Discussion 1 Week 2 Discussion
Describe how genes interact with environmental factors to affect behavior
Behavioral geneticists have found that specific genes can be attributed to certain psychological disorders (Durand et al., 2018). Many studies have also shown that a chaotic event in someone's childhood can influence genes (Durand et al., 2018). So, for instance, if there was the death of someone they loved very much or childhood abuse of any kind, it can alter the gene and cause it to express negatively. There is substantial scientific evidence to show that one's environment can influence an individual's behavior (Boyce et al., 2020).
What Major Neurotransmitters are Associated With Mood and How are They Involved in Abnormal Behavior?
Neuroscience has shown through studies that some parts of the brain and neurotransmitters play a prominent role in people's moods (Dfarhud et al., 2014). Mood is defined as a feeling that is born internally and impacts most aspects of an individual's behavior (Kawai et al., 2022). These neurotransmitters include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphins (Dfarhud et al., 2014).
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the portion of the brain called the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and hypothalamus of the brain (Juárez Olguín et al., 2016). It is believed that dopamine plays a vital role in the reward and movement part of one's brain (Juárez Olguín et al., 2016). In other words, it is released when pleasure is felt, such as sex, smell, or something that brings joy and happiness.
Serotonin is also a neurotransmitter that helps regulate behavior, mood, and memory (Bamalan & Al Khalili, 2022). Some evidence shows that a reduced level of serotonin contributes to major depressive disorders, low mood, and low feelings of self-worth (Bamalan & Al Khalili, 2022). Medications used to treat low levels of serotonin often help with depression.
Norepinephrine (NE) has been studied extensively over the years as it relates to suicide and other psychiatric disorders that increase the risk of suicide in patients (Chandley & Ordway, 2012). It has been found that when NE is depleted in the brain, it can result in depression (Chandley & Ordway, 2012). Caution must be used in treating bipolar 2 with NE or any antidepressant, as it can send the patient into a manic episode (Kurita, 2016).
Endorphines are produced to relieve pain, reduce stress and improve mood (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). It is well known that endorphins are produced during exercise and other activities that "feel good." Therefore, they can positively impact one's outlook when they are made. This is why I believe exercise should be a part of any protocol to treat depression.
What role do emotions play in psychopathology?
Emotions play a role in psychopathology because emotions are implicated in psychiatric disorders associated with externalized and internalized problems. Emotions are expressed depending on ...
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Discussion 1 Week 2 DiscussionDescribe how genes interact with e
1. Discussion 1 Week 2 Discussion
Describe how genes interact with environmental factors to
affect behavior
Behavioral geneticists have found that specific genes can be
attributed to certain psychological disorders (Durand et al.,
2018). Many studies have also shown that a chaotic event in
someone's childhood can influence genes (Durand et al., 2018).
So, for instance, if there was the death of someone they loved
very much or childhood abuse of any kind, it can alter the gene
and cause it to express negatively. There is substantial scientific
evidence to show that one's environment can influence an
individual's behavior (Boyce et al., 2020).
What Major Neurotransmitters are Associated With Mood and
How are They Involved in Abnormal Behavior?
Neuroscience has shown through studies that some parts of
the brain and neurotransmitters play a prominent role in
people's moods (Dfarhud et al., 2014). Mood is defined as a
feeling that is born internally and impacts most aspects of an
individual's behavior (Kawai et al., 2022). These
neurotransmitters include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine,
and endorphins (Dfarhud et al., 2014).
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the portion of the
brain called the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and
hypothalamus of the brain (Juárez Olguín et al., 2016). It is
believed that dopamine plays a vital role in the reward and
movement part of one's brain (Juárez Olguín et al., 2016). In
other words, it is released when pleasure is felt, such as sex,
smell, or something that brings joy and happiness.
Serotonin is also a neurotransmitter that helps regulate
behavior, mood, and memory (Bamalan & Al Khalili, 2022).
