implications of psychological research 4 the economy

• One of the wider concerns for Psychology as well as science in general, is what the implications of research are for the economy

  By 'implications' we mean how does what we learn from the findings of psychological research influence, affect, benefit or devalue our financial prosperity
• Attachment research into the role of the father:

  • attachment research has come a considerable way since John Bowlby first asserted that a child can only ever form a secure and lasting monotropic bond with its mother
  • Thus, at the time Bowlby was writing, childcare was seen as a mother's responsibility, and hers alone, whilst the father was free to carry out his 'Natural' role as provider for the family
• More recent research suggests that the father may fulfil a qualitatively different role from the mother

  Crucially, this tole is no less valuable in the child's upbringing
• Psychological research has shown that both parents are equally capable of providing the emotional support necessary for healthy, psychological development, and this understanding may promote more flexible working arrangements within the family
• It is now the norm in lots of households that the mother is the higher earner and so works longer hours, whilst many couples share childcare responsibilities across the working week

  This means that modern parents are better equipped to maximise their income and contribute more effectively to the economy
• The development of treatments for mental disorders:

  • absence from work costs the economy as estimated £15billion a year
  • a recent government report revealed that a third of all absences are caused by mild to moderate mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress (The telegraph 2014)
  • psychological research into the causes and treatments of mental disorders therefore has an important role to play in supporting a healthy workforce
• Patients can be assessed quickly and gain swift access to treatment

  Many conditions are treated using psychotherapeutic drugs such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) for depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  Anti-anxiety drugs are used for stress conditions

  Referrals can also be made by GP's for psychotherapies such as systematic desensitisation
• Individuals can also engage in self-treatment using similar methods

  This means that, in many cases, people with mental disorders can manage their condition effectively and return to work

  Thus, the economic benefit of psychological research into disorders such as depression are considerable