Theories to Explain Certain Realities in Life - Research Paper Example

? Tool Chest Paper - About Paradigms Used in the Mental Health Field of Social Work Many researchers have come up with various theories to explain certain realities in life. These theories are paramount in trying to explain the nature of things and thus form the basis of human understanding. Different theories take divergent views but all of them are reticent of the objective reality. However, the humanistic theory has additional information that lack in other theories. For instance, rather than taking a more objective reality, the humanistic theory focuses on how people perceive reality, just in their minds, and the actions they take based on the interpretations. The objective of this study is to examine the humanistic theory with behavioral paradigm. The study will involve qualitative techniques based on interviews. The participants will be veterans with PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) or veterans with substance abuse. The study bases its key findings on whether humanistic interpretations form an objective reality. The study will examine the nature of rules the veterans with PTSD or veterans with substance abuse build up to administer and guide their behaviors. The study will also examine evolution of the developed rules and their role in humanistic activities. The findings of this study will form a constructivist analysis on how people interpret the world (Hall & Carol, 1988, pp. 12-14). Tool Chest Paper - About Paradigms Used in the Mental Health Field of Social Work Introduction In 1960s, there was turbulence in the world of psychology. Numerous theories have tried to explain the origin of mental problems and tried to offer solutions. There are numerous theories such as behavioral theories, cognitive theories and the existential-humanistic theories, which explain issues of mental health in social work. The technical psychodynamic and behaviorist theories are another set of theories meant to give an insight to psychology were especially domineering. However, the ineptitude of these theories to give more information on psychological activities paved way for medical models and the development of new theories to explain the cognitive human behavior. In order to explain human cognitive behavior and form a constructivist scholarship, researchers have used existential and philosophy to create a more centralist approach, the client centered psychotherapy. Carl Rogers and Fredrick Perls became the first humanistic researchers and their work dealt more on cognitive theories such as Bandura, self-control and self-efficacy. These two researchers asserted that human beings are born with knowledge on healthy and that they have choices to make when it comes to health issues. Just like in schools and homes where teachers and parents define the health standards, human beings have to make choices of healthy living. Additionally, these researchers asserted that socially endorsed convictions and some abusive behavior such as drug and substance abuse can compromise personal health. According to them, the role of therapists was to help people to abandon their negative practices on authority or abusers, and instead emphasize healthy activities that will not only make them satisfied, but also happy. Such people also needed love and understanding in order to get their lives back on track (O’Neil & Mitterer, 2008, pp. 15-16). Since time of the world war, therapists have been used to help people experiencing stress recover from their conditions and go on with their lives normally. Therapists have played a crucial role in the past and modern life because they have really helped people recover from stress related conditions. Issues relate to stress do not really need medical doctors because they are psychological in nature, therefore, this is where therapists come in to help them recover from those conditions, some of which are usually more dangerous than real sicknesses. This is because they heavily torment the mind. Once the mental thinking is affected, then a normal human being cannot do anything productive, and this affects his or lifestyle greatly. In many cases, the popularity and role of therapists has been enhanced by war experiences, since when people come from war, they are usually much traumatized, and this is where the therapists come out to help them recover from those conditions. In all the wars which have happened or occurred since the Second World War, they have left most of the war veterans very traumatized, because of what they experience in the ward field, and this requires specialized psychological treatment to help them recover from those conditions. In fact, psychiatrists or therapists have really helped in treating people who experience these conditions. This is the reason why the US military has greatly incorporated the work of therapists in helping deal with these issues, because they noticed that most war veterans are affected by the stress related experiences. After the victims or patients are offered this psychological treatment, they recover slowly with time and eventual recover completely. In fact, in some armies, they set up centers for these treatments in the war field where in case the soldiers experience these stress related issues while on the war field, they can be given quick therapies to help them recover from those stress related issues. With the advance in technology and education, many governments have greatly advanced their militaries to ensure that they are complete with their own