Loading...

Question

Psychology

Elise is in her mid-thirties and newly married. She moved with her husband to a new state to support his career that required him to relocate. She does not know anyone in her new town and the two want to start a family. Elise misses her family, but wants to make her marriage work. She finds herself having bouts of anxiety whereby she has trouble eating and sleeping. Her husband is very busy with his new job and she is trying to find a job of her own. When Elise goes to interviews, she finds that her heart starts racing and she becomes very nervous that she will not be able to find employment. She also has not been able to conceive and is wondering if she might have trouble getting pregnant. The more she worries about making their marriage work, the more her anxiety seems to be growing. Use the guide linked in the assignment directions to identify which theory (psychodynamic, learning approaches, humanistic approach, or trait theories) is proposed in each perspective below:

Theory 1Elise is struggling with issues from her past, not feeling that she is fulfilling the roles she is in. Growing up she always worried about being a good enough daughter to her parents. Her defense mechanisms from the anxiety she is experiencing cause her to shut down and not believe in her abilities. Examples of these defense mechanisms could be repression (not wanting to think about moving away from her family and friends) or regression (not believing in her abilities).

 Theory 2 Elise is catastrophizing her thinking. It is normal to feel nervous during job interviews, but if she challenges her negative thinking, she can convey more of a sense of belief in her abilities. Rather than comparing herself to role models of what she perceives to be “the perfect wife,” she needs to be herself, communicate her needs, and engage in activities that she can associate with relaxation and reward herself with healthy behaviors.

 Theory 3Elise needs to experience unconditional positive regard from her husband and possibly a therapist. She needs to figure out what she needs right now, rather than worrying about what everyone else wants from her. By settling into her new place and enjoying her marriage, she can appreciate all that she has to offer and figure out what she wants to do with her life.

 Theory 4 Elise likely has a temperament that inclines her to feelings of anxiety and a need to please others. By acknowledging these tendencies, she can communicate her concerns to her husband and together they can work on helping her adapt to their new environment in a way that meets both of their needs and gives her the support that she needs.

Please be sure to respond to each of the following:

Identify which scenario you have selected to focus on for the assignment.

Then identify the personality theory that is aligned to each of the four theoretical interpretations described for your scenario: psychodynamic perspective, learning approaches, humanistic approaches, or trait theories. Please justify your answers.

Which of the theories makes the most sense to you to understand the person in the case scenario? Please provide a detailed explanation to support your decision.

Expert Solution

a)Elise might have a high level of neuroticism, making her prone to stress and worry. The Big Five personality characteristics and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are two prominent models that are most applicable to her specific situation. Freud's theory of psychoanalysis is the most likely personality theory to align with the psychodynamic viewpoint. According to Freud, unresolved conflict from the past, such as childhood trauma, causes anxiety (Zhang et al., 2021). Elise's sentiments of fear and helplessness in her current situation could be the root of her anxiousness. The classical and operant conditioning methods are the best teaching strategies compatible with her situation. While operant conditioning teaches implications, classical conditioning teaches associations (Kroencke et al., 2020). Elise might have discovered that her new environment makes her anxious and afraid, and she might have discovered that she can lessen her worry by avoiding particular circumstances or adopting coping skills like deep breathing. The humanitarian Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Carl Rogers' idea of self-actualization are the theories that are most compatible with her scenario (“Clinical Handbook of Anxiety Disorders,” 2020). Maslow thought that a hierarchy of wants drives individuals, but Rogers thought that people naturally tended to grow and develop. Elise's desire for stability and control might be what drives her. Trait theories such as the Big Five and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are most applicable to her case (Friedman, 2019). The Big Five personality traits are neuroticism, extroversion, amiability, diligence, and receptivity to experience. Elise has a high degree of neuroticism, which makes her a worrier and a stress case. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is used to evaluate four distinct personality qualities. Sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving are illustrative instances of the introversion-extroversion dichotomy (Pitman & Knauss, 2020). Elise might be an introvert, so she might internalize her worry and not look for social support as much.

This question has been solved!

  • Verified by Admin
  • Written by a Human Expert
Blurred answer