Stereotypes and Ageing Flashcards
What is health psychology?
Contribution of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health; prevention and treatment of illness; identification of psychological factors influencing health and illness; analysis and improvement of healthcare system and health policy formation
-basically using psychology in health care
What is the biomedical model?
Illness is understood in terms of biological and physiological processes
Treatment involves physical intervention
Lifestyle and psychology isn’t taken into account
What is the biopsychosocial model?
Has a holistic approach
Takes into account genetics and pathogens; cognition, emotions and behaviour; class, employment and social support
Seen that all these factors contribute to patient’s health
Why is the biopsychosocial model important in modern medicine?
Allows for better healthcare
Prevents future healthcare problems which arise due to social circumstances and psychological health
Define stereotype
A thought that can be adopted about specific types of individuals and certain ways of doing things.
May/may not accurately reflect reality.
Define prejudice
Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
Define discrimination
The unjust or prejudical treatment of different categories of people
Under which conditions are people more likely to rely on stereotyping?
Under time pressure
Fatigued
Information overload
How can reliance on stereotypes be avoided?
Get to know members of other groups
Reflective practice
What changes about cognitive capacity with ageing?
Memory
Processing speed
Problem solving without prior training/exposure
What aspects of cognitive capacity are preserved with ageing?
Highly learnt skills
General knowledge
What is the disengagement model?
As you get older, disengagement from social involvement can be an adaptive mechanism
What is the activity model?
Successful ageing requires maximal engagement in all areas of life
What problems can ageing cause?
Have to deal with major family adjustments eg children moving away
Retirement can cause loss of manifest and latent rewards of paid work - also less sociable
Reluctance to acknowledge mortality can lead to social rejection
Bereavement