Some evidence shows that a reduced level of serotonin
contributes to major depressive disorders, low mood, and low
feelings of self-worth (Bamalan & Al Khalili, 2022).
2. Medications used to treat low levels of serotonin often help
with depression.
Norepinephrine (NE) has been studied extensively over the
years as it relates to suicide and other psychiatric disorders that
increase the risk of suicide in patients (Chandley & Ordway,
2012). It has been found that when NE is depleted in the brain,
it can result in depression (Chandley & Ordway, 2012). Caution
must be used in treating bipolar 2 with NE or any
antidepressant, as it can send the patient into a manic episode
(Kurita, 2016).
Endorphines are produced to relieve pain, reduce stress and
improve mood (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). It is well known that
endorphins are produced during exercise and other activities
that "feel good." Therefore, they can positively impact one's
outlook when they are made. This is why I believe exercise
should be a part of any protocol to treat depression.
What role do emotions play in psychopathology?
Emotions play a role in psychopathology because emotions
are implicated in psychiatric disorders associated with
externalized and internalized problems. Emotions are expressed
depending on what type of psychiatric disorder. For instance,
someone who is experiencing]ing unrealistic fear may suffer
from a general anxiety disorder, and how their emotions are
expressed can help the clinician determine the diagnosis.
Conversely, a lack of emotions can signal depression or a major
depressive disorder.
References
Azizi, A., Mohammadkhani, P., Pourshahbaz, A., Doulatshhi,
B., & Moghaddam, S. (2018). Role of emotion regulation in
psychopathology. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal,
16(2), 113–
120. https://doi.org/10.32598/irj.16.2.113 (Links to an external
site.)
Bamalan, O. A., & Al Khalili, Y. (2022). Physiology,
3. serotonin. National Library of
Medicine. http://europepmc.org/books/NBK545168 (Links to an
external site.)
Boyce, W., Sokolowski, M. B., & Robinson, G. E. (2020).
Genes and environments, development and time. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, 117(38),
23235–
23241. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2016710117 (Links to an
external site.)
Chandley, M., & Ordway, G. (2012). Noradrenergic dysfunction
in depression and suicide. The Neurobiological Basis of
Suicide, 29–64. https://doi.org/10.1201 (Links to an external
site.)
/b12215-4
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, May 19). Endorphins: What they are
and how to boost
them. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23040-
endorphins
Discussion 2
Genes, Neurotransmitters, and Emotions
One way that genes can interact with environmental factors is
by affecting the development of the brain. The brain is
responsible for controlling all of our behavior, so if a gene
affects the development of the brain, it can also affect behavior.
For example, a gene that causes a mutation in the development
of the hippocampus has been linked to autism. This is an
example of a direct interaction between a gene and an
environmental factor. Another way that genes can interact with
environmental factors is by affecting the production of
4. neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are
responsible for transmitting signals between neurons. They are
also responsible for many of our behaviors, such as mood,
sleep, and appetite (Matosin et al., 2018). If a gene affects the
production of neurotransmitters, it can also affect behavior. For
example, a gene that causes a mutation in the production of
serotonin has been linked to depression. This is an example of
an indirect interaction between a gene and an environmental
factor. There are many other ways that genes can interact with
environmental factors to affect behavior. For example, genes
can affect the structure and function of neurons, which can then
affect behavior.
Genes can also affect the development of other parts of the
body, such as the endocrine system, which can then affect
behavior. In conclusion, genes interact with environmental
factors to affect behavior in many ways. These interactions can
be direct or indirect, and they can occur at many different
levels, from the development of the brain to the production of
neurotransmitters. There are many neurotransmitters that are
associated with mood, and they are all involved in abnormal
behavior in some way. The most common neurotransmitters that
are associated with mood are dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved
in the pleasure and reward systems of the brain. When someone
experiences something pleasurable, dopamine is released, and
this reinforces the behavior that led to the pleasure. This is why
dopamine is often associated with addiction, as it can cause
someone to seek out a behavior that leads to dopamine release
in order to experience the pleasure and reward again. Serotonin
is a neurotransmitter that is involved in mood, anxiety, and
sleep. Serotonin levels are often low in people who suffer from
depression, and increasing serotonin levels can help to improve
mood. Serotonin is also involved in anxiety, and people who
have low levels of serotonin are more likely to experience
anxiety disorders (Payne & Maguire, 2019). Norepinephrine is a
neurotransmitter that is involved in alertness, attention, and
7. Presenting Problem
Ella has been living homeless for 13 months. She has been
arrested on two occasions
for shoplifting and once for loitering (as a teen in need of
supervision) in the last 7
months. Ella has recently been court ordered to reside in a
group home with counseling.
She refuses to return home due to the abuse she experienced.
After 3 months at Teens
First, Ella said she is thinking about reinitiating contact with
her mother. She has not
seen either parent in 6 months and missed the stability of the
way her family “used to
be,” although she is also conflicted due to recognizing the
instability of her family. Ella is
confused about the path to follow.
Family Dynamics
Ella indicates that her family worked well until her father began
drinking heavily about 3
years ago. She remembers her parents being social and going
out or having friends
over for drinks, but she never remembered them becoming
drunk. Then, her father lost
his job as an information technology (IT) support professional
and was unable to find
meaningful work. He took on part-time jobs at electronics
stores, but they left him
demoralized. Her parents stopped socializing, and then her
father was fired from his last
job because he arrived drunk. Ella’s father would regularly be
drunk by the time she
arrived home from school.
When Ella started having trouble in school, her father would
berate her when she came
9. one morning and did not return home.
Educational History
Ella attends school at the group home, taking general education
classes for her general
education development (GED) credential. Shortly after her
father lost his job, Ella began
experiencing learning disabilities. Her difficulties began in
math, where she had difficulty
sorting and making sense of numbers. Then she began to fall
behind in her reading. Her
grades went from a B average to consistent D’s. Some of Ella’s
Instructors began to
raise the issue of a possible learning disability. A counselor
made an appointment to
discuss possible causes, but Ella left school and home just prior
to that meeting, and did
not attend.
Employment History
Ella reports that her father was employed as an IT support
professional at a bank. When
the bank downsized and closed many branches, her father was
laid off. He was unable
to secure another IT support position, as many companies had
begun outsourcing this
work to contractors or overseas. He began to work part-time
retail jobs at consumer
electronics stores but quickly became demoralized and lost a
series of those jobs. Her
mother works as a full-time home health aide.
Social History
Ella reports that the homeless encampment (where she wound
up for a long stretch)
had a group of teens that stuck together for protection and to
10. shield themselves and
each other from certain bad choices. It was at this time that Ella
reports she became
bisexual, seeking out and bonding to a group of women who
were able to avoid being
exploited for human trafficking.
The encampment group did still engage in risky behavior,
however, including frequent
shoplifting and other theft to secure food, supplies, etc.
Likewise, although Ella reports
that she did not engage in prostitution, she did engage in
unprotected sex with one
woman whose sexual history may have included prostitution or
intravenous drug use.
Thus Ella contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in
one instance.
Ella reports she might consider trying to go home if she knew
her father was no longer
there, despite feeling betrayed by her mother. She would also be
willing to reconcile and
attend therapy with her. However, Ella feels that her mother,
who comes from a very
religious family (though does not practice much now), would
ultimately reject her due to
her bisexual identification.
Ella also feels a strong bond to the group of teens and women
with whom she stayed in
the homeless encampment. She reports that she misses them and
wishes she could
see them—especially one teen in particular named Marisol. She
says she considers
these women to be as much, if not more, her family as her
biological family.
