Communication in health and social care
Chapter
1
Psychology in health and social care
Key topics ll Relevance of studying psychology
ll
Schools of thought in psychology
ll
Psychology in practice: people and practice
ll
How to make effective use of this book
ll
Introducing the ‘psychosoap’ family
Introduction
Our purpose throughout this book is to offer ideas from psychology that can be applied to your work in health or social care. Our objectives are to enable you to: ll apply evidence-based psychology to enhance your therapeutic work;
ll
become a reflective thinker who does not draw on simplistic explanations for the behaviour of others;
ll
work more effectively as a member of a multiprofessional team;
ll
promote and protect the health and well-being of patients or clients and their caregivers;
ll
preserve your own health and well-being.
In this chapter, we introduce you to some of the different perspectives used to study psychology, which we draw on in later chapters. We use a framework that is designed to help you reflect on your experiences in practice, starting with a vignette that captures the sort of situation we all face at some time. 1
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3/23/12 5:39 PM
2
Vignette
Chapter 1 Psycholo gy in health and so cial care
Anna is a student nurse on community placement who is being driven by her supervisor, a community nurse, to check on Mr Smythe, an elderly patient who is partially sighted and has recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. As they drive, Anna is asked to recall what had been said in lectures about the management of Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, Mr Smythe is trying hard to remember the instructions the nurse had given him at her previous visit.
Anna and Mr Smythe both want to present a positive image to the community nurse; they are both trying hard to recall important information and they are both in new situations that give rise to some anxiety. The community
1
Psychology in health and social care
Key topics ll Relevance of studying psychology
ll
Schools of thought in psychology
ll
Psychology in practice: people and practice
ll
How to make effective use of this book
ll
Introducing the ‘psychosoap’ family
Introduction
Our purpose throughout this book is to offer ideas from psychology that can be applied to your work in health or social care. Our objectives are to enable you to: ll apply evidence-based psychology to enhance your therapeutic work;
ll
become a reflective thinker who does not draw on simplistic explanations for the behaviour of others;
ll
work more effectively as a member of a multiprofessional team;
ll
promote and protect the health and well-being of patients or clients and their caregivers;
ll
preserve your own health and well-being.
In this chapter, we introduce you to some of the different perspectives used to study psychology, which we draw on in later chapters. We use a framework that is designed to help you reflect on your experiences in practice, starting with a vignette that captures the sort of situation we all face at some time. 1
C01.indd 1
3/23/12 5:39 PM
2
Vignette
Chapter 1 Psycholo gy in health and so cial care
Anna is a student nurse on community placement who is being driven by her supervisor, a community nurse, to check on Mr Smythe, an elderly patient who is partially sighted and has recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. As they drive, Anna is asked to recall what had been said in lectures about the management of Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, Mr Smythe is trying hard to remember the instructions the nurse had given him at her previous visit.
Anna and Mr Smythe both want to present a positive image to the community nurse; they are both trying hard to recall important information and they are both in new situations that give rise to some anxiety. The community