subject: Psychology Of Handicap - Psychology,Social Psychology And Handicap [print this page] Psychology Of Handicap - Psychology,Social Psychology And Handicap
The tittle implies a three- in -one combination of issues namely psychology, social psychology,
and handicap. An insight into these concepts would enhance understanding
Pschology
This field of study has attracted so many definitions as there are authorities. A conscious study of the discipline dated back so many centuries.
"Psychology is the science of human and animal behaviour. It also includes the application
of this science to find solutionsto problems of man". Morgan King and Robinson { 1978}.
William James {1890} in Atkinson and Atkinson {1983} viewed psychology as a science of mental life both of its phenomena and of their condition phenomena such as feelings, desires, cognition,resonning, decisions and the like.
As numerous as the definitions are, all of them pointed at psychology as scientific endevour to understand human behaviour at any given point in time, it reads indiviual mind,behaviours and attitude. Practitioners of this art include the clinical, educational, counseling, physiological, industrial, socia/psychologists among others.
Handicap
A handicap is an interference obstruction to normal growth,development and/or educational progress. This means a handicap person cannot do certain things by ordinary
methods or in the ordinary time available. In the widest sense, handicap is caused by some
continuing defect or impairment of the body,intellect or personality {Bowley & Gardner {1980} .
This term, to David Thomas {1982} refers to a term representing The more profound effects of impairment and disabilities which implicate the whole person and not just selective incapabilities . It is an impairment or capability retarding, disturbing or adversly affecting normal growth,development or adjustment to life. Simply put, it represents a given measure of disability creating a noticeable margin between actual achievement {performance} and the expected level of attainment.
The various forms of exceptionality include visual, orthopaedic, {physical}, auditory,speech impairment. Others are mental retardation, learning disability, giftedness andtalentedness.
HANDICAP AT A GLANCE
Physical Handicap
It refers to one or more form of physical deformity preventing the concerned from activities which involve much of motor co-ordination. Such conditions do manifest through crippling,malformation,chronic health problem involving the heart,spine,arm,leg and so on.
Auditory Handicap
It is a malfunctioningof the auditory mechanism due to many factors. In some cases the auditory mecanism can be totally dead,in this case it is deafness. This condition is a hidden one, it is a problem which reduces hearing acuity below the acceptable hearing level.
In short auditory handicap refers to an experience of difficulty in the process of hearing.
Speech And Language handicap
This is a manifestation of the form of difficulty or another in the speech production process. Speech disorder is generically used to refer to problems of articulation,{speech sound production} voice and fluency {rhythm} while language handicap covers disorders of comprehending or verbalizing,expressing the symbols and grammatical rules of language."Communication handicap is additional generic term covering any speech or language disorder either singly or combined"
Some of the problem here include ommission,substitution,addition of sounds,stuttering among others.
Visual Handdicap
This condition is shown through visual problems such as total blindness, low vision, and partial sightedness. It also refers to any difficulty which is experienced in the process of visual perception.
Learning Disability
This handicap manifests through an academic performance which is far below what a person is capable of doing,all things being equal. It shows a marked difference between the estimated intellectual potentials and the actual level of performance.
Mental Retardation
This handicap is a sub-average intellectual functioning originating during developmental period with the condition reflecting in impairment in adapture behaviour. For a person to be so labelled mentally retarded, he or she must have an incomplete mental development which will be so great to the extent of not being able to exust or control himself independetly except under supervision.
Giftedness And Talentedness
Giftedness is the possession of excess ability in various fields of human endeavour based on aptitude which is a product of very high intelligence.It makes its revelation through superior, latent abilities. Mental achievements,ingenuity,creativity,visible expression of feelings,public performances,motor skills and so on are forms of expression of giftedness and talentedness.
For further clarification,giftedness/talentedness is an aptitude which do manifest with a remarkable performance in any or more of the following areas:
