This essay discusses cognitive psychology and a specific scenario within that scientific term. It starts out with an introduction or definition of cognitive psychology, then discusses a specific scenario, and perspectives of the scenario. The body of this essay covers treatments, therapies, and interventions for the scenario, as well as effectiveness of therapies, before summing up the paper with a conclusion.

Titles:

Cognitive Psychology: Modern Approach to Human Behavior

Cognitive Psychology Advancements

Topics:

Introduction to Applied Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive Psychology of Planning

Outline:

I. Introduction

II. Body
A. Scenario
B. Psychological Perspectives
C. Treatment, Therapies, Interventions
D. Effectiveness of Therapies
III. Conclusion
Title: Cognitive Psychology Scenario Essay

Introduction

Cognitive psychology is a relatively new or modern approach to human behavior whose main focus is how people think. This approach in psychology focuses on how people think because of the belief that thought processes affect peoples behaviors. In essence, an individuals behavior is largely influenced by how he/she processes information. Unlike other approaches in psychology, cognitive psychology is largely interested on what happens within peoples minds that acts as a link between input (stimulus) and output (response). Some of the internal processes studied by cognitive psychologists include language, perception, memory, attention, and thinking (Kellogg, 2011). The other approach in the field of psychology is psychodynamic approach that was developed by Sigmund Freud based on the impact of his early childhood experiences on his behaviors. This approach examines the impact of unconscious drives and experiences during early childhood on an individuals emotions and behaviors on the premise that the unconscious is a reservoir of memory.

Scenario

The manager of a Building Society, Andrew is a single 40 year-old man who is considered shy by his largely female staff. The staff has hatched several plots including dates to try making him open up as they speculate about his personal life. However, these attempts have been unsuccessful because Andrew declines to attend Christmas parties while he eats his lunchtime meals alone in his office. Andrew has insisted on eating along since he was 15 years when he started eating alone in his room. When in the company of others, he finds it impossible to swallow his food and even starts to feel faint. Despite these tendencies, Andrew does not believe he has a problem and wishes to be left alone, but sometimes feels lonely and wonders if he could receive help from anyone.

Amy, a cleaner at Building Society who works from 6- 8pm every weekday, started experiencing a rapid heartbeat, a dry mouth, and difficulties in breathing about one month ago. She develops feelings of terror when alone and fears coming to work because she is usually alone after 6:30pm. In light of previous similar episodes, Amys mother blames herself for Amys panic attacks because she was once very late picking her from school until after dark though Amy does not recall this. Andrew, on the other hand, is sympathetic towards Amy to an extent that he stays at work late so that Amy would feel more secure. Amys short-tempered husband, Geoff, has become jealous of Andrews actions and threatens to confront him. Geoff has experienced few road rage episodes in his efforts to get the company notice Andrews time of leaving the office. During this process, Geoff met Rebecca, on overweight 26-year old staff who suffers from depression, lack of confidence, and fears that her colleagues laugh at her behind her back. Rebecca finds it difficult to leave work before counter-checking all the figures she inputs during the day and believes that her depression is genetic.

Psychological Perspectives for the Scenario

The above scenario is an example of the various kinds of issues that can be addressed by psychologists using the appropriate approaches. The issues in this scenario can be addressed through the use of different perspectives in psychology. Generally, there are different perspectives in the field of psychology that are utilized to address different issues when dealing with clients. The two perspectives in psychology that can be utilized to address some of the issues in this scenario include cognitive approach and psychodynamic approach. Cognitive approach is based on the belief that an individuals behavior is influenced...
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On the other hand, the psychodynamic approach, which was promoted by Sigmund Freud, is based on the belief that peoples behaviors are influenced by unconscious drives and experiences from early childhood (McNabb, n.d.). The psychodynamic approach is also based the belief that behavior is influenced by conflicts that arise when the society places restrictions on the unconscious drives and experiences from an individuals childhood.
Key Characteristics of these Perspectives

Cognitive and psychodynamic perspectives have different characteristics that influence their use by psychologists or counselors when addressing certain issues facing their clients. The key characteristics of cognitive perspective include cognition, emotion, and behavior. Cognitive psychology approach is based on the belief that people change following interactions between their cognition, emotion, and behavior. The change process takes place following learning new ways of thinking that in turn triggers different emotional responses and behaviors. The change can also come from modification of thinking patterns, emotional responses, and behavior as well as acquiring skills and knowledge relating to the issue or area requiring change (Linnell, 2010). Therefore, the cognitive perspective includes both cognitive and behavioral theories because of the link between cognition, emotion, and behavior.

On the other hands, the key characteristics of psychodynamic approach include unconscious drives and experiences and societal influences. An individuals unconscious factors have considerable impacts on his/her behavior through shaping his beliefs, values, and biases. Unconscious psychological processes (including drives and experiences during childhood) are crucial because they dominate activities of the brain. These processes in turn generate biological and neurological drives that influence an individuals perceptions and meanings. Therefore, when an individual is experiencing psychological problems, its important to examine the unconscious because of the biological and neurological drives it generates. While this approach also examines cognition or psychological processes, the main emphasis is on unconscious processes in the brain and their link to behavior.

Treatments/Therapies/Interventions for the Scenario

Cognitive Perspective and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive perspective in psychology is applicable to Amys situation in her work at Building Society. The cognitive perspective postulates that an individuals actions or behaviors are influenced by internal processes (i.e. cognition), which also impacts emotions. In Amys situation, her feelings of terror when alone influence her behaviors when alone and in the dark. These feelings are internal processes that contribute to fear and a sense of insecurity whenever she is alone and in the dark. Since she cannot recall the incident in her early childhood that could have contributed to her panic attacks, the situation is largely fueled by her internal processes. From a cognitive perspective, Amy experiences panic attacks because of the terror she associates with being along and in the dark.

The most suitable cognitive approach to use in addressing Amys situation is cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy is based on cognitive theory and behavioral theory because the cognitive perspective in psychology suggests a strong link between cognition, emotion, and behavior. This therapy asically refers to a set of psychological treatments that are based on scientific evidence and utilized to treat different psychological disorders or mental health problems (Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, 2003). When using this approach, the therapist seeks to understand a clients problems from a cognitive or behavioral perspective or through a combination of these two frameworks.

In Amys case, the use of cognitive behavioral therapy will entail addressing her psychological disorder and eliminating negative behaviors that contribute to the sense of insecurity and fear when alone and in the dark. Amy is suffering from a panic disorder, which is characterized by feelings of terror/panic, shortness of breath/difficulty in breathing, and rapid heartbeat. Amys condition is a fight-flight response in which her bodys normal alarm system tends to go off at the wrong time as long as she is alone and in the dark. The role of the therapist in cognitive behavioral therapy is to help clients identify ways of thinking, feelings, and behaviors that sustain problems. The identification of these…