Psychological aspects of Dental Problems and Facial Disfigurement

Question 1

why should the word ‘disfigurement’ be avoided when talking about a facial abnormality? what terms could be used instead?

Answer 1

• sounds very clinical and negative
• ‘visible difference’
• **refer to the cause of the disfigurement (jane has as cleft lip)

Question 2

what is stigma?

Answer 2

stigma is an attribute that discredits an individual, reducing them from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one

Question 3

how might stigma affect people?

Answer 3

• negative treatment & discrimination
• self-fulfilling prophecy
• threat to sense of self

Question 4

what is subjective severity, in relation to facial disfigurements?

Answer 4

subjective severity related to level of distress (disfigured persons own perception)

Question 5

what is meant by objective severity, in relation to facial disfigurement?

Answer 5

other people’s perception

Question 6

what are the different types of objective severity?

Answer 6

• non-severe end
• severe end
• moderate end

Question 7

what social reactions occur if the severity of a persons disfigurement is at the non-severe end?

Answer 7

social reactions likely trivial

Question 8

what social reaction occurs if the severity of a persons facial disfigurement is at the severe end of the scale?

Answer 8

social reactions more common, but PREDICTABLE, allows the individual to develop coping strategies

Question 9

what social reactions occur if the persons facial disfigurement is at the moderate end of severity?

Answer 9

• social reaction ambiguous
• making a consistent coping strategy more difficult
• highest distress***

Question 10

what strategies may help reduce the distress associated with living with a facial disfigurement?

Answer 10

• social skills training

- cognitive behavioural therapy

Question 11

what are The Big Five psychological characteristics?

Answer 11

• OCEAN
• openness to experience
• conscientiousness
• extraversion
• agreeableness
• neuroticism

Question 12

what is meant by openness to experience?

Answer 12

people enthusiasm to trying out new things/adventures

Question 13

what is meant by conscientiousness, in relation to The Big Five?

Answer 13

tendency to follow social norms & do things in a goal oriented and organised manner

Question 14

what is meant by extraversion, in relation to the Big Five?

Answer 14

characteristic of being open to others and sociable

Question 15

what is meant by agreeableness in relation to the Big Five?

Answer 15

the avoidance of conflict

Question 16

what is meant by neuroticism, in relation to the Big Five?

Answer 16

emotional instability/big mood changes

Question 17

how do neuroticism and body image correlate with one another?

Answer 17

Neurotic people:

• are more self conscious
• place greater importance on how they look
• more likely to compare themselves with others
• more sensitive to rejection

Question 18

how do extraversion and body image correlate with one another?

Answer 18

• less reserved, more assertive, more talkative

- less sensitive to social threat

Question 19

what are some psychological effects of cleft lip & palate?

Answer 19

• external locus of control
• lower self esteem
• dissatisfaction with facial appearance & speech
• fewer friends
• higher rates of (social) anxiety and depression

Question 20

what does the psychological impact of facial deformation of children & adults depend on?

Answer 20

• the individuals personality

- social support surrounding individual