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PersonalizedPerspectivePaper
Mimi Plump
7/4/2021
LibertyUniversity
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Thesisstatement:Humanisticetiologicalperspectiveisonethatshowsanindividualized
approachtopeopleandmentalillness,insteadofgroupingpeopletogetherasone.Thisapproach aligns
most with a spiritual approach because it focuses on the person, not the process.
Introduction
There are six etiological perspectives: Physiological, Cognitive-behavioral,
Psychodynamic,Humanistic,Familysystems,andSociocultural.Foryearsresearchershavebeen
trying to find cause, treatment, and intervention for psychopathology to better understand it so
that they can try to find the best approach for it. Each of the six perspectives have different
strengths and weaknesses, all of which will be discussed. Examining these six etiological
perspectives will help someone understand psychopathology better and help in moving forward
in research on the topic. Personally, the Humanistic approach aligns most with my own beliefs
because it is an individualized approach that focuses on the person and their individualized
journey and experiences (Parritz & Troy, 2018). It is important to understand what perspective
you align with the most so that you can identify what your views will be like in the future.
Mentalhealthprofessionalsshouldbeknowledgeableonallperspectivessotheycan accommodate a
variety of clients in their career.
TheSixEtiologicalPerspectives
Physiological
ThePhysiologicalperspectiveputsanemphasisongenetic,structural,biological,and chemical
role on the psychopathological development in a person (Parritz & Troy, 2018).
Researchers are now able to tell how brains grow in structure and function through things like
brainimagingandstudyinggenetics.Withthismodelresearcherscantellwhichbrainregionsare
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associatedwithspecificemotions,whichcanhelpinunderstandingpsychopathology.However, the
downfall of this model is that it can lead researchers to overlook individual differences between
patients because they are only looking at underlying mechanisms and not considering how things
like emotions and behavior can differ from each patient. This model does help in understanding
how each brain region develops differently in different circumstances, and how
thosedifferentdevelopmentsmightleadtodifferentmentalillnesses,suchaspsychopathology.
Cognitive-Behavioral
Cognitive-behavioral models put emphasis on how our mind and behaviors work
together.Behavioralmodelsbelievethataperson’senvironmenthaveapowerfuleffectonthe
development of personality and psychopathology (Parritz & Troy, 2018).According to this
model,thewaysinwhichapersonthinksinfluencesthewaytheylearn,andinturninfluences how they
develop. One advantage of this model is that it can help in understanding the combination of
cognitive deficits that arerequired for diagnosing developmental disorders. In other models, the
link between cognitive and behaviors outcomes are often overlooked.A weakness of this model
is the complex understanding of the individual that is required.A person’s history is going to be
important in understanding which cognitive and behavioral benchmarks are relevant to a
diagnosis (Parritz & Troy, 2018).
Psychodynamic
The Psychodynamic perspectiveplaces astrong emphasis on theunconscious processes
that happen within a person’s brain that lead to personality development. These models also
focusonconflictsonprocessesandstructuresofthemind,thestagesofdevelopmentinpeople,
andthelastingimpactofstage-relatedchallenges.Thesemodelsholdthetheorythatpeoplecan
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becomestuck in oneof the stages of development if they facea challengeduring that stageand do
not successfully work through the challenge. Recently, psychodynamic models have begun
putting emphasis on unconscious cognitive, affective, and motivational processes, mental
representations of self, other, and relationships, the meaningfulness of individual experiences,
and a developmental perspective focused on the origins of typical and atypical personality in
earlychildhood(Parritz&Troy,2018).Thegoodthingaboutthismodelisthatisallowsforthe
considerationofpastexperiencesandthereforegivesamoreindividualizedapproachtofinding out
what is causing issues, but a downfall is that sometimes it oversimplifies the stages of
development in people (Parritz & Troy, 2018).
Humanistic
The models in Humanistic approaches put emphasis on personally meaningful
experiences, innate motivations for healthy growth, and a child’s purposeful creation of self
(Parritz & Troy, 2018).These models look at a person’s experiences, motivations, values, and
beliefstoseehowtheyrelatetodevelopmentalpsychopathology.Oneadvantageofthismodelis its
unique view on psychopathology since it has an individualized focus on each person. One thing
that could be considered a downfall with it would be its overly optimistic view of
happiness,creativity,andactualization(Parritz&Troy,2018).However,thisviewistheonethat aligns
most with my own views and beliefs and I would say that it aligns closest with a biblical
perspective.
