Principles of Community Psych
Prevention Primary, secondary, tertiary Boulder Model’s Flaw George Albee
Emphasis on Strengths and Competencies Peter Bensonhttp
://www.search-institute.org/remembering-peter-benson
Principles of Community Psych
Importance of Ecological Perspective
Respect for Diversity
Empowerment The process of enhancing the possibility that people
can more actively control their own lives
Action Research Evaluation which prevention efforts work best for
whom, when, and why
Principles of Community Psych
Social Change Unplanned Social Change Planned Social Change
MENTORING RESEARCH Programs get larger effects when characterized
by careful recruitment training monitoring multi-modal matching on interest
EVALUATION FINDINGS AND PUBLIC INTEREST IN MENTORING LET TO PROGRAMS PUTTING MORE EMPHASIS ON GROWTH THAN ON QUALITY
Types of Social Change Unplanned
Planned Change agent Participatory/Collaborative
rules for radicals
Creating and Sustaining Social Change
Citizen Participation The involvement in any organized activity in which
the indiviaul partipates without pay in order to achive a common goal (e.g., grass roots activism) Self-Help Groups Social Support
Examples of CP Voting
Petition
Donating money/time
Reading articles on needs/change
Boycotting
Joining self-help group
Participating in marches
Leading grass-roots group
Doing volunteer work
Fundraising drives
Offering consulting
Serviing an offcie or supporting a candidate
Tea Party/Wall Street Protests
Both are loosely organizaed
Both express anger toward groups in power
Both are calling for large-scale, complicated changes
Ecological Context
How has this college environment affected you
How well do you know your classmates
How well do you know the faculty
Can you identify A place where you like to socialize A quiet place to study A person you would seek help from Access to parking
What Changes would you suggest to improve it
Behavior Settings (Barker)
People in a setting are largely interchangeable, the same patterns of behavior occur irrespective
Settings have rules that maintain the standing behavior pattern
Underpopulated Settings
Four ecological principals (James Kelly)
Interdependence
Cycling of Resources
Adaptation
Succession
Adapted concepts for the biological field of ecology
Interdependence--a system has multiple related parts; change in one affects the others
Cycling of resources-any system can be understood byexamining how resources are dfined, used, created, conserved, and transformed. The interdependence can be understood by charting the cycling
Adaptation Individuals cope with the constraints or demands of an environment
using resources available there
Successsion Ecologies change over time, and understanding the other 3 priciples
must be understood in terms of that pattern of change.
Kelly
Social Climate (Rudolf Moos)
Developed Social Climate Scales (CES, FES)
Tap Dimensions of the social environment Relationships Personal Development Systems Maintenance and Change Additional qualities
Physical features Organizational policies and norms Suprapersonal (aggregate)
Social Regularities (Seidman)
Patterns of behavior that reveal roles and power in relationships
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSJ4IDOcT-k&feature=related
Environmental Psychology
Examines the influence of physical characteriscs of a setting on behavior.
Arose about the same time as CP
Foundsrs were primarily social psychologists interested in the physical env. And behavior Enviornmental Stressors Environmental Design
Understanding Community
What are the important communities in your life? Your extended family A campus organization A workplace An academic program A block, neighborhood, or town A religious congregation
Identify a time in your life when you felt you were excluded or treated unjustly by a community How did it happen How did/does it affect you
Psychological Sense of Community
A shared emotional bond, a shared identity, and mutal trust, caring and commitment
Sarason defined it as A feeling that members have of belonging, that
members matter to one another and to the group, and a sharied belife that members needs will be met through their commitment to be together
Elements of the PSC
Membership Boundaries Common symbols Emotional safety Personal investment Sense of belonging
Influence
Integration and Fulfillment of Needs
Shared Emotional Connection Celebrations, rituals, etc.
Narratives and PSC
Dominant Cultural Narratives
Community Narratives
Personal Stories
Putnam
In Bowling Alone (2000:288-290), Putnam identified four of the most important outcomes associated with dense, i.e., high stocks, of social capitol:
Allows citizens to resolve collective problems more easily…via increased cooperation
“greases” the wheels that allow communities to advance smoothly..via increased levels of trust and solidarity
Widens the collective awareness of the many ways in which our fates linked
Function as conduits for the flow of information that facilitates the achievement of individual and collective goals
Social vs. Other Types of Capital
Basically, four types of “capital” are to be found in society:
Physical capital: Refers to physical objects (e.g., plants, machinery, other equipment)
Financial capital: Refers to money and monetary instruments (e.g., stocks, bonds)
Human capital: Refers to properties of individuals--knowledge and skills--that are derived from
education, training and experience
Social capital: Refers to connections among people—social networks and the norms of
reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them The norms may be as simple as the norm of reciprocity between two friends or
complex and elaborately articulated doctrines such as Islam, Christianity or Confucianism
A society of many virtuous but isolated individuals is not necessarily rich in social capital (Putnam, 2000:19)
Anne Brodsky
Negative Psychological sense of community
Apathy about communities
Types of Communities
Locality-based Community
Relational Community
How spiritual communities improve in community life
Find meaning
Provide a sense of community Foster mutual influence Foster emotinal bonds
Provide opporutnies for community service
Especially valuable for oppressed
Challenge mainstream cultural forces Possible negative
Albee Equation
Stress + physical vulnerability
-----------------------------------------
Coping skills + support + self-esteem
WHAT IS STRESS? Stress is your mind and body’s
response or reaction to a real or imagined threat, event or change.
