Essay Quiz

The Case of Fred

Remember: Assess what the theories of Freud and his successors tell us about the structure and development of personality

Fred is a 23-year-old college student who has been referred to a local psychologist. He is about halfway through his bachelor's degree in business and has begun to exhibit some strange behaviors and is reporting some distressing events. His troubles began when he started to have frequent bouts of severe stomach pain for which he was treated in the local hospital. Though doctors have been mystified by his symptoms, it is clear he is in a great deal of pain. He has been given large amounts of pain-killers and has endured several tests to try to find the cause of his illness.

Along with his stomach pain, Fred reported that he has been "spacing out" for long periods of time, and often forgets where is his and how he has gotten there. This has caused him a great deal of anxiety, so much so that Fred has stopped going to class and is in danger of being suspended from his college due to his poor grades and attendance.

Fred has always done very well in school and reports that he has always had high marks, though personal and social relationships have always been difficult. Fred reported that he was a lonely and isolated child and experienced extreme isolation and bullying throughout school. He also stated that he missed a good deal of school due to frequent illnesses and reported anxiety attacks that were a result of his continued harassment at school.

Fred reported that religion plays a very large role in his life. Though he has not attended church since his most recent illness, he feels close with God and that God will deliver him from the stomach illness that he has contracted. Fred stated that the reason the doctors cannot find the source of his pain is because he is being persecuted by the devil. Fred also maintains that God is his only comfort during these illnesses and spends much of his time in prayer, believing that perhaps his illness is a test of faith.

As Fred described this to his therapist, he began to speak a different language consisting of a continuous stream of random consonants and vowels that lasts for about 3 minutes. When Fred continued his conversation he reported that God talks to him and has just told him that he should tell the staff about the good news of Christ and the coming end times.


1			You're the Psychologist *Remember: Define abnormality;* *Discuss perspectives on abnormality* Suppose you were Fred's psychologist. Would you define his symptoms as abnormal? Refer back to the textbook. For each of the five definitions, describe what you would need to consider in Fred's case in order to decide if his behavior is or is not abnormal. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________




2			You Decide *Relate: Define abnormality;* *Discuss perspectives on abnormality* Is Fred's behavior normal or abnormal? Explain your answer.




3			From My Perspective *Relate: Define abnormality;* *Discuss perspectives on abnormality* Suppose that you determine that Fred's behavior is abnormal. The next question to answer is why Fred is experiencing this abnormality. Using what you know about the various perspectives on abnormal behavior, describe a plausible reason for Fred's behavior. The medical perspective: ____________________________________________________________________ The psychoanalytic perspective: ____________________________________________________________________ The behavioral perspective: ____________________________________________________________________ The cognitive perspective: ____________________________________________________________________ The humanistic perspective: ____________________________________________________________________ The sociocultural perspective: ____________________________________________________________________




4			Which is Right? *React: Define abnormality;* *Discuss perspectives on abnormality* Which perspective do you most agree with? Explain your answer.




5			Try This at Home React: Define abnormality; Discuss perspectives on abnormality Check out the DSM-IV from your local library or look it up online. What do you think of this diagnostic tool? Comment on your impressions.




6			What's Wrong with Fred? *Remember: Discuss anxiety disorders; Discuss somatoform disorders;* *Discuss dissociative disorders;* *Discuss mood disorders;* *Explain schizophrenia;* *Discuss personality disorders;* *Discuss childhood disorders;* *List other disorders* Is Fred displaying any symptoms of the disorders discussed in the textbook? For each mental illness classification listed below, describe what symptoms, if any, Fred is displaying. Anxiety Disorders: ____________________________________________________________________ Somatoform Disorders: ____________________________________________________________________ Dissociative Disorders: ____________________________________________________________________ Mood Disorders: ____________________________________________________________________ Schizophrenia: ____________________________________________________________________ Personality Disorders: ____________________________________________________________________ Childhood Disorders: ____________________________________________________________________




7			Cultural Considerations *Relate: Discuss the societal and cultural context for psychological disorders* Looking at Fred's case history there is something that should be considered when trying to decide his mental status: his culture. In this case, Fred has reported that he is a member of the Evangelical Church. If you are not familiar with the Evangelical Church, research their tenets and answer the following questions: Is it unusual in this religion to believe in miraculous healing? ____________________________________________________________________ What about the idea that the devil can influence medical and psychological problems? ____________________________________________________________________ Are the "end times" prophecies far-fetched? ____________________________________________________________________ Do members of this belief system speak in "tongues?" ____________________________________________________________________ Taking these cultural components into consideration, would you change any of your impressions of Fred's case? Explain your answer.




8			Is It a Disorder or Just Different? *React: Discuss the societal and cultural context for psychological disorders* Homosexuality was listed in the DSM as a mental illness until the 1970s, when it was determined by the American Psychological Association that it was not, in fact, abnormal. Given what you have learned in this chapter, what do you think? Explain your answer. ____________________________________________________________________ Many psychologists have argued that obesity should be listed in the newest version of the DSM as a mental illness. Using information provided in the chapter, what do you think? Explain your answer. ____________________________________________________________________

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