Approaches+to+Psychology

Psychology: Case study #6

Names:Just me josh

For the case study listed below you are to attempt to identify how each of the six (seven?) approaches to psychology would attempt to explain and solve the issues brought up. Please be as detailed as you can be. Only one summary needs to be turned in for your group.

Kathy is a twenty-one year old female. Kathy is in her senior year at a prestigious university and is studying pre-law. Kathy has always been a straight A student and fine athlete. Kathy has been told she should enter a local beauty pageant because of her incredible looks. Recently Kathy has been preoccupied with food. She is concerned that she is becoming overweight and has begun counting and recording all of her calories. She has also given some thought to smoking as a way to help her maintain her weight. On several occasions Kathy has admitted to throwing up her food, but indicated she might have had a mild case of food poisoning or the flu. Kathy’s weight is actually going down and her friends are concerned for her.

How would each of the psychological approaches we have discussed explain what is happening to Kathy and how would they prescribe treatment?

Biopsychological- They would study her physical life, and try to figure out what in her life is causing this sudden change in behavior.

Behaviorism- This style would just look for her surroundings and what is causing her change, similar to biopsych.

Humanism-I believe this one would involve asking lots of questions asking why shes doing the wrong things to see her self as perfect.

Psychoanalytical- Study her brain, and see whats causing her behavior change

Cognitive- Looking at her brain to see why she is deciding these are her best options.

Sociocultural- Would look at more of her upbringing and belonging to any religion, etc.

Eclectic (best combination of all approaches) I think the best combination therapy would be humanism, pscyoanalytical, and cognitive approaches.

What other information would you like to have to help you get a clearer picture of what is happening to Kathy? There is no subsitute for meeting somebody and being ables to read their body language.