12. Ella has been arrested three times, twice for shoplifting and
once for vagrancy. Citing
the abuse she reported at home and the fears she felt, Ella was
mandated to services at
the Teens First agency, unlike her prior arrests when she was
sent to detention.
Alcohol and Drug Use History
Ella denies any alcohol or drug use while living homeless. She
reports the homeless
encampment (where she wound up for a long stretch) had a
group of teens that stuck
together and were able to shield themselves from certain bad
choices.
Medical History
During intake, it was noted that Ella showed signs of living
homeless, including carrying
all her possessions in one bag, signs of malnourishment, feet
with heavy callouses, and
clothing in disrepair. She did not show signs of drug use or self-
harm. The STI she
contracted was diagnosed upon intake, and she received
antibiotics for treatment.
Strengths
Ella is resilient in learning how to survive in a difficult
situation. She was able to avoid
the more severe negative outcomes, such as human trafficking
and drug use. She is
able to form beneficial bonds for protection and support.
Father: Robert Schultz (44 years old)
Mother: Rose Schultz (39 years old)
Daughter: Ella Schultz (16 years old)
14. away from the abuse. Paula comes from an authoritarian family
where her role was to
be “seen and not heard.” Paula states that she did not feel
valued by any of her family
members and reports never receiving the attention she needed.
As a teenager, she
realized she felt “not good enough” in her family system, which
led to her leaving for
New York and looking for “someone to love me.” Her parents
still reside in Colombia
with Paula’s two siblings.
Paula met David when she sought to purchase drugs. They
married when Paula was 18
years old. The couple divorced after 5 years of marriage. Paula
raised Miguel, mostly by
herself, until he was 8 years old, at which time she was forced
to relinquish custody due
to her medical condition. Paula maintains a relationship with
her son, Miguel, and her
ex-husband, David. Miguel takes part in caring for his half-
sister, Maria.
Paula does believe her job as a mother is to take care of Maria
but is finding that more
and more challenging with her physical illnesses.
Employment History
Paula worked for a clothing designer, but she realized that her
true passion was
painting. She has a collection of more than 100 drawings and
paintings, many of which
track the course of her personal and emotional journey. Paula
held a full-time job for a
number of years before her health prevented her from working.
She is now unemployed
16. believed he would take care
of her. Soon everything changed. Paula began to suspect that he
was using drugs,
because he had started to become controlling and demanding.
He showed up at her
apartment at all times of the night demanding to be let in. He
called her relentlessly, and
when she did not pick up the phone, he left her mean and
threatening messages. Paula
was fearful for her safety and thought her past behavior with
drugs and sex brought on
bad relationships with men and that she did not deserve better.
After a couple of
months, Paula realized she was pregnant. Jesus stated he did not
want anything to do
with the “kid” and stopped coming over, but he continued to
contact and threaten Paula
by phone. Paula has no contact with Jesus at this point in time
due to a restraining
order.
Mental Health History
Paula was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She experiences
periods of mania lasting
for a couple of weeks, and then goes into a depressive state for
months when not
properly medicated. Paula has a tendency toward paranoia.
Paula has a history of not
complying with her psychiatric medication treatment because
she does not like the way
it makes her feel. She often discontinues it without telling her
psychiatrist. Paula has
had multiple psychiatric hospitalizations but has remained out
of the hospital for the past
5 years. Paula accepts her bipolar diagnosis but demonstrates
limited insight into the
18. 200. Paula’s brain infection left her completely paralyzed on the
right side. She lost
function in her right arm and hand, as well as her ability to
walk. After a long stay in an
acute care hospital in New York City, Paula was transferred to a
skilled nursing facility
(SNF) where she thought she would die. After being in the
skilled nursing facility for
more than a year, Paula regained the ability to walk, although
she does so with a severe
limp. She also regained some function in her right arm. Her
right hand (her dominant
hand) remains semi-paralyzed and limp. Over the course of
several years, Paula taught
herself to paint with her left hand and was able to return to her
beloved art.
