- Using case study 1 describe how behaviourist theory and social learning theory can be applied to challenging behaviour
The behaviourist theory suggests using; operant conditioning may help Tom to overcome this agitated behaviour that he was feeling at toy time ending. Care workers should use positive reinforcement to encourage him to tidy up the toys. They could introduce a reward chart that when he tidied his toys away when asked he would receive a star which would be positive reinforcement and if he didn’t then he would lose a star negative reinforcement. From this Tom may feel that if he doesn’t tidy up his toys he is missing out on a star which could equal toy playing time, so he may then tidy away his toys.
The social learning theory would suggest the use of imitation. Care workers would encourage the other children to tidy away their toys and when they did they would receive positive reinforcement, something that Tom wouldn’t be getting, so he may imitate their behaviour of tidying up his toys at the required time to see if he would receive this positive behaviour as well so as to encourage this behaviour.
- Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory was first developed by theAmerican psychologist Albert Bandura, whose theory had similar views as the behaviourists yet had some important differences. He agreed with the behaviourists in the sense of learning from our own actions and positive and negative reinforcement can have an effect, however, he believed that learning can take place in more ways than our own actions. He stated that if we were to only learn from waiting for a positive or a negative reinforcement from a behaviour it would take a long time to learn everything that we know. Bandura introduced learning from observing other people followed by modelling our behaviour on what they do. If we see a person being reinforced for a behaviour that we may like, we would imitate it so as to receive the same response as the other person. Bandura used an experiment using a Bobo doll to show his theory. He used a group of children who were shown a video of a woman attacking a Bobo doll. It showed the woman punching and kicking the doll, hitting it with a hammer and shouting at it. The children where then introduced to a playground with various toys including a Bobo doll. According to Crittenden et al. (2005 pg 265)’90 percent of children ignored the other toys and began to attack the Bobo doll with a hammer and shouted at it as the young woman had done’, Bandura brought the same children back to the playground 8 months later and 40 percent repeated this behaviour. This proved his theory that they learned this behaviour from learning from imitation.
- Explain the value of the social learning approach to health and social care.
Social learning theory is used in health and social care to demonstrate modelling. Stretch et al (2007 pg 380) states ‘Melamed at al (1983) found that children in hospital suffer reduced stress and recover better from surgery if the procedures they are about to undergo are modelling for example using celebrities’. From this it showed that children who watched procedures learned more about the experience they were about to have which easier for them to understand than reading the info. Many Public health departments use celebrities to produce advertisements in the hope that the public will ‘model’ themselves on the celebrity such as Cheryl Cole. Crittenden, M et al. (2005)
- Psychodynamic theory
The psychodynamic theory was first developed by Sigmund Freud. Freud introduced a concept of awareness which had three parts which were conscious, preconscious and unconscious. He believed that the conscious level was all that we were aware of and what was happening, preconscious is where we are not aware of them but can be retrieved easily into the conscious mind, and lastly the unconscious mind we have no awareness of and can’t retrieve things easily even though they are there. His theory includes the psyche i.e. the id, ego and superego. The id can be described as the unconscious, which influenced instincts and drives which include food, sex or self preservation; it could be seen as only wanting satisfaction. The ego is the balancer between the id and superego and tries to find ways of keeping both of them quiet by making safe and acceptable decisions. The superego is like our conscience, it would give its views in a sense of morally right and realistic, the opposite of the id. This can describea person’s behaviour if their id is stronger than their ego they may display an aggressive and disruptive behaviour yet on the other hand if the ego is strong enough to handle the id then it can balance decisions from the id and superego to make a decision from both of their opinions. He also developed a theory called the psychosexual stages which included, the oral stage, the anal stage, the phallic stage, latency and genital stage.
Erik Erikson took on Freud’s piece of work to develop it a bit further. He changed his psychosexual stages to his own version which had eight sages. From age 0-1:Learning basic trust, this is where a child learns trust in the world, should this stage not be completed they may become mistrustful and insecure. From age 1-3: Learning autonomy, where a child learns to act independently without parents. The child makes mistakes such as toilet accidents, which can make the child feel shame and doubt. From age 4-6: Learning initiative, where a child would learn to play and co-operate with others, if this stage is not completed the child may feel a sense of guilt. From age 7-12:Learning industry, the child learns formal skills. From age 12-18: learning identity the young people work out what type of people they are, they vary different roles until they are satisfied with one, without completing this stage they may be identity confused. From age 19-25:Learning intimacy, young adults now experience intimate relations with another person. Not completing this task can leave them feeling isolated and lonely. From age 26-40 : Learning generativity, this is taking an interest in the next generation. This can be expressed through children, in completing this stage can make them feel a state of stagnation. From age 40+: Achieving integrity, this stage is looking at their past and feeling happy about their decisions they have achieved. (Crittenden et al. 2005)
- Describe the application of psychodynamic perspectives in health and social care.
Freud had developed a treatment which he believed helped people with disorders which had been caused by defence mechanisms and psychic conflict called psychoanalysis. This treatment is using a psychoanalyst every week for 4 hours until the person’s behaviour has been diagnosed. In a health and social and social care setting this can be used to diagnose and understand a person’s behaviour.(Stretch and Whitehouse 2007)
- Using case study 2 describe how psychodynamic theory can be applied to anxiety
The psychodynamic approach would say that John uses a state of denial to remember the car accident of his mother. When he has to travel in the car he unconsciously is thinking of his mother’s accident and has the fear of the same thing happening to him to. Psychoanalysis would help John to work through his denial of the accident by having him to talk about his problems until he could cope with the thought.
Sources
Crittenden, M, Pope, S, Shackels, E, Thompson, A and Thompson, D (2005)Social Care (Book 1) UK Pearson
Melamed at al (1983) found in Stretch et al (above)
Stretch,B, and Whitehouse,M (2007)BTEC National Health and Social Care (Book 1) Essex Heinemann
accessed on 30/10/10
