PSYCH 110N Week 1 Discussion: Psychological Perspectives -

Behavioral and Neuroscience Dialogue Discussing Sara’s behavior

Initial Post Instructions

After reviewing the case below, choose two perspectives (neuroscience,

humanistic, cognitive, psychodynamic or behavioral) to create a short

dialogue between two psychologists discussing Sara's behavior. Feel free to

be creative in your dialogue! Define your two chosen perspectives and briefly

discuss the differences of each approach. What was one missing in your

dialogue from the case that the other helped to explain?

For example, what would a psychodynamic psychologist say about Sara's

behavior versus a cognitive psychologist? Your dialogue might look

something like this:

Psychodynamic Psychologist: Sara seems to be exhibiting these

behaviors as a result of unconscious thoughts and conflicts she may not be

aware of.

Cognitive Psychologist: That could be true! But I think a possible cause of

Sara's anxiety could stem from the way she thinks about the world around

her. Her thinking is distorted and we should work to change that.

Psychodynamic Psychologist: Hmm... Sara's parents did get a divorce

when she was in high school, she could have possibly repressed those

feelings that are now coming to the surface from her own recent divorce.

Cognitive Psychologist: Yes, but we are still not getting at the root of the

way she thinks and processes information. She excessively worries about

everything, not just her parent's divorce and her own.

Case Sara is 35 year-old woman currently struggling with increasing pressure

at work and a recent divorce among many other things in her life. At the

urging of her friends and family, she sought counseling and was diagnosed

with Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Sara has a tendency to

worry excessively about her children, money, friends, cat, and just about

everything else where other people might not find a reason to worry. At

work, she has trouble concentrating and is finding it difficult to perform at

her best. Her boss is putting more pressure on her to perform better and

meet sales goals for the quarter. In general, Sara feels like she is often on

edge, tense, exhausted and is very irritable, which has impacted her

everyday life. The amount of stress and anxiety Sara is experiencing in her

life is also contributing to her depression. She feels as though she is in a

vicious cycle she can't escape.

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