psychological aspects of dental problems and facial disfigurement Flashcards
what is perceived about smiling people?
more: attractive sincere sociable independent competent
what decisions can be made based on people’s faces?
dating
hiring
criminal justice
voting
what does newborn’s showing a preference for faces/face like objects suggest?
innate face recognition mechanism
what do faces communicate?
emotion
what do people with facial disfigurements face in society?
stares, hurtful remarks, bullying, discrimination
-stigma
what language can be used instead of disfigurement?
visible difference unusual appearance refer to cause: cleft lip burns
what is stigma?
an attribute that discredits an individual, reducing them from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one
how does stigma affect people?
negative treatment and discrimination
self-fulfilling prophecy
threat to sense of self
what does the level of distress depend on?
severity of disfigurement
- subjective vs objective
- subjective severity related to level of distress
- objective complicated
what level of distress is attached to non severe?
social reactions likely trivial
what level of distress is attached to severe?
social reactions more common, but predictable, individual can develop coping strategies
what level of distress is attached to moderate?
social reactions ambiguous, making consistent coping strategy more difficult
what can increase the level of distress?
developmental/life stage
-sensitive stage increases problems
levels of social support
-more support = better adjustment
what factors do not affect the level of distress?
gender
congenital vs acquired nature of deformation
what strategies can help?
social skills training
cognitive behavioural therapy