The threat, event or change are commonly called stressors. Stressors can be internal (thoughts, beliefs, attitudes or external (loss, tragedy, change).
Lazarus and Folkman’s Theory
Physiological component: Arousal, hormone secretion.
Emotional Component: Anxiety, fear, grief, resentment, excitement (if stress is from challenge).
Behavioral Component: Coping strategies (both behavioral and mental)—problem focused and/or emotion-focused.
The level of stress we experience depends mainly on the adequacy of our resources for coping and how much they will be drained by the stressful situation.
The Stress Response
EUSTRESS
Eustress or positive stress occurs when your level of stress is high enough to motivate you to move into action to get things accomplished.
DISTRESS Distress or negative stress occurs
when your level of stress is either too high or too low and your body and/or mind begin to respond negatively to the stressors.
INTERPRETING YOUR SCORE
Less than 150 points : relatively low stress level in
relation to life events
150 - 300 points : borderline range
Greater than 300 points : high stress in relation to life
events
Note: From Girdano, D.A., Everly, G. S., Jr., & Dusek, D. E. (1990). Controlling stress and tension (3rd edition), ENnglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Stressors Daily Hassles Life Transitions Ambient/Chronic Stressors Vicious Spirals
Stressors in Community Psych. Research Homelessness School Transitions Natural Disasters
Lazarus and Folkman’s Theory
Stressor
Primary Appraisal: Is Stressor Negative?
Can be negative if it involves harm or loss, threat, or challenge (chance to grow).
Secondary Appraisal: Can I Control the Situation?
If coping resources are adequate, then consider options: problem-focused or emotion-focused coping strategies.
Yes No
No Stress
Appraisal
Primary Appraisal-estimation of strength or intensity of stressor
Secondary-estimation of resources and coping options for responding BOTH are affected by personality factors
Locus of control
Reappraisal Reframing
Appraisal Matters more when resources are ample and threats are moderate Matters less when major stressor, and similarly appraised by man
Stress as
A physiological fight or flight response
A stressor (life event)
An imbalance of demands vs. resources
Ways of thinking about stress
Fight or flight—physiological response
Life events—something that happens to you
Life Events measures
Idea was to identify objective stress
42 events given various weightings Divorce of spouse 100 Divorce 73 Wife begins or stops work 26 Foerclosure of mortgage or loan 30 Vacation 12
Stress as an imbalance: when demands exceed resources
Characteristics of the person that make a difference
Priorities and goals
Values
Beliefs
Developmental history
Psychological, physical, and social resources for coping
Cognitive theory of stress
Key concepts Stress is contextual, it ivolves the person in a
particular environment or situation Stress is a dynamic process The process is influenced by
COGNITIVE APPRAISAL COPING
(Lazarus and Folkman)
Relational definition of stress
A situation is stress when You appraise it as a harm, threat, or challenge It is personally meaningful—it matters to you It taxes or exceeds your resources for coping, it is
not easy to deal with
Cognitive appraisal of stress
Cognitive appraisal
What’s happening, am I ok
What can I do
Does it matter (this is what makes the difference!)
Appraisals are tied to emotion
HARM OR LOSSS: Something>>>>>anger, sadness, guilt bad has happened
THREAT: Something bad >>>>>Worry, fear, anxiety
CHALLENGE: There’s an opportunity for mastery or gain but risk is involved>>>>excitement, eagerness, some anxiety
Stress in our lives
Everywhere
Varies in frequency
Varies in intensity
Varies in duration
SO, What is a “normal” level of stress
Stress? How is it managed
Coping enters the pictures
Coping refers to the thoughts and action that people use to manage demands that are appraised as stressful Coping changes as a situation unfolds Coping is multi-dimenstional
Emotion focused coping: Regulates distress emotions
Distancing (distracting yourself; putting problems out of your mind)
Humor
Seeking emotional support
Escape-avoidance (day dreaming, eating, using drugs)
Problem-focused oping: Manages problems causing distress
Instrumental coping
Problem-solving Logical linear
Information-gathering
Two major categories of coping:
Four general principles of effective coping
Focus on specific situation rather than total stressful context
Ask what made it stressful
Distinguish changeable and unchangeable aspects of situation
Fit the coping to the situation
Focus on a specific recent event that was stressful
Global situation An elderly parent or grandparent requires caregiving
Specific situation He forgot to take his meds on Wed. This matters to me!
#2 What made this stressful?
Danger to her health if she doesn’t take her meds
This could be the beginning of serious cognitive decline
How will I manage to care for him Worry, fear, anxiety!
#3 Identify what aspects of problems you can manage
What can be managed??
What has to be accepted???