personnel and equipments. In almost every military in the modern world, there are psychology experts who handle their members in case they start being affected by these issues related to stress. This is because they clearly understand that stress related complications are very complex and may even cause serious mental problems or even death if they are not treated or handled properly with immediate effect. This is the reason why various methods have been invented by scholars after extensive research, so that they can be used in handling these problems and other similar problems that war veterans may face. All the programs are models that have been invented or devised by psychologists are directly related to psychology, and most of them have proved to be very effective in dealing with these issues related to stress in the modern society which we live in/reside in. This brings us to the issue of veterans with PTSD. People who abuse drugs and substances have their own understanding and they actually believe theta they are doing what is right for them. The humanist vision on issues dealing with health is diverse and there is no single approach when it comes to health matters. Therefore, there is nothing like societal views regarding health. Instead, we have personal views on issues pertaining to health and healthy standards. Every human being is responsible for personal health and it is upon them to exploit the available interests in order to be what the society expects. By being healthy, people can contribute to the development of the society, and therefore, although the society does not have universal standards of health, there are certain expectations. If human beings stay healthy and contribute to the society’s development, then they are at the apex of self-expression, in fact, the self-actualization state (Huitt, 2001, p. 1). Health is very important to everybody, and healthy people are usually very productive in the society. Based on this, every society tries to ensure that its people stay healthy, since they recognize that a healthy body is very productive to the society in all the aspects. If an individual has health problems, mostly mental related problems, he cannot perform his daily chores or activities effectively, and this negatively affects him or her and the society at large. However, in order to claim the self-actualization state, a person must meet certain conditions. These conditions are as a litmus test orchestrated to measure the humanistic behavior of persons and their views of the world. From the famous Abraham Maslow theory, we all understand the hierarchy needs that all human beings irrespective of their age, race, tribe or sex require for better living. These things include the basic needs for example, food, clothes and shelter. Without these three basic needs, the live of human beings will be unbearable, and perhaps they will not survive. However, the path to self-actualization does not stop by acquiring the necessities. Human beings require a sense of adequacy and security. Additionally, all human beings always crave for a sense of belonging to either another person or a group of people. Other things that human beings need in order to reach self-actualization are self-worth and communal reverence. It is after achieving all these that a person feels complete and adequately satisfied in life. In other words, this is self-actualization where desires become the fundamental motivators to achieve something (DeCarvalho, 1991, pp. 88-104). The question on whether veterans who abuse drugs and other substances are in self-actualization is hard to tackle. However, is paramount to note that in order to achieve the self-actualization state, someone ought to be genuine as well. For instance, in order to assist people abusing drugs and substances to stop their habits, humanist psychotherapists have come up with multifarious techniques to assist addicts. These humanist psychotherapists believe that the techniques will assist such persons to tale social responsibilities and commitments that they abandoned at one point in their lives. The humanist psychotherapists also argue that escaping duties and fear are the primary reasons that form huddles in the minds of people and lead them into different interpretations of the way they view the world. Thus, with the developed techniques, humanist psychotherapists hoped to form an internalized sense where all human beings will reconnect their secreted or concealed wants and aspirations (Huitt, 2001, p. 1). The discipline of humanistic psychology did not make any meaning until 1970s, at least, during the precedence of the new liberal generation. Although the discipline has been of great importance in understanding humanistic psychology, the advent of a conservative and conforming society in the 21st century has rendered it rather monstrous. Nonetheless, it is vital to note that humanist psychologists never pursued a course where people were at liberty to choose and do what pleased them. Instead, they were concerned that many people were becoming what they never wanted to be just because of influence from seniors or other persons of higher authority. For instance, we can say of the very many people who practiced homosexuality but could not come out to identify themselves for fear of stigmatization (Rogers & Freiberg, 1994, pp. 17-27). This concept of humanistic psychology mostly started emerging in the middle of the 20th century, and it has deep roots from Socrates. This concept came from the Socrates school of thought, because it emphasizes on the self