Bhatia and Craig's Elements of Psychology and Mental Hygiene for Nurses in India

1. The Nature and Scope of Psychology
History and origin of the science of psychology – Meaning and definitions of psychology – Psychology as a Science – Behaviour – Relation of psychology to other fields of study – Scope of psychology – Branches of psychology –Applied psychology – Scope of psychology with special relevance to nursing – Psychology and the art of effective nursing

2. Methods of Psychology
The introspective method – The observational method – The experimental method – The clinical or case study method – The survey method – The genetic or developmental method – Testing method

3. The Mind and Body–Mind Relationship
The mind – The conscious, preconscious and unconscious – Analysis of conscious mental phenomena – Altered states of consciousness – the Body–mind relationship – Effect of the body on mental functioning – Effect of the mind on bodily functions – Modulation process in health and illness – Relevance of body–mind relationship to nursing

4. Genetics and Behaviour
Genetics – Heredity – Principles of heredity – Genetic disorders – Environment – Influence of heredity and the environment – Personality and temperament – Interaction of heredity and environment – Individual differences

5. The Nervous System
Parts of the nervous system – The central nervous system – The peripheral nervous system –What nurses should know about the nervous system in illness – Conditions which can affect the nervous system

6. The Sense Organs, Muscles and Glands
The sense organs – Sensory disorders and defects – Psychology of sensation – Properties of Sensations – Common sensory abnormalities – Sensory processes: the patient and the nurse – The muscles – Nursing and the effect of illness on muscles – The glands – What nurses should know about glands.

7. Attention and Perception

Attention – Meaning and definition of attention – Characteristics of attention – Determinants of attention –Varieties of attention – Duration and degree of attention –– Alterations in attention – Perception – Meaning of perception – Factors affecting perception – Principles of perception – Errors in perception – Relevance of attention and perception for nurses

8. Learning
The nature of learning – Factors affecting learning – Factors related to the learner – External factors that influence learning – Factors related to method of learning – Process of learning – Types of learning – Modes of learning – Learning by trial and error – Laws of learning – Learning by insight –Learning by observation –Learning by conditioning –Transfer of learning – Theories of transfer of learning – Types of transfer – Habits – Definition and characteristics of habits – Basis of habit formation – Types of habits – What nurses should know about habits – Skills – Acquiring skills – Other kinds of skills – Advantages of skills – Study habits –Studying for examinations – Importance of knowing about learning for nurses

9. Memory
Memory process – Theories of memory – Methods of measuring memory – Factors influencing memory – Individual factors – Method of memorisation or improving memory/memory training – Development of memory – Pathology of memory – Forgetting – Causes of Forgetting –Relevance to nursing

10. Thinking
Nature of thinking – Elements of thinking – Concepts – Levels of thinking – Development of thinking – Errors in thinking – Types of thinking – Controlled vs free thinking – Convergent vs divergent thinking – Concrete vs abstract thinking – Critical thinking – Creative thinking – Problem solving – Process of problem solving – Obstacles to problem solving – Reasoning – Language comprehension – Relationship with language and communication – Listening skills – Importance of thinking skills for nurses

11. Intelligence and Aptitude
What is intelligence? – Uses of intelligence – Types of intelligence – Theories of intelligence – Individual differences in intelligence – Mental age and IQ – Interpretation of results – Classification of individuals on the basis of intelligence – Mental retardation – Giftedness – Assessment of intelligence – Types of intelligence tests – Uses of intelligence tests – Aptitude – Meaning of aptitude – Types of aptitude and aptitude tests – Relevance of intelligence and aptitude for nurses – Psychometric Assessment of Cognitive Functions

12. Motivation
Motivation: meaning and related concepts – Types of mtivation –Motivational cycle – Characterisitics of motivation – Motives and behaviour –Classification of motives – Theories of motivation – Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – McCleeland’s theory of motivation – Freud’s theory of motivation – Relevance of motivation for nurses

13. Frustration and Conflict
What is frustration? –Sources of frustration – Is frustration always desirable? – How to deal with frustrations – Task-oriented methods – Conflict – Types of conflict – Conflict resolution – Methods of conflict resolution – Nurses and conflict management

