Psychology of crisis WF-ZPS-KR-1
A crisis can refer to any situation in which the individual perceives a sudden loss of his or her ability to use effective problem – solving and coping skills. A numer of events of circumstances can be considered a crisis: life – threating situations, sexual assault or other criminal victimization, medical illness, mental illness, thought of suicide or homicide and loss or drastic changes in relationships (death of a loved one or divorce).
A personal crisis occurs when an individuals ability to cope is exceeded. Crises can be triggered by a wide range of situations including sudden change in medical emergencies, long-term illness, social or familiar turmoil.
A person going though a crisis experiences a state of mental disequilibrium, in which the ego struggles to balance both internal and external demands. Various coping mechanisms include: high emotions (crying, physical withdrawal), defence mechanisms (denial, represion), making rash decision, acting out, putting things on hold.
Crisis intervention: a typical crisis intervention progres though several phases. It begins with an assesment of what happened during the crisis and the individual’s responses to it. An individual’s reaction to a crisis can include: emotional, mental, physical, behvioral. Assessment of the individual’s potential for suicide and/or homicide i salso conducted. Also, information about the individual’s strenghts, coping skills and social suport networks is obtained. Crisis intervention refers to the methods use to offer immediate, short-term help to individuals who experience an event that produces emotional, mental, physical and behavioral disstressor problems.
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Learning outcomes
The subject is dealing with a crisis and crisis interventions. Crisis intervention is an important and crucial area of the mental health. The topics of lectures are designed to address the spectrum of situations found among crisis setting and the strategies in Crisis Interventions.
After finishing the course the student obtain knowledge about the signs of coming crises and methods of helping people in this sytuation
Assessment criteria
Test exam
Bibliography
Aleksander H. (2001). Doświadczenie żałoby. Poznań: W Drodze.
Badura-Madej W, Dobrzyńska – Mesterhazy A. (2000). Przemoc w rodzinie. Interwencja kryzysowa i psychoterapia. Kraków: wyd. UJ.
Baumeister RF. (2001) Próżność i przemoc. Świat Nauki. 6, 66-70.
De Leo D. (2002). Struggling Against Suicide. The Need for Integrative Approach. Crisis, 1, 23-31.
Ghiligieri MP. (2001). Ciemna strona człowieka. Warszawa: Cis, Wyd. WAB.
Gierowski K, Jaśkiewicz-Obydzińska T. (2002). Zabójcy i ich ofiary. Kraków: Instytut Ekspertyz Sądowych.
Heitzman J. (2002). Stres w etiologii przestępstw agresywnych. Kraków: Wyd. UJ.
Additional information
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