Assignment: Case Study Analysis - Psychoanalytic and Trait Theory
Reeb79
CaseofMrs.CAnalysis.docxStep-by-step explanation
Symptoms -
Symptoms of OCD
Hand washing- frequency is 25 to 30 times a day, 5 to 10 minutes at a time.
Her daily morning shower lasts for about 2 hours and if she forgets the sequence, she starts again.
Contamination obsession (no object that falls on the floor could be picked up), no washing underwear because it is contaminated
Unable to do household chores, wearing the same clothes for 7 years, did not go to a salon for 7 years which indicates decline in personal health and grooming.
Asking children to hand wash frequently due to fear of catching an illness and not allowing friends at home for the same reason.
Hoarding everything for almost 20 years.
Symptoms of sexual disorder - frigid, did not enjoy sex
Psychoanalytic Theory Case Study Analysis:
The Psychoanalytic Theory states that the unconscious part of the mind or id plays a huge role on our actions, relationships, and feelings. If unconscious conflicts are not resolved they lead to depression, anxiety, difficulty in personal and professional life; change in personality traits and even strain interpersonal relationships. These unconscious conflicts are rooted in childhood experiences and relationships.
In the case of Mrs. C, she had an authoritarian father and belonged to a sexually repressed Catholic family, was a middle child. Her mother cold and compulsive who disliked sex and lectured her 3 daughters about it too. Mother and grandmother were hoarders and her mother also had OCD about diseases and cleanliness therefore history of OCD in family is present. Her sexual disorder stems from this (having a cold and distant mother and a father who would always doubt her when she was on dates and asked her what she had done with the boys). Therefore, she developed a fear and was not aroused by sex at all.
Her OCD also has a basis on how she was brought up during her childhood.
Treatment
According to Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis will help to bring these repressed thoughts and emotions from the unconscious to the conscious so that Mrs. C will be able to deal with them. She did undergo therapy for 6 years but that has not shown much improvement in her mental illness. Psychoanalysis will help her understand where these thoughts and irrational fears come from that lead to her obsessions and compulsions.
Trait Theory Case Study Analysis:
The Trait theory states that every individual has certain traits that define their personalities. For example, a person might be an introvert, shy, easily agreeable and neurotic. On the other hand, another person might be an extrovert, outgoing and have some suspicions. Allport and Cattell are credited for this.
If we look at the Trait theory to analyse Mrs.C, it can be seen that she was preoccupied, anxious, disturbed, detached, stressed and controlling. This can be traced back to her upbringing during her childhood. Her father was a demanding and suspicious man who doubted his daughters and was very controlling about their behavior. They were not allowed to express themselves or use a loud voice inside the house. Their mother exhibited controlling and cold behavior when it came to sex and was distant towards them. Therefore, this led to neuroticism in Mrs. C and caused an imbalance in her personal relationships with her family too.
Treatment
After administering the 16PF test to Mrs. C, an analysis of her personality traits can be done. This will help to pin point which areas of her personality need to be worked on. Along with this, the treatment plan should include psychopharmacological intervention. She needs to be part of a support group where she can talk about her fear and anxiety.
