Within the educational system the classroom atmosphere plays an important role for students and their learning process and can be compromised by the emotional or psychological instability of the educator. An educator with personal psychological problems can become a problem to all those associated with him or her. There are a variety of contributing factors of mental health problems; burnout, mental stability, and self-care, it is because of these factors that it is vital that measures are created to assist teachers with psychological problems which in turn will lead to a positive learning environment. Existing literature states that less than one third of those who experience psychological problems seek help from a mental health professional …show more content…
(Andrews, Issakidis, & Carter, 2001). Those who do, choose to seek services as a last resort (Hinson & Swanson, 1993; Lin, 2002), after trying to fix the situation on their own or with the help of individuals close to them (Wills, 1992). The negative perceptions of seeking psychological help continue despite research stating that seeking psychological services can often be helpful and that the consequences for not seeking help can often be severe (see Bergin & Garfield, 1994). As a result, researchers suggest that there be a better understanding of the individual differences that contribute to an individual’s decision to seek help in order to aid those who need services (Komiya, Good, & Sherrod, 2000). Research goes on to show a correlation between an individual’s attachment style and their behaviors to seek help.
Attachment schemes are activated when a person is under stress (Bowlby, 1973), and the initiation of an insecure attachment style has been suggested to either inhibit an individual from seeking appropriate help (Florian, Mikulincer, & Bucholtz, 1995; Hazan & Shaver, 1987; Kobak & Sceery, 1988) or interfering with their ability to use the help when it is present (Coble, Gantt, & Mallinckrodt, 1996). Individuals with attachment issues are predisposed to view others as unreliable or indifferent which in turn affect their use of social support (Wallace & Vaux, 1993). Sarason, Pierce, and Sarason, (1990), state that an example of this is can be seen between a child and their relationship with early caregivers, which affect the expectations individuals have regarding the type of support they would receive if they sought help in their time of need. These expectations can then lead individuals who have had bad experiences to avoid disclosing problems to others. Insecure attachments have been shown to lead to less support-seeking behavior (DeFronzo, Panzarella, & Butler, 2001; Florian et al., 1995; Hazan & Shaver, 1987; Kobak & Sceery, 1988), mostly during times of stress (Mikulincer, Florian, & Weller, 1993) or when anxiety levels are high (Simpson, Rholes, & Nelligan,
1992). The purpose of this thesis is to provide an understanding of the importance of mental health services for teachers. An analysis from a survey of teachers in The Bahamas will be presented, which will expand current knowledge about teachers and the different aspects of mental health options available to them. Specifically, results found will provide information about teachers’ knowledge and willingness to use psychological help using the Adult Attachment Scale (Collins and Read,1990), awareness using the Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-short form (Fischer & Farina, 1995) and comfort levels in dealing with personal mental health, ways in which teachers most often use such resources in dealing with personal mental health, and support programs in helping them so they in turn can fulfil their role as well as understanding the importance of addressing mental health in the educational system.
The first topic that came up in the interview relates to idea of attachment theory. Attachment theory explains the human’s way of relating to a caregiver and receives an attachment figures relating to the parent, and children. In addition, the concept explains the confidence and ability for a child to free explore their environment with a place to seek support, protection, and comfort in times of distress (Levy, Ellison, Scott, and Bernecker, 2010, p. 193). Within attachment theory explains different types of attachment styles that children experience during early childhood. These attachment styles affect the relationships they continue to build in adulthood. The best attachment style happens when the parent is attuned to the child during his or her early childhood called secure attachment (Reyes, 2010, p. 174). In order for complete secure attachment, the child needs to feel safe, seen, and soothed. Any relationship that deviates from this model represents the anxious or insecure attachment. This means that parents or caregivers are inconsistently responsive to the children. Children who have these parents are usually confused and insecure. Some children experience a dismissive attachment where they
In the United States alone, 57.7 million individuals suffer from mental illness. These illnesses range anywhere from mood disorders to anxiety disorders or to personality disorders and so on (The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America). 18 to 25 year olds make up about 30% of these individuals alone (Survey Finds Many Living with Mental Illness Go Without Treatment). These individuals require care from medication to psychiatry or even to confinement. However, of these 57.7 million individuals with mental illness, studies have found that less than one in three of these individuals receive proper treatment (Studies Say Mental Illness Too Often Goes Untreated).
Because of this, there has been a terrifying increase of the need of mental health professionals over the past 70 years. The article states that “the majority of patients in therapy do not warrant a psychiatric diagnosis” meaning problems that used to be considered normal or easy to handle are now being approached by such professionals.
For example, Magai & Passman (1997) discovered a strong relationship between secure attachments and emotional well-being of middle aged adults, which extends to individuals later in life. Understanding the role of attachment and its psychosocial impact during later life is an important area that needs further research. In regards to TMT, close relationships offer security, protection, and give meaning to life (Mikulincer, Florian, & Hirschberger, 2003).
