Mental Health TheoriesKategorie: Liczba wpisów: 1, liczba wizyt: 438 |
Nadesłane przez: jodilee dnia 11-08-2021 11:08
Behaviorism and psychoanalysis refer to the mental health theories focused on the human nature and motives driving an individual’s behavior. These approaches have been developed through a long period of time. Nowadays they are equally applied by modern therapists as mentioned by superior essay writers https://superessay.org/
Behavioral theory, also referred to as behaviorism, was popular in early 1900s. According to this theory, an individual adopts the behavior under the influence of the outside factors. Behaviorism is believed to originate from the work of Ivan Pavlov. He used animals, specifically dogs, to research the effects of the learned response. The theory was further developed by Skinner, introducing the ideas of operant conditioning. He emphasized the importance of the rewards as well as punishments in the establishment of positive behaviors and responses. Nowadays the behavioral therapists use the approach to assist their clients with adopting new skills and behaviors. For instance, they try to transform the destructive habits into more productive behaviors by means of positive and negative reinforcement.
In its turn, psychodynamic theory, also referred to as psychoanalysis, was originally presented by Sigmund Freud. In his work and research, Freud promoted the idea that an individual’s behavior is driven by his or her unconscious. He elaborated such approaches as dream analysis, free association, and transference. These techniques are still actively used by modern psychotherapists and counselors. The analysis of the troubled childhood experiences is the main focus of the modern psychotherapy approach. The thing is that such experiences are believed to have an immense effect on the individual’s adult life, his/her perspective of himself/herself and surrounding world. Moreover, it affects the person’s relationship with other people in the family and work surrounding. The ultimate goal is to reveal the potential traumas provoked by uneasy experiences and unpleasant incidents and to treat them.
The psychodynamic and behavioral theories have more differences than similarities. In fact, they represent the opposite perspectives on the human nature. While psychoanalysis regards human behavior as a result of unconscious forces, behaviorism implies that people adopt their behaviors from the surroundings like family and society. Moreover, behavioral therapists focus on the present moment, while the psychotherapists emphasize the crucial role of the patient’s early childhood. In fact, advocates of psychoanalysis differentiate three levels of psyche, including the unconscious, the conscious, and the preconscious. The first one is believed to be inborn, thus having the greatest influence on the personality development and behavior. At the same time, behaviorism followers promote the idea that the one’s behavior patterns are learnt and adopted through the interaction with the external world. Thus the person’s behavior is a result of the consistent exposure to the social constructs and cultural traditions. With regard to psychoanalysis, behaviorists believe that the preconscious rules the one’s mental development and defines his or her habits and behavior.
I believe that both theories can be effectively used in the nursing practice. For example, knowledge about the potential traumatic relationships and childhood experiences can be taken into account to create a complete profile of a patient. On the other hand, the patient’s external environment should also be considered as it defines his/her living and working conditions, affecting health. Overall, I believe that behavioral approach can be more beneficial in nursing as it is more encompassing. It has a well-structured methodology, and its results can be verified. In nursing practice, behavioral approach helps nurses evaluate the patient’s behavior and detect potential threats to his or her mental and physical health. At the same time, psychodynamic theory is more intense as it deeply affects an individual’s behavior and, therefore, requires serious approach and significant background of a therapist.
To sum up, even though behaviorism and psychoanalysis represent completely opposite perspectives on the driving forces of human behavior, both approaches are actively used in the patients’ therapy. Behavioral health theory can be particularly beneficial in nursing practice by helping nurses identify and eliminate the behaviors putting potential threats to the physical and mental health of the patient.