Disease Model Versus; Positive Psychology Worksheet
Introduction
The paper focuses on developing a disease model worksheet by using the case of William. The concepts of traditional and positive psychology are applied in the case to aid in solving psychological issues that the patient experiences. Traditional psychology focuses on identifying patients’ psychological problems and appropriate means of solving them directly. Conversely, positive psychology strives to help patients to find their inner strengths and encourage proactive techniques among patients to rely on their own abilities in order to overcome their challenges.
William’s Situation: Traditional Psychology Perspectives
From traditional psychology perspectives, the psychologist would focus on the problem by dwelling on William’s past problems and then focus on the most suitable intervention to treat his problems using different traditional psychology techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic theory, and family systems therapy among others. The psychologist would look at the past, current, and potential future behaviors of William. Attention would then shift to any specific events such as the divorce, work-related stress, potential causes of weight gain, lack of sleep, high blood pressure, and social life, among others, in this case, which could have created trauma in William’s life. The psychologist must comprehend how these factors have contributed to William’s current mental and physical health.
The psychologist is most likely to conclude that William’s current mental and physical health problems could have originated from his broken family, job-related stress, poor social habits, weight gain that cause anxiety, and a lack of vacations.
The psychologist would recommend a traditional psychology technique to overcome these challenges. For instance, the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy would help to identify and change distorted thought patterns of Williams and restore current emotional disturbances and behaviors related to them. It is expected that William will develop health behavior habits once he has modified his beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes. Issues related to anxiety will be effectively resolved.
William’s Situation: Positive Psychology Perspectives
Positive psychology would aim to give William something to benefit from, aim for happiness, lead a healthy life, and prosper in life. William would be expected to be proactive, rely on his own abilities, and inner strengths to overcome his psychological challenges.
A positive psychologist would focus on sources of William’s unhappiness, worries, and any setbacks. The psychologist would encourage William to spend his money on other people in order to derive happiness. Moreover, the intervention would highlight how to combat William’s work-related disappointments and drawbacks. On this note, William will develop strong social relationships and characters, be encouraged to take vacations, and worry less about his job. The psychologist would help William to understand the importance of work to his well-being and, at the same time, remind William to engage in work that his meaningful and purposeful in order to be happy. The interventions would help William to be optimistic, grateful, and learn altruism.
The psychologist is most likely to conclude that William’s health problems emanated from his unhappy life. Therefore, it is recommended that William should develop strong social relationships, strong characters, take a vacation, engage in purposeful and meaningful work, spend his money on others, and learn how to be happy. This would manage stress and anxiety.
Conclusion
The paper has covered applications of traditional and positive psychology to solve psychological problems. The case of William may show that traditional and positive psychology techniques contend on the best approaches to solve patients’ problems. However, these approaches strive to solve similar problems from different perspectives. Traditional psychology techniques must address past and present problems, while positive psychology strives to make patients happy and prosper in life.
References
Gable, S., & Haidt, J. (2005). What (and Why) is Positive Psychology? Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 103–110. Web.
Peterson, C. (2005). A Primer in Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press. Web.
Polling Exercise
Introduction
This poll exercise is based on three distinct questions, including:
- What makes you happy?
- Would you say you are living “the good life?” Why or why not?
- If you could make any changes you wished that would make you happier, what would those be?
The polling exercise aims to explore concepts of hedonic and eudaimonic.
Summary of the results
A sense of happiness was imperative for all respondents. Happiness, however, for various participants, emanated from diverse activities and life choices. Instant gratification and greater good beyond one’s self-defined components of happiness. Many people considered hedonic well-being as the ultimate happiness, and therefore instant gratification was highly regarded among these individuals. Conversely, individuals expressed eudaimonic well-being when they strived for meaningful, purposeful life beyond simple pleasures of life.
Majorities of the respondents believed that they were not living a good life. To them, the ultimate simple gratifications were extremely important. Luxurious goods and money played critical roles in making them happier in addition to great vacation and leisure activities. On the other hand, eudaimonic well-being was depicted in persons whose lives were generally good. They focused on compassionate deeds, meaningful lives, staying healthy, spiritual awareness, and mental and physical health, among others.
People who were focused on hedonic well-being wanted more money and success alongside material goods to change their lives and be happier. Little work and more time for leisure and vacation were regarded as elements that they could change and lead happier lives. Conversely, others wanted to make the world a better place, improve the environment, nurture relationships, and work for meaningful goals.
Common beliefs about happiness
People have diverse but general beliefs about happiness. For instance, happiness, as many people consider it, is instant gratification associated with positive feelings (hedonic well-being). Conversely, others consider happiness as a sense of well-being that can only originate from undertaking meaningful activities, purposeful living, and less focusing on self (eudaimonic well-being).
Many people focus on hedonic well-being rather than eudaimonic well-being. The science of positive psychology generally focuses on understanding deeper happiness. Overall, scientists strive to prove that happiness that emanates from doing greater good has much more positive results on individuals than other forms of happiness. In addition, they have shown that emotions have stronger effects and show that both eudaimonic well-being and hedonic well-being have various genetic impacts.
Hedonic well-being depends on individuals’ self-involvement to realize positive emotions. Thus, people who may experience any form of threats to their personal happiness suffer loss and may experience anxiety and stress. Conversely, happiness that is connected to other external things and engaging other people is important, more fulfilling, and may not be lost easily. However, critical life changes can enhance both forms of happiness. In this sense, people can improve their sense of happiness by focusing on the most important factors in their lives, such as family, work/life balance, nurturing and building relationships and doing greater good to the community.
References
Wang, S. S. (2011). Hedonic and Eudaimonic Happiness. Web.
Weise, E. (2010). Life changes can make you happy. USA Today. Web.