StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Influence Psychology on the Health - Essay Example

Summary
The author of this essay "The Influence Psychology on the Health" describes a health psychologist’s role in helping patients. This paper outlines psychological reliance on cigarettes for relaxation, suppressing emotions, and calming their nerves…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.5% of users find it useful

Extract of sample "The Influence Psychology on the Health"

INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY ON HEALTH Introduction Health is the state at which the human body system works properly and wholesomely. This means that the psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects are all taken care of and functioning in their full potential (Amico, Toro-Alfonso, Fisher, 2005). In today’s ever changing dynamic world, health care practice is being influenced by psychology (Fisher et al., 2006). Where the knowledge and practice of psychology is used in health promotion or illness prevention (Resnicow, et al., 2005). Health practitioners are now able to use the knowledge on psychology to influence the behavior of their patients and so help them avoid further risks to their health, for example smoking. Health psychology deals with understanding the relationship between biology, behavior and social context and their influence on health. Health practitioners therefore have to work on behavior change in various forums and platforms that they get. Smoking affects the society as much as it affects the individual. This is because passive smokers are also at risk of contracting respiratory diseases and lung cancer just as smokers do. The use of psychological treatments helps in the change of attitude that leads to a change in behavior. Smoking can be viewed through various preconceived notions which shape the way an individual views this behavior (Amico, Toro-Alfonso, Fisher, 2005). Psychology helps health practitioners that deal with how they promote health. An understanding of the theories that influence the behavior of an individual will determine how health practitioners lobby against smoking and legislation that will be used to regulate this industry (Kim, Kim, & Jung, 2005). This has lead cigarette packs bearing a warning labeled on its pack warning its users of the consequences and the various chemicals that were used to manufacture it. Pregnant mothers are also advised to stop smoking while pregnant and breastfeeding because these chemicals interfere with the proper development of the fetus and infants (Lander & Graham-Pole, 2008). In order to treat cigarette smoking using health psychology, one needs to understand what smoking is and the psychological factors behind why people begin to smoke and the reasons that would influence them to quit or continue smoking. Peer influence. Most smokers start doing so if their friends and colleagues are doing so, in order for them to fit in and not be left out. As young people develop, they seek to be independent and make their own choice (Fisher et al., 2006). Cigarette smoking has been used by young people who rebel against their parents, and done by adults as a leisure activity or something that they do to have fun. Smoking in this case, is done to show that they are their own unique person. Another factor is that people who live with family members who smoke, or friends who do, are more likely to smoke than those who do not (Michie et al., 2005). Smokers may be influence to start to smoke if key societal figures like celebrities, teachers, and other prominent people do it. They smoke to enumerate their heroes, or be perceived as being cool, funky, or classy (Fisher et al., 2006). Advertising is another element that contributes to individuals starting or continuing to smoke. By use of attractive and alluring messages on television, radio and outdoor adverts like billboards and posters, cigarette companies persuade people to smoke (Kim, Kim, & Jung, 2005). These encouragements attract people, who give in, purchase and smoke to test whether the information in adverts is true. Once they puff once, they get hooked and are unable to stop. Due to health beliefs, which cigarette smoking aids in lose of weight. Smokers who from one reason or another have lost weight or want when they started smoking may refuse to quit smoking. Other psychological factors that may make an individual start and refuses to stop smoking is stress (Amico, Toro-Alfonso, Fisher, 2005). Cigarette smoking is associated with calming nerves and cooling people down. People, who rely on smoking to aid and self-control, when dealing with every day’s hustles, are likely to continue smoking (Fisher et al., 2006). Many people quickly puffs to avoid reacting harshly like fight, in explosive arguments. Due to constant smoking, a habit begins and evolves to a distinct behavior. Smoking becomes part of an individual’s life routine, becoming very had to quit (Marks et al., 2005). Cigarette smoking once done over a long period of time turns into an addiction due to over reliance on the thrills of nicotine. Several theories have been formulated to explain health psychology. Psychological Theories and Their Application to Smoking Behavioral theory The focus here is on the behavioral psychology which sometimes is called a patient’s behaviorism. It implies that behavior is gotten through conditioning. If the behavior is conditioned the health practitioner’s advice will be to eliminate situations that allow them to be sick, or stimulate their systems to get sick by establishing when a response is started (Kim, Kim, & Jung, 2005). With this theory, smoking can be stopped by removing the stimulus that trigger smoking in a smoker and this reduces the conditioned response (Sharman et al., 2008). For example, if a patient smokes when they are arguing, they then can be advised to do an alternative thing like reach for a glass of water or take a walk when confronted. Thereby changing their routine of behavior, thus reducing chances when they smoke and subsequent quitting. Cognitive theory The theory encompasses two techniques which focus on changing the attitude in order to change behavior, cognitive therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. These techniques work hand in hand because the cognitive therapy changes the irrational thinking patterns and cognitive behavioral therapy changes the resulting behavior brought about by the irrational thinking patterns (Marc et al., 2007). The theory focuses on the state intrinsic being and psychological processes like solving conflicts or issues, making decisions, motivation, span of attention, memory, and how a patient thinks. It forms its basis on cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance occurs when there is a collision on one’s belief and perception (Michie et al., 2005). It happens mostly when a person behavior does not go parallel to their belief on self –identity. A health psychologist can help a smoker change their behavior; by making, the smokers weigh their own judgments, their decision to start and continue smoking, thus allowing them to make necessary and accurate choices of whether to smoke or not. A patient who views smoking as a bad thing will be able to quit easily than a smoker who does not view smoking this way. The developmental theory This theory focuses on understanding how people grow, learn, and develop. It implies that moral reasoning is influenced by the way people were brought up and that individuals tend to act or behave in a certain way if they benefit from that action or behavior (Hershey et al., 2005). A smoker will smoke if they achieve relaxation feeling even if the feeling is short lived. In addition, people are likely to evade behavior that will result to them being affected negatively or seen by the society as being bad people. A smoker whose moral reasoning is that by smoking, they will be seen and perceived as bad people are likely to stop (Michie et al., 2005). As a health practitioner, this theory is used to emphasize the negative side effects associated with cigarette smoking like getting lung cancer and other health complications like increased blood pressure (Rafferty, 2005). Humanist theory This theory addresses the goodness of individuals and not concentrating on mental issues and behavior anomalies among smokers (Fisher et al., 2006). By understanding the smoker’s ability to satisfy their basic needs like food, security, maintenance of social relationships, and acquiring their full potential, forms a basis to treating their addiction (Munro et al., 2007). Personality theory A health practitioner can help their patients adapt to anxiety well, which is classified as the major contributor to smoking (Fisher, et al, 2008). By understanding their neurotic needs, a clinician can advice their patient on how they can satisfy these needs with alternative ways other than in smoking (Weinstein & Rothman, 2005). Among neurotic needs that patients have are neurotic needs for affection and approval, restricting one’s life within certain borders, power, dominance, achievements, self-sufficiency, and perfection. Conclusion A health psychologist’s role in helping patients recover and quit smoking is very fundamental. A smoker is physically addicted to nicotine found in cigarette and once they try to stop, they will have withdrawal systems such as migraines, body shakes among other symptoms. This psychological reliance on cigarette for relaxation, suppressing emotions and calming their nerves can be stopped by changing the behavior psychologically by applying the various psychological theories. References Amico KR, Toro-Alfonso J, Fisher JD. 2005. An empirical test of the information, motivation and behavioral skills model of antiretroviral therapy adherence. AIDS Care, 17, 661-73. Fisher JD, Fisher WA, Amico KR, Harman JJ. 2006. An information-motivation-behavioral skills model of adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Health Psychol 25, 462-73. Fisher, J., Amico, R., Fisher, W., & Harman, J. 2008. The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model of antiretroviral adherence and its applications. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 5(4), 193-203 Fisher, J., Fisher, W., Amico, R., & Harman, J. 2006. An Information–Motivation–Behavioral Skills Model of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy. Health Psychology 25(4), 462-473 Hershey, J. C., Niederdeppe, J., & Evans, W. D. (2005). The theory of 'truth': How counter industry campaigns affect smoking behavior among teens. Health Psychology, 24, 22-31. Kim, O., Kim, J., Jung, J. 2005. Stress and cigarette smoking in Korean men with diabetes. Addictive Behaviors, 31(5), pp. 901-906 Lander, D. A., & Graham-Pole, J. R. (2008). Love medicine for the dying and their caregivers: The body of evidence. Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 201-212. Marc I. Rosen, Kevin Dieckhaus, Thomas J. McMahon, Barbara Valdes, Nancy M. Petry, Joyce Cramer, Bruce Rounsaville. 2007. Improved adherence with contingency management. AIDS Patient Care and STDs. 21(1), 30-40. doi:10.1089/apc.2006.0028. Marks, D. F., Murray, M., Evans, B., Willig, C., Woodall, & C., Sykes, C. (2005). Health psychology: Theory, research and practice (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Michie S, Johnston M, Abraham C, Lawton R, Parker D, Walker A. 2005. Making psychological theory useful for implementing evidence based practice: A consensus approach. Qual Saf Health Care, 14, 26-33. Munro, S., Lewin, S., Swart, T., & Volmink, J. 2007. A review of health behaviour theories: how useful are these for developing interventions to promote long-term medication adherence for TB and HIV/AIDS? BMC Public Health, 7,104 Available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/104 Rafferty, S. 2005. Evidence of early tobacco in Northeastern North America? Journal of Archaeological Science, 33(4), pp. 453-458 Resnicow, K., Jackson, A., Blissett, D., Wang, T., McCarty, F., Rahotep, S., & Periasamy, S. (2005). Results of the Healthy Body Healthy Spirit Trial. Health Psychology, 24, 339-348. Sharman, S. J., Garry, M., Jacobsen, J. A., Loftus, E. F., & Ditto, P. H. (2008). False memories for end-of-life decisions. Health Psychology, 27, 291-296. Weinstein, ND. & Rothman, AJ. 2005. Commentary: Revitalizing research on health behaviour theories. Health Educ Res, 20, 294-297. Read More

