Psy 270 Week 5 Discussion Questions Answers and Research
Week 5 DQ 2 – Due Thursday, August 26
Please post a 200 - 300-word response to the following discussion question by clicking on Reply.
Discussion Question
Review Ch. 10 of Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. Choose a theoretical viewpoint based on your readings. Answer the following questions: How does your theoretical viewpoint explain the causes of substance abuse, and what treatments does it recommend? What are some of the strengths or weaknesses of your viewpoint?
Psychodynamic theorists explain the causes or substance abuse as related to dependency issues dating back to early childhood. This view claims that a when parents fail to satisfy a young child’s need for nurturance the child will grow to be highly dependent on others for help and comfort. This dependence and need for nurturance can easily be translated into a dependence on drugs or alcohol if the child is introduced to these substances in their search for nurturing. What is known as a substance abuse personality is a response to their early deprivations according to psychodynamic theorists. Research has in fact shown that people who abuse drugs and alcohol do tend to be more dependent, anti-social, novelty-seeking and depressive than others. A major weakness of this viewpoint is the wide range of personality traits that have been tied to substance abuse as different studies point to different traits as the key causal factors or traits that could possibly be linked to substance abuse and dependency. It is unclear from current research if any one personality trait or group of traits can be directly linked to substance abuse related disorders. Treatment for substance abuse under the psychodynamic theory would involve the therapist guiding the patient to uncover and resolve underlying needs and conflicts which could have led to the dependency issue and substance abuse. The therapist would then try to help the individual to change their substance related style of living. This treatment style is not
Please post a 200 - 300-word response to the following discussion question by clicking on Reply.
Discussion Question
Review Ch. 10 of Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. Choose a theoretical viewpoint based on your readings. Answer the following questions: How does your theoretical viewpoint explain the causes of substance abuse, and what treatments does it recommend? What are some of the strengths or weaknesses of your viewpoint?
Psychodynamic theorists explain the causes or substance abuse as related to dependency issues dating back to early childhood. This view claims that a when parents fail to satisfy a young child’s need for nurturance the child will grow to be highly dependent on others for help and comfort. This dependence and need for nurturance can easily be translated into a dependence on drugs or alcohol if the child is introduced to these substances in their search for nurturing. What is known as a substance abuse personality is a response to their early deprivations according to psychodynamic theorists. Research has in fact shown that people who abuse drugs and alcohol do tend to be more dependent, anti-social, novelty-seeking and depressive than others. A major weakness of this viewpoint is the wide range of personality traits that have been tied to substance abuse as different studies point to different traits as the key causal factors or traits that could possibly be linked to substance abuse and dependency. It is unclear from current research if any one personality trait or group of traits can be directly linked to substance abuse related disorders. Treatment for substance abuse under the psychodynamic theory would involve the therapist guiding the patient to uncover and resolve underlying needs and conflicts which could have led to the dependency issue and substance abuse. The therapist would then try to help the individual to change their substance related style of living. This treatment style is not