14. Emotions and Stress
Emotions – Definitions and meaning – Components of emotion – Characteristics of emotions –External and internal changes in emotional reactions – Theories of emotions – Emotional situations – Emotional intelligence – Emotional adjustment –Emotions in health and illness – Assessment of emotions –Tools to assess expressive reactions – Alterations in emotions – Relevance of studying about emotions for nurses – Control of emotions – Stress –Definition and meaning – Stressors – Classification of stressors – Stressors across lifespan development –The stress cycle –Effects of stress – Adaptation – General adaptation syndrome – Coping – Types of coping strategies – Nursing implications of stress and coping – Stress management for nurses

15. Attitudes, Will and Character
Meaning and nature of attitude – Functions of attitude – Development of attitude – Learning of attitudes in the family – Personal experience – Social influences – Factual knowledge and mass media – Behaviour and attitudes – Change of attitude – Assessment of attitudes – Relevance of attitudes for nurses – Will or voluntary action – Factors and conditions conducive to will – Character

16. Personality
The nature of personality – Theories of personality – Trait theories of personality – Type theories of personality – Psychoanalytic theories of personality – Neo-Freudian approaches –Factors influencing personality – Biological factors – Environmental or social factors – Psychological factors – Assessment of personality – Personality and behavioural changes during illness – Alterations in personality – Relevance of personality for nurses – Personality traits required for nurses – Understanding the personality of patients

17. Developmental Psychology
Principles of development – Psychology of people at different ages – What nurses should know about people of different ages in health and in illness

18. Psychology of Vulnerable Individuals
Psychology of the challenged – Types of disability – Effects of disability – Nursing relevance – Psychology of women – Women and health – Women and infertility – Violence against women – Nursing relevance – Dealing with alcoholics and their families – Post-traumatic stress disorder – Psychology of the sick and ill – How patients react to chronic illness – Effects of illness and hospitalisation – Implications for nursing – The psychology of groups – Characteristics of a group – Types of groups – Family as a social group – Social groups – Professional groups – Importance of groups in health and illness – How the group influences individual behaviour – Leadership in groups – Group morale – Relevance of group psychology for nurses

19. Mental Health and Mental Hygiene
The concept of mental health – Characterisitcs of a mentally healthy individual – Foundations of mental health – Warning signs of poor mental health – The concept of mental hygiene – Promotive and preventive mental health strategies and services – Mental health and mental hygiene across an individual’s lifespan –Mental hygiene in the prenatal period –Mental hygiene in infancy – Mental hygiene in early childhood – Mental hygiene in later childhood – Mental hygiene in adolescence – Mental hygiene in adulthood – Mental hygiene in old age – Role of nurses in the promotion of mental health and in the prevention of problems

20. Ego defence Mechanisms
Definition of ego defence mechanisms –Types of defence mechanisms – Adjustment and maladjustment – Causes of maladjustment – Social and personal adjustment – Relevance of adjustment to nursing

21. Mental Illness–Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
The nature of mental illness or disorder – General symptoms of mental illness – General causes of mental illness – Heredity – Organic causes – Other biological causes – Epochal crisis –Psychological or psychogenic factors in mental illness – Socio-cultural and socio-economic factors – Classification and description of mental illnesses –Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders – Psychoses – Mood disorders – Personality disorders– Treatment of the mentally ill – Nursing relevance

22. Guidance and Counselling
Guidance: definition and meaning – Principles of guidance – Types of guidance services – Difference between guidance and counselling – Counselling: definition and meaning – Couselling: goals and outcomes – Principles of Counselling – Process of counselling– Counsellor skills – Characteristics of a counsellor – Types of counselling – Relevance of counselling for nurses

23. Psychological Assessments and Tests
Principles or characteristics of psychological tests – Test development – Types of test – Tools used in studying behaviour – Uses of psychological tests – Interpretation of tests – Limitations of tests – Role of the nurse in psychological assessment
Further Reading
Model Examination Papers
Index