Questions: After reviewing the case below, choose two perspectives (neuroscience, humanistic, cognitive, psychodynamic, or behavioral) to create a short dialogue between two psychologists discussing Sara's behavior. Feel free to be creative in your dialogue! Define your two chosen perspectives and briefly discuss the differences of each approach. What was one missing in your dialogue from the case that the other helped to explain? For example, what would a psychodynamic psychologist say about Sara's behavior versus a cognitive psychologist? Your dialogue might look something like this: Psychodynamic Psychologist: Sara seems to be exhibiting these behaviors as a result of unconscious thoughts and conflicts she may not be aware of. Cognitive Psychologist: That could be true! But I think a possible cause of Sara's anxiety could stem from the way she thinks about the world around her. Her thinking is distorted and we should work to change that. Psychodynamic Psychologist: Hmm... Sara's parents did get a divorce when she was in high school. She could have possibly repressed those feelings that are now coming to the surface from her own recent divorce. Cognitive Psychologist: Yes, but we are still not getting at the root of the way Sara thinks and processes information. She excessively worries about everything, not just her parent's divorce and her own.

To create a dialogue between two psychologists discussing Sara's behavior, let's choose the cognitive and behavioral perspectives. First, I'll define these perspectives and discuss their differences.

Cognitive Perspective: This approach focuses on understanding how people perceive, think, and solve problems. It emphasizes the role of mental processes in how people process information, develop language, and remember experiences. Cognitive psychologists believe that dysfunctional thinking leads to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors.

Behavioral Perspective: This approach is centered on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Behavioral psychologists study observable and measurable behaviors, often ignoring the mental processes behind them. They believe that behavior is learned from the environment through conditioning.

Differences: The cognitive perspective emphasizes internal mental processes, while the behavioral perspective focuses on observable behaviors and the external environment's role in shaping them. Cognitive psychologists might explore how Sara's thought patterns contribute to her depression, whereas behavioral psychologists would look at her learned behaviors and how they can be modified.

Dialogue:

Cognitive Psychologist: Sara's depression might be linked to her negative thought patterns. She could be interpreting her work pressure and divorce in a way that exacerbates her feelings of hopelessness.

Behavioral Psychologist: That's an interesting point. However, I think we should also consider how Sara's environment and learned behaviors are contributing to her depression. Perhaps she's developed certain habits or responses to stress that are reinforcing her depressive state.

Cognitive Psychologist: True, but if we can help her identify and change those negative thought patterns, she might be able to alter her emotional responses to these stressors.

Behavioral Psychologist: Absolutely, but we should also implement behavioral interventions, like positive reinforcement or exposure therapy, to help her unlearn those maladaptive behaviors and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Missing Element: The cognitive perspective might miss the impact of Sara's environment and learned behaviors, which the behavioral perspective helps to explain. Conversely, the behavioral perspective might overlook the internal thought processes that the cognitive approach addresses. Together, these perspectives provide a more comprehensive understanding of Sara's situation.