Lt Cdr Habib

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Military Psychology

Role of a Psychologist

Naval Training System

3 Basic Concepts :

INTRODUCTION

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AIM

Apprise you about the role of a psychologist

in naval training system

SEQUENCE

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Military Psychology

Role of a Psychologist

Potential Contributions to Training System

MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY

Military psychology is the research, design and application of psychological theories and empirical data towards understanding, predicting and countering behaviours either in war or in peace e.g. training.

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It is derived from different psychology disciplines into a tool used by the military, to enable the troops to better survive the stresses of war and training.

Cont.

MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY

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These stresses include PTSD, guilt, family difficulties, nightmares, flashbacks, fatigue, anxiety, frustration, depression etc.Military Psychologist applies different approaches from counselling to therapies in order to treat the stress and psychological trauma.

Post-Traumatic Disorder Early traumatic experience Military combat Training Casualty Natural disasters Terrorist incidents Fatal accidents Violent personal assaults e.g. rape

ROLE OF A PSYCHOLOGIST

Primary RoleProvides specialized aid to personnel (sailors, officers), their families, and the victims of the events.

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Secondary Role

Study the dynamics of behaviour

Train personnel Consult on hostage negotiations, Conflict resolution, peace keeping etc.

Cont.

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Tertiary Role Fitness for Duty Evaluations, especially in high risk and high reliability occupations.

Maximizes the human capital investment in the workplace by optimizing retention of the talents of active and prospective service men.

Minimizing risk in many areas including violence, mishap, and injury potential.

ROLE OF A PSYCHOLOGIST

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

9Cont.

Guidance

Counselling

Guidance and Counselling are twin concepts. Emerged as essential elements in every training & educational activity. Not synonymous terms.

Guidance means to indicate, point out, show the way, lead out & direct. Broader and comprehensive. Preventive.

Counselling is a part of guidance. A specialized service of guidance. It is the process of helping the individuals learn more about themselves, their presents & their possible future situation to make a substantial contribution to the society. In-depth and narrow. Remedial.

Providing Psychological Assistance

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

10Cont.

Guidance

Counselling

Providing Psychological Assistance

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

11Cont.

Therapy

Techniques to help people deal with psychological or interpersonal problems.

Focus on changing behavior.

Therapy approaches are related to the main theoretical perspectives and beliefs about root of behavior.

Providing Psychological Assistance

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

12Cont.

Providing Psychological Assistance

Two broad forms of treatment:

Psychotherapy: Use of psychological principles/ techniques to treat mental health disorders or interpersonal problems; assumes root is psychological.

Biological therapy: Use of medications or other medical interventions to treat problems; assumes root is biological.

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

13Cont.

Providing Psychological Assistance

When Psychotherapy is Needed:

Mental health disorder

Maladaptive or interfering behaviour

Coping with general life problems (relationship issues)

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

14Cont.

Providing Psychological Assistance

Psychoanalysis (Psychotherapy) Free Association Dream Analysis Interpretation Resistance Transference

Humanistic Therapy

Client-centered TherapyBehaviour Therapy

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive-behaviour Therapy

Drug Therapy

Dream Analysis : Dreams reveal unconscious urges symbolically. Psychoanalyst traces latent (true meaning) content of dreams. Transference : Form of projection. Transferring feelings and emotions towards positive event.

Resistance : Avoidance or denial of certain topics or issues. Interpretation : Opinion about themes/issues influencing client’s behaviorFree Association : Talks about subject without censoring. Unconscious urges are eventually revealed. Focuses less on unconscious and more on conscious actions. Person needs supportive environment to self-explore and heal.Focus comes from person or client. Therapists facilitate self-awareness and personal growth through: Empathy, Genuineness, and Unconditional positive regard.Behavior therapy focuses on changing current behaviors; also called behavior modification. Two categories of treatment: Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning

Change maladaptive patterns of thinking and perceiving. Replace with more adaptive patternsCognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) combines behavior and cognitive therapy. Highly effective in treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse.Medications used to treat mental health problems. Not a cure, but can reduce symptoms. Stabilizes symptoms so psychological issues can be addressed.

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

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Change the Perspective!

Activating Event

(A)

Belief Consequence (Behavioural /

Emotional)

Dispute New Effect

Cognitive Restructuring

(B)

(E)(D)

(C)

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRG

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Effective Psychotherapy:

Answers are not simple or straightforward.

Many factors related to effectiveness.

Eclectic, integrated and diverse approach is required.

CONCLUSION

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Psychology is the science of behaviour and mental process.

Military psychology is derived from many psychological

principles and used in war and peace.

Military psychologist provides psychological assistance in

war and training where high risks are involved and reliability is

indispensable.

Uses of therapy. Cognitive-behaviour therapy.

Many factors related to effectiveness.

Eclectic, integrated and diverse approach is required.

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Any?