Depression and Personality Theory

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Institution

Beck’s cognitive therapy is pegged on Beck’s theory which proposes that depression is caused by three things namely; self worth, the environment, and the future. Depressions result from a negative view of oneself in his or her environment and a bleak view of the future. This results in hopelessness because the person views himself or herself as not being fit for society (McLeod, 2008). The person blames him or herself for any deficiencies in their life. Beck’s therapy is effective in therapy because therapy involves helping a patient to change his view of himself and the world around him. Thus, it involves creating a positive self- image. Thus, the focus is on the cognitive, which is the basis for developing a poor self- image.

Irene is a twenty three year old girl. She comes from a middle income family, and she has always had a good upbringing. Although she did not have a privileged upbringing, she had a comfortable life. Irene is a beautiful girl, and she has always received admiration from her peers. In addition to this, she is an above average student, and she has never had to struggle much in her education. She has always had things fall in place without much effort.

However, Irene recently completed her college studies and finding a job has been hard because most employers think she is not qualified for the available positions. Additionally, her boyfriend recently broke up with her for another girl who is not even college educated and whom, according to Irene is not as beautiful as her. These two events have left Irene devastated, and she is depressed. Cognitive therapy is suitable for Irene because she needs to have a positive image of herself. This would restore a positive image of herself and her capabilities. This is because her depression is due to a negative self- image and hopelessness for the future (McLeod, 2008).

My interpersonal style follows Sullivan’s theory, which states that human behavior is formed from interactions with other people. The personality of a person emerges from interactions with other people (Magnavita, 2012). These interactions result in reactions, which form the basis of personality. Human nature is based on the principle of maximizing pleasure and reducing pain. This describes the desire by people to avoid those situations that result in discomfort. According to Sullivan, human beings are interdependent and thus, most cases of maximizing pleasure come from interactions with others. These interactions are mutually satisfying and thus, they result in pleasure and reduction of anxiety.

My interpersonal have been affected, by the need to have friends whom I can count on at all times. These are people whom I can interact with at any time and do so freely without fear of being judged. Additionally, we share common interests, and this increases pleasure when we are having a good time because we are able to find different ways of maximizing pleasure. Sometimes, these interactions result in conflicts, which we solve amicably because conflicts reduce pleasure and increase anxiety (Magnavita, 2012). Those relationships that do not result in pleasure are quickly terminated because they cause discomfort.

These styles are consistent with Sullivan’s theory because the interaction styles are based on mutual benefits. In addition to benefits, these interactions enable me to learn to overlook some aspects of my personality, which can result in anxiety. These interactions also enable me to bring my unique personality and blend it with that of my peers for maximum pleasure. Through interactions, other aspects of my personality have been revealed, which were not visible in the past. This is in accordance to Sullivan’s theory, which holds that interactions are crucial in the formation of personalities (Magnavita, 2012).

References

Magnavita, J.J. (2012). HYPERLINK “http://outboundsso.next.ecollege.com/default/launch.ed?ssoType=CDMS&redirectUrl=https://content.ashford.edu/ssologin?bookcode=AUPSY330.12.1” t “_new”Theories of personality. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

McLeod, S. (2008). “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” SimplyPsychology. New York: Simply Psychology.