FamilySystems
Families all function differently, and these family styles and systems can have a serious
outcomeonachild’sdevelopment(Wilmshurst,2018).TheFamilySystemmodelsproposethat
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tounderstandachildandtheirpersonalityandpsychopathology,youmustalsounderstandtheir family.
The textbook explains how different families have different beliefs, dreams, and fears, and
thosethings mostlikely effect thechild’s developmentalpsychopathology (Parritz&Troy, 2018).
The three most common parenting styles are permissive, authoritative or authoritarian
(Wilmshurst, 2018). These styles all differ in many different ways and can lead a child to
develop very differently. This model is unique because it gives an overall perspective on the
person by looking at their family history and seeing how family has influenced them
developmentally.Adisadvantage would be that family dynamics are all different and every
changing and these models require extensive research to be accurate.
Sociocultural
In Sociocultural models’emphasis is put on cultural considerations and how they effect
developmental psychopathology. Cultural norms have a huge impact on a person’s development
and these models look at individual-level culture, as well as socio-level culture to see how the
twohaveanimpactonaperson.Lookingathowdifferentsocialandculturalthingsdisadvantage some
groups, like women and lower-class families, we can understand how these disadvantages
leadtoanincreasedvulnerabilitytodevelopmentaldisabilities.Thismodelresultsinanunbiased view
on developmental psychopathology, but a disadvantage is a chance of over generalization of
cultures (Parritz & Troy, 2018).
Myperspective
FormyperspectiveIwouldhavetochoosetheHumanisticperspectivebecauseitaligns most
with my personal beliefs and values. This model is one that puts an individual first and I
believethatisveryimportantintreatment.Somemodelstendtogrouppeopletogethertotryto
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understandthem,andIbelievethisiswherealotofmisdiagnosingoccursandpeoplesufferasa result.
Humanistic is known as a very positive approach, which I believe to be very important in
treatmentbecausepeoplearealreadyataverydowntimeintheirlifeandneedthepositivething to help
them grow and recover. This approach puts emphasis on an empathetic and authentic
relationship between the client and mental health professional (Benjamin, 2010), and to me this
is also very important so that there can be a genuine bond that can lead to healing for the client.
Another thing about the humanistic approach is how individualized it is and how people receive
better treatment because of this. With looking at the person as a whole, I believe that people
getting better treatment, instead of just looking at someone as simply an alcoholic, or just a
person with bipolar disorder and just following a generalized treatment for those disorders.
Romans12:6says,“Havinggiftsthatdifferaccordingtothegracegiventous,letususethem:if prophecy,
in proportion to our faith” and to me, this states how people are all different and can use their
differences in all kinds of different ways. Being that people are all different, treatments cannot be
generalized and need to be individualized for each person. The humanistic approach
hasevenshowntobeusefulinallages.Inastudyonauthorityfiguresinschools,theyexamined how a
humanistic approach effected the children and found that some children needed more emotional
support than others and a humanistic approach to showing that support was helpful (Hanley et
al., 2020).
Conclusion
Inconclusion,allperspectivesdiffer,andshouldallberesearchedandacknowledged,but to me,
the humanistic perspective is the one that aligns with my perspective the most because of its
individualizedapproach.Thewayit examinesapersonasawholeand everyonedifferently is a way to
provide the best type of treatment plan in my eyes.
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References
Benjamin,E.(2010).HumanisticPsychologyandtheMentalHealthWorker.Journalof Humanistic
Psychology, 51(1).
Hanley,T.,Winter,L.A.,&Burrell,K.(2020).Supportingemotionalwell‐beinginschoolsin the
context of austerity:An ecologically informed humanistic perspective. British Journal of
Educational Psychology, 90(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12275
Parritz,R.A.&Troy,M.F.(2018).DisordersofChildhood:DevelopmentandPsychopathology (3rd
ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. ISBN: 9781337098113
TheHolyBible,NewInternationalVersion.(2011).CrosswayBibles.
Wilmshurst,L.A.(2018).Childandadolescentpsychopathology:Acasebook(4thed.).SAGE
Publications.