Admittedly, many psychologists define attachment as an enduring, affectionate bond that one person forms between himself and another person throughout life. Mary Ainsworth provided the most famous research: strange situation, offering explanations of individual differences in attachment. However, in this Adult Attachment Style questionnaire that I took, I found many factors relevant to attachment as defined in the textbook. For example, in the textbook, it defines attachment based on Ainsworth research, the strange situation by observing attachment forms between mother and infants. They are described in four attachment styles: securely attached, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant, and insecure disorganized.
Attachment is described as the close emotional bond between two people and Attachment Theory (AT) generally concentrates on the early bonds in a person’s development as well as the effects that these bonds have on later socio-emotional development. While emphasis on attachment as an antecedent for future behavior and personality has decreased somewhat in recent years, it is interesting to note that the DSM IV-TR includes a “reactive attachment disorder” which it states is caused when extreme circumstances prevent proper attachment development.
Infant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial to the child’s survival (BOOK). A mother’s response to her child will yield either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “more sensitively and responsively to the child’s distress” establish a secure bond faster than “parents of insecure children”. (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of the attachment has “profound implications for the child’s feelings of security and capacity to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply stated, a positive early attachment will likely yield positive physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK)
Weinfield, N., Sroufe, L., Egeland, B., & Carlson, E. (2008). Individual differences in infant-caregiver attachment: Conceptual and empirical aspects of security. In J. Cassidy, P. Shaver (Eds.). Handbook of Attachment: Theory, research, and clinical application (2nd ed.) (pp. 78-101). New York, NY US: Guilford Press.
This pattern is also referred to as ambivalent attachment pattern. This pattern of attachment can be observed by the use of two parameters. One of the parameters is the child exploring ability and will. In this attachment pattern, the child does not explore much even when the caregiver is around the child. The other parameter is the behaviour of the child towards strangers. The child extremely gets worried in the presence of strangers and becomes highly distressed compared to a child with secure attachment. Resistant attachment in a child develops because of lack predictable response by the caregiver and is always seen as a strategic pattern for a child to maintain the availability of the caregiver through the display of helplessness and anger by a child. When a child displays anxious attachment patterns, it is an indication that the child has experienced an abusive childhood experience from the caregiver. Research has indicated that children who have anxious-resistance attachment always find it difficult to develop and maintain intimate relationships in their adult lives (Newton,
Attachment theory is the idea that a child needs to form a close relationship with at least one primary caregiver. The theory proved that attachment is necessary to ensure successful social and emotional development in an infant. It is critical for this to occur in the child’s early infant years. However, failed to prove that this nurturing can only be given by a mother (Birns, 1999, p. 13). Many aspects of this theory grew out of psychoanalyst, John Bowlby’s research. There are several other factors that needed to be taken into account before the social worker reached a conclusion; such as issues surrounding poverty, social class and temperament. These factors, as well as an explanation of insecure attachment will be further explored in this paper.
“Attachment is as essential for the child’s psychological well-being as food is for physical health,” claimed Bowlby, B (2001, p.54). Bowlby claimed in this statement that attachment is a necessary thing that a child needs in order to develop healthily. There is evidence from other theorists who support Bowlby’s theory of attachment, such as Harlow, whose approach is based upon a caregiver’s sensitivity and attachment. Ainsworth is another theorist whose research supports Bowlby’s theory of attachment. In her strange situation study, she tested for the attachment types and what effects they had on a child’s behaviour.
During the first few stages of both theories, we see challenges in the development of the child and we also see challenges that a child might face during some, if not all forms of attachment theory. For example, a parent ignoring the child and speaking to them in a negative manner during insecure-avoidant attachment can be challenging for a child and lead to insecurities and the feeling of not being loved and/or wanted. Additionally, the theme of independence is seen throughout both theories and can also be related specifically to insecure-avoidant attachment where the child does not focus his or her attention on the parents but instead looks to the outside world for assistance. Both theories, as well as attachment theory, has an impact on childhood
In this era of globalization, news reporting is no longer just a means of communications, but it has also developed into a tool for change. Prominent journalists like Julian Assange, Nick Davies, Sir Charles Wheeler and many more has changed the landscape and outcomes of information, war and news reporting itself. But Martin Bell has challenged the fundamentals of journalism that is to be balanced and impartial with what he calls ‘Journalism of Attachment’. He even coined the phrase, ‘bystanders’ journalism’ for continuing the tradition of being distant and detached (Bell 1997), which he criticizes “for focusing with the circumstances of violence, such as military formations, weapons, strategies, maneuvers and tactics” (Gilboa 2009, p. 99). Therefore it is the aim of this essay to explain whether it is ethical for reporters to practice what Martin Bell calls the Journalism of Attachment by evaluating its major points and its counterarguments, and assessing other notions of journalism such as peace journalism.
Students suffering emotional and behavioral disorders can benefit from a variety of classroom accommodations that may help lessen the severity of their behaviors and/or reactions to external stimuli. Stress reduction is also extremely important for children suffering emotional and behavioral disorders as it could help them relax, which would contribute to diminishing such...
In this paper I am going to critically discuss how parental involvement in children's education does make a positive difference to pupils' achievement. I will be using research in differing trustworthy media such as literature, journals and government documents to strengthen my discussion.