Mental Health and Mental Illness: Definitions, Perspectives, and Stigma
Q1. Define mental health. Explain its key features.
The WHO defines mental health as a state of well-being in which a person realizes their own abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and contributes to their community. It is more than the absence of disease.
Key features:
- Emotional well-being: the ability to experience, express and regulate feelings.
- Psychological well-being: self-acceptance, purpose in life, autonomy, positive relationships and personal growth.
- Social
Positive Psychology Explained: Key Concepts, Myths, and Evidence on Happiness and Resilience
Positive Psychology: True or False Statements
1. TRUE Freud argued that positive behavior can have negative or self-interested unconscious motivations.
2. FALSE The disease model has a problem: it focuses too much on illness and pathology and not enough on strengths and well-being.
3. FALSE Positive Psychology is not simply a better way to treat mental illness. It studies strengths, happiness, flourishing, and meaning.
4. FALSE Psychoanalysis and Freud did not offer a strong positive approach, as they
Psychology and Education: Foundations of Human Development
Understanding Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior. The word originates from two Greek roots: psyche, meaning “soul,” “mind,” or “spirit,” and logos, meaning “study” or “knowledge.” Broadly defined, psychology seeks to understand how individuals think, feel, and act, both as single entities and within social contexts.
Core Definition and Components
Modern psychology is defined as the empirical, systematic study of mental processes and observable behaviors.
Read MorePsychological Research Methods and Social History
Psychological Research Methods
Research methods are systematic techniques used by psychologists to collect, study, and analyze information about human behavior and social phenomena. The major research methods include descriptive, experimental, correlational, and archival methods.
1. Descriptive Research
Descriptive research is used to describe and record behavior as it naturally occurs. It does not necessarily establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
a. Case Study
A case study is an in-depth investigation
Read MorePositive Psychology: Principles, Strengths, and Well-being
Positive Psychology
- Founder: Martin Seligman (1998)
- Scientific study of strengths, well-being, happiness, and flourishing.
- Aim: Build strengths, not just treat illness.
- Scope: Happiness, optimism, hope, resilience, mindfulness, flow, character strengths.
Keywords: Strengths • Flourishing • Well-being • Positive emotions
Positive Psychology & Indian Psychology
Positive Psychology
- Happiness
- Strengths
- Flourishing
Indian Psychology
- Happiness + Self-realization
- Spiritual well-being
- Inner transformation
Both
Read MoreEffective Counseling Methods and Psychological Interventions
Couple and Family Counseling
Nature of Family Therapy
- Relationship focus
- Family as a system
- Circular causality
- Family dynamics
- Improve family functioning
Scope of Practice
- Conflicts
- Communication
- Child rearing
- Financial issues
- Values
- Sexual problems
- Extra-marital issues
- Domestic violence
Therapeutic Goals
Couple Counseling
- Confidential environment
- Equal opportunity
- Identify conflicts
- Communication skills
- Trust and respect
- Follow-up
Family Counseling
- Key Concepts
- Homeostasis
- Feedback
- Circular causality
- Equifinality
- Morphogenesis
- Communication
- Family