Paula began treatment for her HIV/AIDS with highly active
antiretroviral therapy
(HAART). Since she ran away from the family home; married
and divorced a drug user;
and then was in an abusive relationship, Paula thought she
deserved what she got in
life. She responded well to HAART and her HIV/AIDS was well
controlled. In addition to
her HIV/AIDS disease, Paula is diagnosed with Hepatitis C
(Hep C). While this condition
was controlled, it has reached a point where Paula’s doctor
recommends she begin a
new treatment. Paula also has significant circulatory problems,
which cause her severe
pain in her lower extremities. She uses prescribed narcotic pain
medication to control
her symptoms. Paula’s circulatory problems led also to chronic
ulcers on her feet that
will not heal. Treatment for her foot ulcers demands frequent
19. visits to a wound care
clinic. Paula’s pain paired with the foot ulcers make it difficult
for her to ambulate and
leave her home. Paula has a tendency for noncompliance with
her medical treatment.
She often disregards instructions from her doctors and resorts to
holistic treatments like
treating her ulcers with chamomile tea. When she stops her
treatment, she deteriorates
quickly.
Maria was born HIV negative and received the appropriate
HAART treatment after birth.
She spent a week in the neonatal intensive care unit, as she had
to detox from the
effects of the pain medication Paula took throughout her
pregnancy.
Legal History
Previously, Paula used the AIDS Law Project, a not-for-profit
organization that helps
individuals with HIV address legal issues, such as those related
to the child’s father. At
that time, Paula filed a police report in response to Jesus'
escalating threats and was
successful in getting a restraining order. Once the order was
served, the phone calls
and visits stopped, and Paula regained a temporary sense of
control over her life.
Paula completed the appropriate permanency planning
paperwork with the assistance
of The Family Center organization. She named Miguel as her
daughter’s guardian
should something happen to her.
22. Family Dynamics
Sam was born in Alabama to an African American family
system. He reports his time
growing up to have been within a “normal” family system with
a large extended family in
his town and nearby towns. He states he was emotionally close
to his mother and
worshipped his father. His father was strict but loving, pushing
Sam to become fairly
independent from a young age. His dad had previously been in
the military and was
raised with the understanding that his duty is to support his
country. His family displayed
traditional roles, with his dad supporting the family after he was
discharged from military
service. Sam was raised to believe that real men do not show
weakness and must be
the head of the household.
Sam’s parents are deceased, and he has three older sisters who
live in Atlanta. He is
close to the sister who is close to him in age, and they talk
frequently on the phone.
Sam has not, however, shared his current struggles with any of
his siblings. He is afraid
to let them down.
Sheri is an only child, and although her mother lives in the area,
she offers little support.
Her mother never approved of Sheri marrying Sam, so she
thinks Sheri needs to deal
with their problems on her own. Sam reports he has not been
engaged with his sons at
all since his return from Iraq, and he keeps to himself when he
is at home.
24. and tends to keep to
himself. He says he sometimes feels pressured to be more
communicative and social.
Sam believes he is socially inept and not able to develop
friendships. He says he is able
to “fake it” at work but is not sure how long that can last. The
couple has some mutual
couple friends, since Sheri gets involved with the parents in
their sons’ school.
However, because of Sam’s recent behaviors, their socializing
with other couples has
tapered off. He is very worried that Sheri will leave him due to
the isolation.
Mental Health History
Sam reports that since retiring from the military 10 months ago,
he has difficulty
sleeping, frequent heart palpitations, and moodiness. After his
deployment, during his
stateside assignments, he reports he did not experience intense
feelings from his
experiences on the battlefield. He would occasionally have
intense memories, but he
reports that he was able to “lock them back up pretty quickly.”
It is only since his
retirement that these feelings arose.
Sam has seen Dr. Zoe, a psychiatrist at the VA, who diagnosed
him with post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Zoe prescribed Paxil to help reduce
his symptoms of
anxiety and depression, and suggested Sam also begin
counseling. Sam says he does
not really understand what PTSD is, but thinks it refers to a
person who is “going crazy.”