actualization’s self drive. In fact, some scholar’s term humanistic psychology as a third force, since it’s a bit distinct from the previous types of psychology which had been discovered by scholars before. The humanist philosophy, and in fact the humanist theory, is vital in assisting people to come up with benign and sound decisions about themselves lest they become outcasts of the society. This theory tries to explain the reason behind human happiness; it tries to promote the growth of monsters and sociopaths. Moreover, humanistic philosophy tries to explain the concept of selfishness but it is not narcissist itself, but instead it highlights the paths to follow in order to be happy. This study will examine the behavior of veterans with PTSD minus perturbing on what other people perceive of them (Foster, 1984, pp. 228-230). Paradigms used in the Mental Health Field of Social Work The sociological aspect of helping people suffering from mental problems is ancient as it looks. Social workers, professional counselors, and medical personnel have been involved in helping out people with disabilities to feel humane—just like other normal persons. By administering, enacting policies, and extending services to these persons, these persons have been applying the humanistic approach to their fellow human beings. However, it is paramount to note that the application of humanistic theory to psychiatric disabilities has elicited sharp reaction from some quarters, mostly from medical practitioners. These professionals argue that the social approach in dealing with issues of mental health are not enough and that such persons need medical attention as well. On the other hand, the social workers argue that the use of medical models in solving psychological issues is detrimental to the self-efficacy of the consumers and it leaves them in pathetic states. Additionally, social workers argue that the medical model or chest model conflicts paramount social work values that have been vital in creating a healthy society. They continue to argue that although the medical model of solving psychological and mental problems has been the basis of policy creation and service delivery, it lacks the humanistic approach, and therefore, it is incomplete (Beck, 1985, pp. 325- 347). The use of humanistic theory in mental health field of social work is advantageous to the consumers, as it gives them a sense of hope and objective reality. There is little doubt that beliefs and values of people suffering from mental problems associate with those of the practitioners and therefore there is nothing much to offer. However, social work on the other hand offers a more comprehensive approach that brings reality into practice. For example, according to many researchers, veterans with PTSD can heal faster if they use homeopathy-associated therapies rather seeking medical help. The fundamental values and concepts that make the paradigms of used in mental health field of social work are not only promising, but also offer a delineated perspective in solving health quandaries affecting members of the society (Bohart, 1982, pp. 245-250). Veterans with PTSD PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a health condition that is so common among veterans, especially those returning from war. This disorder is usually classified in the category of anxiety disorders because it’s usually characterized by anxiety related experiences which are usually aversive. It’s also characterized by psychological responses and behaviors that are aversive anxiety related. These aversive anxiety related experiences usually develop after psychologically traumatic events exposure, sometimes even months after the experiences. In most cases, the features of this disorder last or persist for a period which is longer than 30 days. This characteristic distinguishes this disorder from the acute stress disorders. There are many causes of this type of stress and they include psychological trauma, which is believed to be as a result of an experience of a wide range of events which in most cases produce negative feelings that are intense, and these negative feelings include fear, horror or hopelessness. Various researches show that American soldiers who returned from Afghanistan and Iraq experienced PTSD. Persons having these conditions experience nightmares, can jump even at the slightest noise, and always stay at a particular place for a long time. Other symptoms of PTSD include stress, loss of appetite, nausea, irritability, insomnia, and flashback memories. Clearly, these symptoms show how life-threatening PTSD can be and therefore it needs quick attention. The problem with PTSD is that it is a mental problem and therefore requires psychological healing (Yehuda, 202, pp. 123-133). This is unusually a disorder which does not actually require physical treatment. It is usually a mental condition which requires psychological treatment. This problem has been on the increase in the modern world, because the current globe is characterized by issues such as war and changing social conditions, and this easily causes these disorders. Scholars in this field are ever carrying out research on how to handle this situation, and as per the current progress of research, the only available way now to solve these problems is through offering psychological treatment to the affected people, since this problem is purely psychological. Based on this, people who experience this problem are usually taken to experts in psychological treatments such as psychiatrists, who handle the patients