Matching the coping to the situation
Controllable aspects Problem focused coping, gather information, select
strategy
Aspects that have to accepted Emotion focused coping “do relaxation exercises, seek
emotional support
Positive emotion and the stress process
Studies show that positive mood predicts longevity
Two years study of 2282 Mexican Americans aged 65-99 Direct rel. between positive affect at baseline and survival.
“Our results support the concept that positive emotions is diff. from absence of negative. It protects against declines in old age”
Nun Study Hand written autobiographies of 180 catholic nuns Scored for emotion
Negative emotions did not predict survival Positive emotions DID
Implications
Not PollyAnna
Not denial
Third form of coping Meaning-focused coping (generate positive emtions) Relinquish untenable goals Substitute new goals that are realistic and meaningful
Helps sustain a sense of control, purpose, and optimism Taking an ordinary event and infusing it with meaning Focus on what really matters (rearrange priorities)
Take a moment
Reflect on the last time in the past 2 days when you felt gratitude pleasure or some positive emotion
Think about what happened, who was there, what was happening
Share with a neighbor
What does thinking about the event do to your mood?
sometimes you can go too far!
GET SPIRITUAL
12. Meditate 13. Pray 14. Remember your purpose 15. Be Positive USE YOUR BODY AND MIND TOGETHER DEVELOP NEW SKILLS 21. Prioritize daily tasks 22. Learn something 23. Practice a hobby
Social Support
Generalized--ongoing support
Specific Support Encouragement Informational Tangible
Optimal Matching Emotional--uncontrollable Encouragement--job loss, work stress Trangible--financial strain
Some require multiple types
Coping Outcomes
Psychological or physical disorders
Thriving Going beyond previous levels
Resilience Maintaining or returning to previous level
Wellness The experience of positive outcomes (life
satisfaction, job satisfacation,
self esteem, academic achievement
Generalized and specific support
Generalized—relationships sustained over time Not tailored to one specific stressor Most clearly measured in term of perceived support
Specific—pertaining to a specific stressor Could include emotional encouragement, information
or advice, or tangible assistance (loaning money)
Social Support
We had another bad week with David. Yesterday was a horrible day. He could hardly talk, swallow or walk. He was drooling heavily. He couldn't be left alone, even for a second. Of course, Doug was away in Europe all week, but my family was here and at the hospital with us, keeping us company and helping me cope.
Again, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We definitely could not be getting through this without all of you!
Social Support
Sources of support
Relationships as stressors
Social Networks Dimensionality
Co-worker also a friend Jim and Pam Density
friends in network are friends with each other Reciprocity
The relationship context of support
Natural helpers, mentors
Relationships as stressors
Families and contexts Greater commitment, obligation Gender differences in helping styles
Mutual Help Groups
Voluntary associations of people who share some status that results in difficulties with which the group tries to deal Focal concern Peer Reciprocity Community narrative that embodies the experience
Online mutual help
Spirituality and Religion
Perhaps most useful at limits of resources and ability to cope
Can help make sense of the “incomprehensible, unfathomable, uncontrollable” (Pargament)
Personal Meaning, coping
Social Membership and support within a
congregation/community
5 concepts
Risk Additive/multiplicative
Protection Resilience Strengths
Assets
Thriving-survival, recovery, thriving, transforming one’s priorities, sense of self, and life roles
Prevention programs: do they work?
Durlak and Wells (1977) used meta-analysis to examine 177 primary prevention programs Primary P: 59 to 82% of paricipants surpass the
average perf. of control group Secondary P: 70% better
Cog. Beh. Approaches most effecitve Most effects for children 3-7
Prevention policy
Serving as congressional staff member or with legislative or excecutive branches of government
Research, writing, and giving testimoney regarding effective prevention/promotion interventions
Consulting with human service agencies
Staff positions in Advocacy organizations
Implementation
Very little consistency
Action research: putting theories and methods into practice, evaluating their impact using the results to refine future theory, method, and practice
Involves ongoing cycles of program analysis, innovation (intervention) design, field trials, and dissemination
The central question: How does the program operate when carried out by agents other than the developers. 4 Stages Experimental Technological Diffusional Widespread implementation
Characteristics of Prevention Innovations
Operator dependant
Context Dependent
Fragile, difficult to specify
Core (crucial) vs. adaptive components
Challenging (small wins-Weick) build a record of low-cost,opportunistic successes, which keep the
activists motivated and donot alarm any opposition."Big Win" strategies are very, very dangerous, because they consumetoo many resources, mobilize an opposition, and when they fail, theycompletely demoralize the activists.
Longitudinal Must become part of that history and culture, not dependent on a
charismatic leader
Enduring implementation
Carry out environmental reconnaissance
Ensure strong agreement among stakeholders
Ensure connection to core mission of host setting
Consider a coalition with related local settings
Develop strong, clear leadership
Describe in simple terms
Identify core elements and implement faithfull
Measure program implementation and goal attainment
Search for unintended effects
Plan for institutionalization
Establish external linkages with similar programs in other settings
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Close Relationships Help: Benefits of Marriage
Life expectancy Never married people have a lower life expectancy than
those who are married.
Other benefits Better health Higher income
High rates of poverty of single women and the elderly is in part due to them being single.