour; The psychodynamic perspective, 565.

Psychology is the scientific “study of the mind” (Gross, 2015) and behavior, which includes the study of humans and animals. There are various approaches in modern psychology. A theoretical approach is a perspective (view) about human behavior, there may be several different theories within an approach, but they all share these common assumptions and principles. (McLeod, 2007). A theory is an attempt by theorists to try to explain behavior. Theories are not facts but can be verified by testing. Theories can then be evaluated which I aim to do through this essay, where I will briefly explain the theoretical approaches in psychology and aim to focus on an analysis for each perspective which consist of the psychodynamic, humanist, cognitive and behavioral approaches where I will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each approach separately.

* Psychological Perspectives: general points of view used for explaining people’s behavior and thinking, whether normal or abnormal.

However the psychodynamic model fails to take into consideration the effects of the environment as does the medical model both are concerned with the internal workings and defects. The Psychodynamic model has had a lot of opposition as it is difficult to define and research, as processes like the id, ego and superego operate on an unconscious level and therefore there is no real way of knowing for certain if they are indeed happening. Most of the evidence provided by this model has been individual case studies which in itself makes it difficult to generalise.

There are several models of abnormality in use today (Comer, 2009) lists “The Biological Model…”, “The Psychodynamic Model…”, The Behavioral Model…”, The Cognitive Model…”, The Humanistic-Existential Model…”, The Sociocultural Model…” (p.33). The biggest contrasts would be the Biological model, and the other models. Comparing the biological model, and the cognitive model will highlight those differences.

A model is a simple representation of something else. Avant and Walker 2011, define a model case as an occurrence that defines the case or idea exactly. In many instances, a model is something that the person can relate to and should come first in the study (Avant & Walker, 2011). Example of a model case: “Jason” is a 31-year-old white male that has worked on the surgical oncology floor for 5 years. He has a wife and a two-year-old son, drinks about three days a week and often yells at his wife and son. He arrives to work every day on time and his coworkers know him for his speed, organization and great time management. He is the charge nurse most nights and is currently orientating a new nurse who also knows his wife. Most days, he is very short with the new hired nurse; belittling and acting very pompous. One day, the new hire arrives to work and is visibly upset and teary eyed, Jason does not care and proceeds to his teaching process as usual. The new nurse gets fed up and proceeds to yell his faults to the entire night shift crew and even a few members of upper management. The new nurse calls him “the worst nurse ever” and states that “working together has been a nightmare”. Further elaborating that he is “a monster and evil human being because of his frequent verbal abuse directed toward his wife and son”. Jason is immediately taken back and is consumed by his guilt and shame causing him to completely

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was created by Aaron Beck, a professor in psychiatry in the 1960’s (Beck, 2011). Initially, Beck sought out to prove the psychoanalytic idea that depression stemmed from anger towards oneself (Beck, 2011). However, during his research he found that misleading thoughts and beliefs were the reasoning behind depression. Beck theorized that one’s current feelings about something are derived from an initial encounter that gave meaning to that specific event. So, negative feelings about a particular occurrence can be a result of misinformation (Beck & Greenberg, 1984).

Throughout psychology today there are six different theoretical models that seek to explain and treat abnormal functioning or behavior. These different models have been a result of different ideas and beliefs over the course of history. As psychology began to grow so did the improvements in research techniques. As a result psychologists are able to explain a variety of disorders in terms of the six different theoretical models. In the movie A Beautiful Mind it follows the mathematician John Nash as he struggles with schizophrenia. It an attempt to explain John Nash’s disorder the six different theoretical models will be looked at, they include biological model, psychodynamic model, behavioral model, cognitive model, humanistic model,