Social Psychology Flashcards
(13 cards)
Social Identity Theory (on Intergroup Relations)
(Tajfel & Turner, 1979) - (Tajfel, 2010)
Seeks to explain the cognitive processes and social conditions underlying intergroup behaviors, especially those related to prejudice, bias, and discrimination.
The theory posits that people instinctively categorize people, in much the same way that the categorize objects, based on the different social groups to which they belong (can lead to stereotyping) - and display a tendency to minimize the differences between members of their own group (the ingroup) and maximise the differences between their group and others (the outgroups). The theory also deals with the concept of social comparison - part of an individual’s self-esteem comes from the groups to which they belong. Hence, as a consequence, they strive to ensure that their ingroup compares favourably with other outgroups in order to maintain self-esteem.
The Contact Hypothesis/Intergroup Contact Theory
(Allport et al., 1954)
Now commonly referred to as intergroup contact theory, it proposes that contact between two groups in conflict with one another can bring about greater levels of tolerance under specific conditions, such as when both groups are working towards a shared goal and are on equal footing with one another.
(Dovidio et al., 2006)
In general, greater levels of contact between groups regardless of the circumstances results in increased understanding, however the above conditions do appear to produce the greatest effects.
(Brocklehurst, 2006)
Physical separation between groups does appear to be a contributing factor to continued hostility - Northern Ireland is an example of this.
(Paolini et al., 2004)
Higher levels of outgroup friendships is associated with lower levels of prejudice towards the outgroup and increases participants’ perceptions of the variability within the outgroup. Under social identity theory, it is posed that discrimination arises in part from the human tendency to categorize others into social groups and to minimize the existing differences within those groups. These results appear to indicate that the influence of such an effect can be reduced via increased levels of contact between groups.
WHO Definition of Mental Health
(WHO, 2016)
A state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
Influence of SES on Health Outcomes and access to Mental Health Services
Whitehall Study, began in 1967
Sample of British Civil Servants - the findings demonstrated a social gradient in health outcomes. Specifically, an inverse association between one’s grade of employment and their resulting mortality rates for a wide range of diseases was observed. These results suggest the importance of socio-economic status with reference to health outcomes = one of the most pervasive and enduring observations in public health.
(Steele et al., 2007)
Individuals of lower socio-economic statuses exhibit a greater likelihood to report barriers to receiving mental health care.
(Marmot et al., 1997)
Psychiatric morbidity rises with decreasing socio-economic status. This gradient is also observed both with educational and occupational status.
Four Pillars of the Mental Health Approach under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
(Collins, 2020)
- Recognizing mental health as a global public good which requires interventions beyond the health sector
- Adopting a dimensional approach that conceptualizes mental health as a continuum and equally emphasizes prevention and treatment alongside promotion and maintenance of mental health.
- Acknowledging that addressing challenges to global mental health require an intersectoral and interdisciplinary approach.
- Making human rights a central tenet of global mental health action with an emphasis on involving people with lived experiences; “nothing about us without us.”
Global Burden of Mental Health
(Global Burden of Disease Study, 2019)
Mental disorders are among the top 10 leading causes of burden worldwide. The global number of DALY’s attributed to mental health disorders increased by approximately 64% between the years 1990 and 2019.
(WHO Mental Health Atlas, 2017)
On average, governments spent less than 2% of their health budget on mental health expenses.
WEIRD Research
(Henrich et al., 2010)
96% of research is focused on 12% of the world’s population - in WEIRD societies (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic)
(Erskine, 2017)
5% of the total coverage of child mental health prevalence research comes from LMICs.
The Importance of Contextual Norms and Local Expressions of Emotion/Distress
(Kyrillos et al., 2023)
Syrian refugee children who were living in Lebanon were given a mental health assessment (the MINI Kid), and the results showed high rates of adolescent conduct disorder across the board. However, fighting, spending time away from home and other similar symptoms were identified as norms of their situation. Researchers posit that cultural and contextual sensitivity during the administration of structured assessments is needed, in order to better inform prevalence rates and resulting treatment plans.
(Betancourt et al., 2011)
Using qualitative methods to understand local expressions of emotional and behavioural distress has been increasingly used to improve cross-cultural assessment of mental health constructs (i.e., to validate subscales for use in diverse populations)
Impact of Malnourishment and Education on Outcomes
(Kirolos et al., 2022)
Malnutrition resulting from poverty disproportionately affects children, and malnourishment early in childhood has been found to be linked with poorer neurodevelopment, impaired cognition and poorer academic achievement – although findings regarding its long-term impact on mental health remain inconclusive.
(Kondirolli & Sunder, 2022)
One extra year of education was linked with a lower likelihood of reporting symptoms related to depression/anxiety.
Absolute vs Relative Poverty
(Townsend, 1979)
Absolute poverty acts by restricting ones access to basic needs.
Relative poverty (in which one is living below the median income) acts primarily through psychosocial mechanisms (i.e., via low self-esteem)
Concerns Relating to Forcibly Displaced Populations
(Bosqui, 2018)
Research fatigue. Ensuring what you are assessing is relevant and has real-world implications.
(Bruckner et al., 2011)
Lack of resources. 58 LMIC were studied, and, except for Latvia, all countries exhibited a shortage in at least one of the three types of mental health care workers analysed – including nurses, psychiatrists and psychosocial care providers.
(Pandya & Desai, 2013)
Ethics of compensation through payment. The line has to be trodden between not being coercive but also fairly compensating individuals for their time and efforts.
(Tay, 2022)
1/3rd of refugees and IDPS met the criteria for PTSD.
(Eggerman & Panter-Brick, 2010)
Interviews with children and adult caregivers in war-affected Afghanistan. For students, their frustrations were focused on the impairments to their learning environments as well as poverty; since education is viewed as the gateway towards upward social and economic mobility. Hope arises from a sense of moral and social order embodied in the expression of key cultural values: faith, family unity, service, effort, morals, and honour. The researchers highlight the importance of identifying what matters most to the population of interest, with reference to formulating social and public health policies to promote a hopeful future.
(Bosqui et al., 2017)
Caregiver’s availability, wellbeing, and attachment security are all relevant for child’s mental health in humanitarian contexts.
(Sijbrandij et al., 2017)
Growing evidence base for scalable psychological interventions, including PM+*, aimed at reducing psychological distress and improving functioning, delivered by non-professionals who have not received specialized mental health training.
- Problem Management Plus - WHO intervention – 5 weekly sessions of 1 hour and a half – delivered by non-professionals. Consists of 4 strategies; stress management, problem solving, behavioural activation, skills to strengthen social supports.
(IASC - Four W’s)
Who is Where, When doing What – to prevent duplication of efforts by organizations [NGOs] - which can be tracked through regular reports on Relief Web.
Impacts of Fabricated Research
(Wakefields, 1998)
Fabricated research can have an immense impact – ongoing influence of MMR vaccine being linked to autism, despite fabrication.
(PSI - Code of Conduct)
4 core principles:
* Respecting the rights and dignity of the individual.
* Competence (updating your knowledge frequently/knowing your expertise’s limits)
* Responsibility (being accountable/not lying or doing harm)
* Integrity (honest about qualifications/open about connections/clearly share findings).
Social Baseline Theory and the Value of Connection
(Beckes & Coan, 2011)
Posits that people function optimally in groups/when surrounded by others. From an evolutionary perspective a preference for groups is adaptive (e.g., safety in numbers). Physiological regulation is improved in group settings.
(Holt-Lunstad, 2010, 2015)
Increases your risk of death by 29%, worse for the individual than obesity.