psychologically because that is the only way they can be handled. Nonetheless, there is hope to the veterans with PTSD. In fact, in the recent times, researchers have been engaged in a series of activities aimed at understanding the root causes of PTSD and the modalities of managing it. Through the developed mechanisms, hundreds of veterans with PTSD across the globe have received special attention in the mane of treatment. The nature of treatments administered to these veterans is of two types: medication and counseling. Although this paper advocates for the humanistic perspective in solving social issues, we can underscore that medics have successfully administered selective serotonin inhibitors to veterans with PTSD, which leave them less worried and happy. Nevertheless, professional counseling has proved to be the best treatment method of PTSD. This is simply because counseling helps and individual to rediscover the lost personal thoughts and understanding and eventually provide avenues of managing personal feelings. Professional counseling of veterans with PTSD using the humanist theory produces affirmative and momentous changes in symptoms and gives back senses of hope, self-respect and self-worthy. There is no doubt that social work in the name of professional counseling is a paradigm of used in mental health field to help alleviate trauma and releases stressful memories experienced by many veterans (Magruder & Yeager, 2008, pp. 371-381). In the modern world, social work has been incorporated as a form of professional counseling to help in alleviating issues such as stress that are experienced by people who go through hard times. In the US for example, many social workers have been used in helping American soldiers recover from stress related complications. This is because people have come to realize that the nature of social work is somehow psychologically related, hence incorporating counseling in social work can really help psychologists in dealing with the issues related to stress and other complications. Incorporation of social work into the counseling arena has greatly helped, because it has increased the number of counselors in this profession, hence helping in solving the problems experienced by people who undergo through these stress related experiences. Paradigms There are three major paradigms of mental health, that is, biological, cognitive and clinical models. As noted above, the role of these paradigms is to help in alleviating symptoms associated with PTSD. The curative paradigm comprises methods of preventing relapse and therefore minimizing PTSD symptoms. The use of inhibitors such as serotonin and oxidase is common here. However, due to genetic modifications, the paradigm has had its own challenges. For instance, these inhibitors do extremely well in female population rather than the male counterparts. However, researchers are busy developing new treatment techniques such as the use of placebo, nefazodone and fluoxetine for male populations affected by PTSD. The other paradigm used in mental health field of social work is the sedative paradigm. Here, the paradigm aims to cut the consequences associated with harrowing nervous tensions, trepidation, nervousness and insomnia. Nonetheless, various reports indicate that this paradigm has not been effective especially in alleviating post-traumatic mental problems (Beck, 1985, pp. 325- 347).. The third paradigm is the secondary prevention paradigm characterized by the administration of benzodiazepines to veterans with PTSD in order to reduce post-traumatic mental effects. However, just like the sedative paradigm, the secondary prevention paradigm has failed to control mental consequences by simply taking benzodiazepines. However, a compared to placebo and other administered drugs, benzodiazepines are better. In summary, PTSD represents a plethora of neurotransmitters and a myriad of neuromodulators that lender any pharmacological attention less important. In fact, the treatment of PTSD based on monoamine transmission has proved not to be effective. In order to examine the issue of social health and discuss the paradigms of mental health field in social work, the paper discusses the tool chest tool—the PTSD Toolbox (Bohart, 1982, pp. 245-250). PTSD “Tool box”: Combating Veterans with PTSD Having stayed and experienced much on earth, veterans are bound to suffer from traumatic experiences. For instance, the continued exposure of the mind to hyper-response environments is injurious to the mental health of human beings. According to experts, people who have experienced monstrous sceneries are always prone to traumatic events, the events that threaten their mental health. For instance, veterans with PTSD are at high risk of engaging in trauma relieving activities such as drug and substance abuse. Some of them have even gone ahead to use painkillers without first seeking advice from experts. Various statistics do indicate that veterans who have come from war zones are four times likely to abuse drugs and substances that those veterans with mental health issues that came naturally. Across the world, there have been suicide incidences of veterans with PTSD either through substance and drug abuse, or through self-inflicted injuries. Although the incidents seem to be minimal, there is no doubt that veterans with PTSD need special mental attention in order to change them. The haunting memories of war and the bedeviling risks of physical injuries are the reasons behind the creation of this PTSD Toolbox. The tool rallies the use of social techniques