ETHICS & MORALITY YR 12 RE/Term 1

John Powell Vision Therapy

All emotional and behavioural actions/reactions follow perceptions of an inner reality

Each of us has a unique highly personalised perception of reality All change in life comes from a change in personalised view of reality Misconceptions/distortions/crippling attitudes are mistaken beliefs, faulty

ideas, unrealistic & unhealthy attitudes (7 common crippling attitudes) Crippling attitudes-

1. have to please everyone2. feel obliged to give advice3. take excessive responsibility for others4. regard myself inferior to others5. run away from challenges due to fear of failure6. take myself too seriously7. must be the peacemakero HOWEVER, Seligman-Positive Psychology (1990s-present) suggests

after extensive research, that instead of using the term ‘crippling attitudes’ which Powell used, we now use the positive phrase (an empowering phrase) ‘Avoid Thinking Traps’ which are made up of the same list of crippling attitudes above but to which we also need to add:

1. Jumping to conclusions2. Mind reading- where we assume we know what another person

is thinking.

TASK 1

1. Choose three of the Thinking Traps listed above and in a paragraph explain why they are unhelpful to the person thinking them.______________________________________________________________

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2. Suggest positive phrases that a person can use to counter the three Thinking Traps you identified in your paragraph.______________________________________________________________

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Powell suggests that our lives are like a 4 layered of cake1. Basic Mindset- The plate upon which the four layers sit2. Bottom vision-who I am/who others are/meaning of life/the world/who

God is3. Next level emotions-different emotions people have (sad, happy etc

coming out of our perceptions)4. Next layer body- our emotions send signals to our body which

influence how our body will respond5. Top level behaviour-our vision determines the use of our

talents/relationships/overall personality

TASK 3Draw a four layered cake in the space provided and write within each layer where you think you are now, in this minute.

You may decorate the cake as you wish. It must be on a plate that depicts your current mindset and the external aspects that influence your basic mindset such as cultural and religious background.

Important Theorists for you to Know1. Powell-Vision therapy2. William James suggested that a person’s attitudes have profound

influence on health/changing inner attitudes can change outer aspects of our lives.

3. Frankl-logotherapy/meaning therapy…Frankl believed that people need to find meaning in their lives and shape their attitudes accordingly…..He believed that physical and emotional symptoms of illness can be result of unhealthy attitudes and that relief can be gained by changing the attitude rather than treating the symptom.

4. Freud-Freud was an Austrian neurologist who founded the psychoanalytic school of psychiatry- known for his theories of the unconscious mind & defense mechanism of repression, and for creating the clinical practice of psychoanalysis. He believed that people were driven by the Id, the Ego and the Super Ego.

TASK 4Find definitions for the ID, EGO and SUPER EGO based upon Freud’s understanding.

ID:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EGO:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SUPER EGO:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHALLENGE QUESTION:

Did Freud think that a change in attitude was capable of changing a person’s degree of happiness or was it a clinical reality?

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5. Ellis (1913-2007)- Ellis was considered to be the founder of Rational Emotive Behavior (REBT) in 1955. REBT employs the ‘ABC framework’ — depicted in the figure below — to clarify the relationship between activating events (A); our beliefs about them (B); and the cognitive, emotional or behavioural consequences of our beliefs (C). Therapy. REBT is the same as ABC.

In the 21st century ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) helps cultivate health vitality and wellbeing through mindfulness and values. The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential for a rich, full and meaningful life. (Dr Russ Harris= Australia ‘The Happiness Trap’)

TASK 5As a class we will view episode 1 of Making Australia Happy on clickview. Your homework will be to view episode 2 in study and we will view episode three in class and explore the findings through class discussion. You will also be asked to respond to a discussion board based upon your viewing and discussion. Make notes on the PMI below as you view the programs.

PLUS MINUS INTERESTING

6. Seligman-Positive Psychology (1990s-present) identified ways in which people could combat Thinking Traps.

‘Detecting Icebergs’= identify deep beliefs and core values that fuel out of proportion emotion

Use Character Strengths-identify character strengths in yourself and in others to build on the best of yourself and others (24 character strengths)

SELIGMAN would suggest that there are six core virtues.

These core values engender a sense of meaning and happiness.

Which in turn contributes to a person’s appreciation of a

Positive Psychology (1990s Martin Seligman) is a scientific study of what goes right in life from birth to death and everything in between and moves away from the deficit model in psychology which previously dominated..

o It is the study of ‘optimal functioning’ not just ‘happiology’o It regards both good and bad about life as genuine o Positive Psychology can be taught. Just like William James suggests,

Seligman believes that wellbeing is teachable and that deliberately increasing a sense of wellbeing and can fight depression.

Seligman suggests that there are three pillars of Positive Psychology

1. Positive subjective experiences (happiness/pleasure/fulfilment)2. Positive individual traits (strengths/talents/interests/values)3. Positive institution

(families/schools/businesses/communities/societies)

TASK 6Draw three pillars and within each pillar write

1. What experiences give you pleasure/fulfilment and happiness2. What your strengths, values and interests and talents are.3. What positive institutions you belong to are. Note what benefit each bring you.

Positive Interventions e.g. ATC (Activating Focus-Thoughts-Consequences)-this one now the preferred one as it uses positive language in comparison to Ellis’ deficit term adversity see the diagram below notes on Ellis.