Theory Identification and Analysis SWK 5005

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Capella University *

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5005

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Psychology

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Feb 20, 2024

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1 Theory Identification and Analysis Jessica Watts Human Behavior in Environment 2, Capella University SWK5005 Brandon Fields May 21, 2022

2 Theory Identification and Analysis Levi, a 35-year-old man, has been in touch with a counselor to discuss some of his lifestyle problems. Levi informs the counselor's office about being HIV positive on the intake paperwork. However, he is on medication, which has kept him from progressing his HIV into AIDS. Levi admits that he has no close friends and does not keep in contact with family members. He generally has no support system and no one he can confide in about his day-to-day problems. Levi admits that he is struggling with a substance abuse disorder. He often says he takes more than the prescribed dosage for his anti-anxiety medication and will enjoy doing cocaine on the weekends or, if needed, right before going to work. Levi is ready for a lifestyle change and to develop better coping mechanisms. The first step is meeting with his assigned counselor. Case Study Levis's presenting problem is that he struggles with anxiety and depression, does not have a robust support system, and abuses substances for excitement in his life. The theory used in this case study is the transactional theory of stress and coping, developed by Lazarus and Folkman. "Stress and coping theory posit that stressful life circumstances emanating from family members and friends, school, and work, lead to distress and alienation and eventually to substance misuse" (Moos, 2007). In the circumstances of Levi, his HIV diagnosis has caused him undue stress, which has led to alienation and contributed to his anxiety and depression, and overall prompted his substance misuse. "In attempting to explain stress as more of a dynamic process, Richard Lazarus developed the transactional theory of stress and coping (TTSC) (Lazarus, 1966; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), which presents stress as a product of a transaction between a person (including

3 multiple systems: cognitive, physiological, affective, psychological, neurological) and his or her complex environment" (Walinga, 2022). Stress seems to be something that Levi deals within his life. He has a diagnosis that he has not told his family or friends. He has isolated himself entirely, leaving no room for support in his life to help him cope with his diagnosis. He works a demanding job as a mechanic. His anxiety is increasingly becoming worse, and he is becoming more depressed. Levi copes by overusing his prescription medications or using cocaine. Levi has now formed an unhealthy addiction to the substances. Theory Analyzed Richard Lazarus developed the (TTSC) Transactional theory of stress and coping. When looking over the theory, a few points stand out that portray this theory's strengths. To name a few, the TTSC focuses on the psychological response to stressors in a person's life. It focuses on an individual's response to their perceived stress. The TTSC allows the individual to interrupt how they view situations in their life, causing them stress and what that means to them. Lastly, it is a flexible theory. Stressors can change over time. The weaknesses of this theory are that it is a straightforward model. It does not fit into a bio, social, or environmental category persay. Finally, it is hard to base research on this theory due to its subjective nature. According to Lazarus and Folkman (1984), "psychological stress is a particular relationship between the person and the environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and endangering his or her well-being" (Berjot, & Gillet, 2011). This theory encompasses cultural competence based on the individual and their personal experiences. Suppose a person's stress stems from their religious beliefs being different from

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4 their parents. In that case, this theory's primary focus is the stress component and the individual's coping with their stressors in their circumstances. Stress and peoples coping techniques are all a part of life. There will always be something that someone of every age group, culture, race, ethnicity, and gender will be stressed about and ways they will handle those stressors. Some people have better ways of coping than others. Evaluating an individual's stress in their life and looking at how they cope and what habits and behaviors they have picked up along the way is an essential aspect of the TTSC. Suppose there can be a link between a person's stress and their habits, like Levi overusing his prescription pills to relax or sleep better at night, using cocaine to enjoy his weekends, or getting a "pick-me-up" before the workday begins. Behaviorally, in that case, we can better understand why those habits are formed and provide positive coping mechanisms in place of those habits that can be viewed as negatives.

5 References Berjot, S., & Gillet, N. (2011). Stress and coping with discrimination and stigmatization. Frontiers in psychology, 2, 33. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00033 Moos R. H. (2007). Theory-based active ingredients of effective treatments for substance use disorders. Drug and alcohol dependence, 88(2-3), 109–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.10.010 Walinga, J. (2022). 16.2 Stress and Coping. Opentextbc.ca. Retrieved 21 May 2022, from https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/15-2-stress-and-coping/ #:~:text=In%20attempting%20to%20explain%20stress,%3A%20cognitive%2C %20physiological%2C%20affective%2C.

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