in treating veterans with PTSD. However, although it advocated for the medical model as well, medics attending such victims should be careful in their practices and instead offer less risky cure, which comprises of administered drugs and therapies lest they cause side effects (DeCarvalho, 1991, pp. 88-104). To start with, PTSD “Tool box” addresses three vital things that will help veterans stay well: thoughts, feelings and behavior. Every human being is in a position to change behavior and by doing so, the thoughts change as well. The price of behavior change is new thinking styles and abrogated feelings as time lapses. Veterans with PTSD can perform a series of activities, which will help them change their thoughts and feelings. The list is as follows. To begin with, veterans with PTSD need to join a counseling class of their choice. Secondly, they will then search for a therapist who is well versed in the social amalgamation of behaviors, thoughts and feelings. Next, since some medics have questionable reputations, it is vital for the veteran to find one of trustworthy and experienced enough to handle the symptoms of PTSD. The “Tool Box” for managing PTSD symptoms is next. Veterans with PTSD also need to find people who can offer comfort and can listen to them. In a way, this will help them psychologically. They also need to understand what they are going through. The PTSD “Tool Box” comprises of the following Various techniques of eliminating nervousness for example, exercising, yoga, singing, rumination etc Triggers and admonitions associated with psychometric stress Instructions on interpersonal communication to foster thoughts and minimize stress Emotional rethinking blueprints to check emotional levels Modalities of identifying behavioral responsibilities to create a sense of self-efficacy Value identification patterns to provoke out the consequences of PTSD Relationship management skills such as conflict and anger resolution that mainly associate with PTSD Lastly, the veterans will now set their priorities, both short-term and long-term Rethinking the theories Having examined comprehensively the Toolbox for helping, there are numerous theories that expound health issues. For example, the behavioral theories discuss treatments that dwell on classical conditioning like aversive, exposure and systematic conditioning. Through these theories, positive reinforcements, adaptive behaviors and stimulus control becomes evident. The existential-humanistic theories that mainly dwell on the fact that maladaptive thoughts arise due to irrational thoughts highlights the importance of internal elucidation in order to heal distorted thoughts. These theories are vital in helping veterans with PTSD to do away with anxiety and swinging moods, the manner psychodynamic theories do (King, Valle & Citrenbaun, 1978, pp. 265-273). The cognitive theories primarily assert that all bad thoughts, feelings and mental problems emanate from catastrophic thinking. For instance, a raped woman thinking that all men are rapists. Nonetheless, with therapies such as Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), such persons can change their distorted cognitive schemata. Additionally, cognitive therapy is paramount in challenging persons suffering from PTSD and inducing fresh thoughts. In fact, over the recent years, the cognitive therapy has become the most common method of helping mentally challenged persons (Shulman, 1985, pp.243-258). After extensive research, many scholars agree that cognitive therapy is one of the best methods for dealing with issues related to stress, because many cognitive therapies have proved very effective in treating people with stress problems. Based on this therefore, it’s no doubt that cognitive therapies are one of the best methods of treating or dealing with people who have mental challenges. References Beck, A. T. (1985). Cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, psychoanalysis, and pharmacotherapy: A cognitive continuum. New York: Plenum. Bohart, A. C. (1982). Similarities between cognitive and humanistic approaches to therapy. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 6, 245-250. DeCarvalho, R. (1991). The humanistic paradigm in education. The Humanistic Psychologist, 19 (1), 88-104. Foster, S.W. (1984). The Waldorf Schools offer an approach to humanistic education, which has stood the test of time: An Introduction to Waldorf Education. The Clearing House, 57 (5), 228-230. Hall, E., & Carol, H. (1988). ?Human relations in education?. ?New York: Psychology Press?. Huitt, W. (2001). Humanism and open education. Retrieved November 29, 2012 from King, M., Valle, R. S., & Citrenbaum, C. (1978). Existential-phenomenological implications for psychotherapy. In R. Valle & M. King (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology. New York: Oxford University Press Magruder, K. M., & Yeager, D. E. (2008). Patient factors relating to detection of posttraumatic stress disorder in Department of Veterans Affairs primary care settings. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 45 (3), 371–381. O'Neil, H.F., & Mitterer, J. O. (2008). Introduction to psychology: Gateways to mind and behavior. (12th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Rogers, C., & Freiberg, H. (1994). Freedom to learn. (3rd Ed.). New York: Macmillan. Shulman, B. H. (1985). Cognitive therapy and the individual psychology of Alfred Adler. New York: Plenum. Yehuda, R. (2002). Clinical relevance of biologic findings in PTSD. Psychiatry Quarterly, 73(2): 123–133. Read More