Lisa is a high school senior who has a negative outlook on life. She believes that odds are stacked against her and that a few powerful people get all of the advantages in life. She is sarcastic and has few friends. Recently, she ran for student government and didn't get elected. She claims the election was unfair and that the student government advisor purposely misguided her. Since then, she has stopped studying for her classes and attending school regularly. She had hoped to go to college next year, but she is now too depressed about her failures. She has become afraid her parents won't love her anymore.
Describe the following perspectives and give an explanation of Lisa's problems from each of them in 5 sentences.
• Psychoanalytic
• Social-cognitive
• Humanistic
• Behavioral
Finally, which perspective do you think makes the most sense and why?
Psychoanalytic perspective: From a psychoanalytic perspective, Lisa's negative outlook on life and feelings of hopelessness could stem from unresolved conflicts from her childhood or unresolved issues with her parents. Her lack of motivation and fear of rejection from her parents could be due to underlying psychological issues that need to be addressed through therapy.
Social-cognitive perspective: According to the social-cognitive perspective, Lisa's belief that the odds are stacked against her and that she has no control over her destiny are influenced by her interactions and observations of others in her environment. Her negative self-talk and lack of confidence in her abilities may have been reinforced by past experiences of failure and perceived injustices.
Humanistic perspective: The humanistic perspective would suggest that Lisa's problems stem from a lack of self-actualization and personal growth. She may be struggling to find her purpose and meaning in life, leading to feelings of despair and hopelessness. By focusing on her self-actualization and personal growth, she may be able to overcome her challenges and find fulfillment.
Behavioral perspective: From a behavioral perspective, Lisa's lack of motivation and withdrawal from school may be due to a lack of positive reinforcement for academic success. Her negative behaviors, such as not studying and attending school irregularly, may have been reinforced by her belief that she is destined to fail. By implementing positive reinforcement strategies and changing her negative beliefs, Lisa may be able to improve her academic performance and outlook on life.
In this case, the social-cognitive perspective may make the most sense as it takes into account the influence of external factors on Lisa's behavior and beliefs. Her negative outlook on life and feelings of hopelessness may be a result of her interactions and observations of the world around her, rather than solely internal conflicts or lack of personal growth. By addressing these external influences and working on changing her negative beliefs, Lisa may be able to break free from her cycle of despair and find the motivation to pursue her goals.