He admits he thought was happening to him at times.
26. saw his father drunk
and is ashamed that his own children may have a memories of
him being drunk.
Educational History
Sheri has a bachelor’s degree in special education from a local
college. Sam received a
bachelor’s degree in human resources management upon his
return from the military.
Military History
Sam is an Iraqi War veteran. He enlisted in the Marines at 18
years old. Sam was
stationed in several states prior to Sam being deployed to Iraq.
Sam left the service 10
months ago but still works in human resources as a civilian.
Medical History
Sam is physically fit but an injury he sustained in combat
sometimes limits his ability to
use his left hand. Sam reports sometimes feeling inadequate
because of the reduction
in the use of his hand, but he tries to push through because he
worries how the injury
will impact his responsibilities as a provider, husband, and
father. Sam considers
himself resilient enough to overcome this disadvantage and “be
able to do the things I
need to do.” Sheri is in good physical condition and has
recently found out that she is
pregnant with their third child.
Legal History
Sam and Sheri deny having criminal histories.
Alcohol and Drug Use History
28. of her husband, John
(60), son, Alec (27), daughter, Dmitra (23), and daughter
Althima (18). John and Helen
have been married for 30 years. They married in the Greek
Orthodox Church and attend
services weekly.
Presenting Problem
Helen reports feeling overwhelmed and “blue.” She was referred
by a close friend who
thought Helen would benefit from having a person who would
listen. Although she is
uncomfortable talking about her life with a stranger, Helen says
that she decided to
come for therapy because she worries about burdening friends
with her troubles. John
has been expressing his displeasure with meals at home, as
Helen has been cooking
less often and brings home takeout. Helen thinks she is
inadequate as a wife. She
states that she feels defeated; she describes an incident in which
her son, Alec,
expressed disappointment in her because she could not provide
him with clean laundry.
Helen reports feeling overwhelmed by her responsibilities and
believes she can’t handle
being a wife, mother, and caretaker any longer.
Family Dynamics
Helen describes her marriage as typical of a traditional Greek
family. John, the
breadwinner in the family, is successful in the souvenir shop in
town. Helen voices a
great deal of pride in her children. Dmitra is described as smart,
beautiful, and
hardworking. Althima is described as adorable and reliable.
29. Helen shops, cooks, and
cleans for the family, and John sees to yard care and
maintaining the family’s cars.
Helen believes the children are too busy to be expected to help
around the house,
knowing that is her role as wife and mother. John and Helen
choose not to take money
from their children for any room or board. The Petrakis family
holds strong family bonds
within a large and supportive Greek community.
Helen is the primary caretaker for Magda (John’s 81-year-old
widowed mother), who
lives in an apartment 30 minutes away. Until recently, Magda
was self-sufficient, coming
for weekly family dinners and driving herself shopping and to
church. Six months ago,
she fell and broke her hip and was also recently diagnosed with
early signs of dementia.
Helen and John hired a reliable and trusted woman temporarily
to check in on Magda a
couple of days each week. Helen would go and see Magda on
the other days,
sometimes twice in one day, depending on Magda’s needs.
Helen would go food
shopping for Magda, clean her home, pay her bills, and keep
track of Magda’s
medications. Since Helen thought she was unable to continue
caretaking for both
Magda and her husband and kids, she wanted the helper to come
in more often, but
John said they could not afford it. The money they now pay to
the helper is coming out
of the couple’s vacation savings. Caring for Magda makes Helen
think she is failing as a
wife and mother because she no longer has time to spend with
31. worked in a fishery they
owned. Helen feared her parents’ disappointment if she did not
help raise her siblings.
Helen was very attached to her parents and still mourns their
loss. She idolized her
mother and empathized with the struggles her mother endured
raising her own family.