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Influence Psychology on the Health

Health Is a Multi-Factorial Phenomenon

The factors, which influence the health lives within the individual and also in his surrounding (environment) i.... Therefore the health became an ultimate goal of medicine.... The best example may be the health belief model, where the perception of the severity of the risk and the susceptibility for the risk were seen as the primary determinants of health-protective behaviors.... health is a multi-factorial phenomenon.... The widely accepted definition of health is given by World health Organization (1948) in the preamble to its constitution, which is; ‘health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity'....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Health and Exercise Psychology

The essay "health and Exercise Psychology" critically analyzes the major issues concerning health and exercise psychology.... owever, several psychological factors impact participation in health-related activities.... Available research shows that schools' exercise programs could be effective in progressing fitness levels and heightening participation in health-related activities in children.... Below, I attempt to discuss some of the variables that continue to influence exercise adherence....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Social Psychology

Lastly, is the health column that most people love to read.... rom reading advice columns in several magazines and newspapers, some of the issues I found interesting are sex, fashion, and health columns.... The paper "Social psychology" tells us about the study of the mind and behavior with other people.... Social psychology looks at your personality, interpersonal relationships, and group behavior.... & Bryne, Social psychology can be defined as the study of people's feelings, behaviors, and thoughts as influenced by the imagined, implied, or actual presence of others....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

Health psychology

First are social effects, in that the social surrounding will affect the health of an individual.... According to world health organization health is the state which one is stable, he is thinking upright and is undergoing his day to day activities normally.... health can also be defined as believe of person about normalcy.... orld health Organization also define illness as the state at which Topic: health Psychology Project Identify and explain two definitions of health and illness (300 words)....
2 Pages (500 words) Assignment

Behavioral and Psychological Processes in Healthcare

health, on the other hand, can be defined as the level of metabolic efficiency in a living organism.... The World health Organization, in a broader sense in 1946 defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.... ealth psychology can be described in health PSYCHOLOGY It is the study of behavioral and psychological processes in healthcare, health and illness....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Understanding the Child Psychology

The current essay will in detail discuss the aspects of child psychology in social context.... psychology can be defined as the study of behavior and mind through different methods which are not necessarily scientific methods.... The less scientific methods used to study child psychology include observations, case studies or interviews.... However, Jean Piaget was the first to suggest that children actually think differently from adults and although it was a simple discovery, it was quite important in laying the foundations of child psychology (Cherry)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Chronic Stress in Terms of Health Psychology

the influence of chronic stress over the human organism is harmful.... Studies in psychosomatic medicine emphasize the influence of emotional and psychological stresses in the course of pathogenic mechanisms.... This paper ''Chronic Stress in Terms of health Psychology'' tells that chronic stress became a part of the lives of many people.... health psychology, acknowledges chronic stress to be a basis for serious physical disorders....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Psychology and Indigenous Australians

This paper outlines how did it influence psychology's interaction with indigenous Australians.... sing the normal distribution curve of development, the scientific view regarding the mental functioning of indigenous Australians can be deducted and related to the influence of European colonizers.... The coursework "psychology and Indigenous Australians" describes identifying the scientific principles used as a rationale for mental testing and eugenics....
7 Pages (1750 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us