Scenario: Elise is a 14-years-old 7th grader housed in therapeutic foster care. She is part of the adolescent program for “at-risk” teens at the Rasmussen Help Center, LLC. She was referred to the center due to her history of abuse and for exhibiting prior violent and antisocial behaviors towards her younger brother and for several violent fights at school (for which she is now placed in an alternative junior high school).
Initial Post: Identify one human behavior theory and hypothesize, based on the main tenets of that theory, why Elise is presenting challenging behaviors. Also, provide two strategies that can potentially assist with Elise’s maladaptive behaviors.
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Ellice might have a conduct disorder wherein a “repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated.” For these kinds of conditions, at least one of the following are observed: 1) aggression to people and animals, 2) destruction of property, 3) deceitfulness or theft, or 4) serious violation of rules. Several theories or etiologies have been studied for this condition.
A probable human behavior theory could be Psychoanalytic and Attachment Theory. According to this Theory, a deficient ego and superego functioning can cause impairment in reality testing, judgment, and affect regulation. Moreover, disruptive behavior patterns may arise from neurobiological risk factors, attachment disturbance, inappropriate parenting practices, or adverse family ecology.
Strategies that can assist Elise’s maladaptive behaviors:
- Psychosocial interventions – cognitive-behavioral therapy, anger coping programs
- Psychopharmacologic interventions – physician-guided prescription of anti-psychotics or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Applying the psychoanalytic and attachment Theory, we may hypothesize that Elise may have a disorganized attachment to her family, probably secondary to several factors like maltreatment, domestic violence, or parental neglect. In addition, she might have also experienced adverse parenting practices like low parental involvement in child-rearing, inadequate supervision, or harsh punitive discipline. All of these factors may convey a risk of antisocial behavior.
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