Psychology for Nurses

1. Introduction to Psychology 1
Meaning of Behavior 1 History and Origin of Science of Psychology 1
Definitions of Psychology 3 Nature of Subject Psychology 4
Scope of Psychology 4 Relevance to Nursing 8 Methods of
Psychology 10
2. Biology of Behavior 17
Body-mind Relationship—Modulation Process in Health and Illness 17
Genetics and Behavior: Heredity and Environment 18 Brain and Behavior:
Nervous System, Neurons and Synapse 22 Nervous System 27
Structure of Mind 32 ID, Ego and Superego 33
3. Cognitive Processes 37
Attention 37 Alterations in Attention (Distraction) 40
Sensation 41 Sensory Experience/Process 41 General
Characteristics of Sensation 41 Types of Sensation and Sensory Disorders
(Normal and Abnormal) 42 Perception 43 Learning 47 Laws of
Learning 52 Theories of Learning 53 Transfer of Learning 64
Memory 69 Thinking 79 Intelligence 89 Aptitude 92
Alterations in Cognitive Processes 98 Applications in Nursing
Profession 102
4. Motivation and Emotional Processes 118
Needs 118 Drives 119 Incentives 120 Motives 120
Motives and Behavior 127 Frustration 127 Conflict 128
Resolution of Frustration and Conflict 129 Emotions and Stress 130
Components of Emotion 130 Changes in Emotional Reactions 131
Theories of Emotion 132 Emotional Adjustments 135 Emotions in
Health and Illness 135 Stress 136 Stressors 136 Stress Cycle 137
Effects of Stress 138 Adaptation to Stress 138 Coping with
Stress 141 Attitude 143 Attitudinal Change 146 Habit 147
Psychometric Assessment of Motivation, Emotions and Attitudes 147
Alterations in Emotions during Illness 149 Nursing Implications of
Motives 150 Nursing Implications of Emotions 151 Attitude during
Health and Illness 151 Nursing Implications of Attitude (Importance of
Positive Attitude for a Nurse) 152 Nursing Implications for Forming Good
Habits (Importance of Good Habit Formation for the Nurse) 154
5. Personality, Will and Character 161
Topography of Personality 161 Types of Personality 161 Theories
of Personality Development 162 Psychoanalytic Theory 163 Theory of
Psychosocial Development 167 Humanistic Approach 167 Trait and
Contents
xviii Psychology for Nurses
Type Theories of Personality 169 Learning Theories of Personality 172
Will 173 Character 173 Psychometric Assessment of
Personality 174 Alterations in Personality due to Illness 177
Alterations in Personality due to Personality Disorders 179
Applications 180 Nursing Implications of Will and Character 181
6. Developmental Psychology 186
Psychology of People at Different Ages from Infancy to Old Age 186
Psychology of Vulnerable Individuals 193
7. Mental Hygiene and Mental Health 201
Mental Hygiene 201 Mental Health 201 Concepts of Mental
Hygiene 201 Concepts of Mental Health—Jahoda (1958) 202
Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy Person 202 Warning Signs of Poor
Mental Health 203 Promotive and Preventive Mental Health Strategies 203
Mental Health Services 206 Ego Defence Mechanisms and
Implications 208 Personal and Social Adjustment 211 Guidance and
Counseling 212 Counseling 214
8. Psychological Assessment and Tests 223
Types of Psychological Tests 223 Development of Psychological
Tests 224 Characteristics of Psychological Tests 224 Principles of
Psychological Tests 225 Uses of Psychological Tests 225 Limitations of
Psychological Tests 226 Interpretation of Psychological Tests 226
Role of a Nurse in Psychological Assessment 226
9. Individual Differences 228
Meaning of Individual Differences 228 Types of Individual
Differences 228 Causes of Individual Differences 229 Individual
Differences in Health and Illness 230 Nursing Implications of Individual
Differences 230
Glossary 233
Bibliography 245
Index 247