Helen reports having that same fear of disappointment with her
husband and children.
Employment History
Helen has worked part time at a hospital in the billing
department since graduating from
high school. John Petrakis owns a Greek souvenir shop in town
and earns the larger
portion of the family income. Alec is currently unemployed,
which Helen attributes to the
poor economy. Dmitra works as a sales consultant for a major
department store in the
mall. Althima is an honors student at a local college and earns
spending money as a
hostess in a family friend’s restaurant. During town events,
Dmitra and Althima help in
the souvenir shop when they can.
Social History
The Petrakis family live in a community centered on the
activities of the Greek Orthodox
Church. Helen has used her faith to help her through the more
difficult challenges of not
believing she is performing her “job” as a wife and mother.
Helen reports that her
children are religious but do not regularly go to church because
they are very busy.
Helen has stopped going shopping and out to eat with friends
because she can no
33. might pass out. One time, John brought her to the emergency
room. The hospital ran
tests but found no conclusive organic reason to explain Helen’s
symptoms. She
continues to experience shortness of breath, usually in the
morning when she is getting
ready to begin her day. She says she has trouble staying asleep,
waking two to four
times each night, and she feels tired during the day. Working is
hard because she is
more forgetful than she has ever been. Helen says that she feels
like her body is one
big tired knot.
Legal History
The only member of the Petrakis family that has legal
involvement is Alec. He was
arrested about 2 years ago for possession of marijuana. He was
required to attend an
inpatient rehabilitation program (which he completed) and was
sentenced to 2 years’
probation. Helen was devastated, believing John would be
disappointed in her for not
raising Alec properly.
Alcohol and Drug Use History
Helen has no history of drug use and only drinks at community
celebrations. Alec has
struggled with drugs and alcohol since he was a teen. Helen
wants to believe Alec is
maintaining his sobriety and gives him the benefit of the doubt.
Alec is currently on 2
years’ probation for possession and has recently completed an
inpatient rehabilitation
program. Helen feels responsible for his addiction and wonders
what she did wrong as
35. to the definition of the problem and its cause. This then guides
how the social worker assesses and intervenes, because the
theory will also articulate the role of the social worker and how
change occurs.
Basic Assumptions of the Theory
Directions: For each section, respond in 2 to 3 sentences to the
following prompts. Where relevant, provide citations to support
your claims.
Name of theory
Name of theorist
What are the major assumptions of the theory?
What are the theory’s key concepts?
What is the theory’s focus or unit of analysis?
What is the theory’s overall explanation for the cause of
problems?
Application to a Case Study <insert the name of the client>
Directions: For each section, respond to the following prompts.
Where relevant, provide citations to support your claims.
36. In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory define the client’s
presenting problem?
In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory explain the cause of the
client’s presenting problem?
In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory explain the role of the
social worker for this client?
In 1 to 2 sentences, what does the theory say about how this
client will improve or how change will occur?
Using the theory, list two to three (2–3) assessment questions to
ask this client to explore the client’s goals and how they will
get there.
According to the theory, identify two to three (2–3) specific
practice intervention strategies for the client relative to the
presenting problem. For each, explain in 1 sentence how it will
help meet the client’s goals.
Based on the theory, list two to three (2–3) outcomes when
analyzing whether an intervention is effective.
37. What is one strength and one limitation in using this theory for
this client?
Questions to Consider When Analyzing the Theory
You are not required to answer these questions for this
assignment. However, these questions could help stimulate
thinking whenever you are asked to analyze a theory.
To what extent does the theory apply widely to diverse
situations? Or does it apply narrowly to particular situations?
Is the theory ethical? Is it consistent with the NASW Code of
Ethics?
Is the theory congruent with the professional value base of the
social work field?
How cost effective would it be to implement interventions based
on the theory?
To what extent does the theory fit within the organization’s or
agency’s philosophy?
What do research studies say about how effective the
interventions are?