Analyzing Lewis: A Case Study Using Psychological Approaches

This case study examines the psychological profile of Lewis, analyzing his behavior through behaviorist, physiological, and cognitive approaches. It explores how factors like loneliness, unhealthy eating habits, and exposure to negative stimuli influenced his actions and emotional responses. The study delves into the strengths and weaknesses of each psychological approach, highlighting how Lewis's impulsiveness, aggressiveness, and declining social interaction contributed to an unhealthy lifestyle. It discusses the use of experimental and non-experimental techniques, such as counseling and surveys, to understand his condition and potential treatment options. The analysis considers the impact of early childhood experiences, environmental factors, and cognitive processes on Lewis's overall well-being, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to psychological assessment and intervention. The document provides a comprehensive overview of Lewis's case, offering insights into the complexities of human behavior and the application of various psychological theories.

Case Study of Lewis

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. Behaviourist Approach to psychology.....................................................................................1
2. Physiological approach to psychology....................................................................................2
3. Other approaches to psychology..............................................................................................3
4. How Lewis was forced to enter an unhealthy lifestyle?..........................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Human behaviour is affected by actions and emotions of other humans. Psychology is
this study of human mind and behaviours by using an analytical situational approach.
Experiences that are positive and negative have deep impact on human beings. Lifestyle plays a
vital role in determining behaviour of a person. In this report, a case study of Lewis is considered
and certain approaches like behavioural, physiological and cognitive are applied. This gives a
visualisation of his behaviours and attitudes from different perspectives. Strengths and
weaknesses of these approaches will also be discussed ahead. But complete study depends on
analysis of factors that were responsible for this condition of Lewis. An experimental and non-
experimental technique will be applied.
1. Behaviourist Approach to psychology
A technical approach to psychology that determines environmental factors which are
responsible for a person’s attitudes and behaviours is Behaviourist approach to psychology.
Behaviourists suggest that observations must be recorded in order to analyse the psychological
situation of a person (Scott, 2015). Lewis is the patient here. Loneliness and unhealthy eating are
two major factors that contribute to diverging behaviour of a person. Psychology when
approached by a behaviourist is merely experimental observations that are gathered from natural
surroundings. In this case studies, following factors were contributing to Lewis’s unusual
behaviour:
 Lewis could not bear lack of attention and hence used to act inappropriately which would
result in laughing, unusual noises and wrong emotional responses in certain situations in
his childhood.
 Indulgence in alcoholism and smoking acts lead to increase in loneliness and minimum
interaction. This led to worsening of Lewis’s divergent behaviour.
The behaviourist approach can be further divided into methodological and radical
behaviours (Benson, 2014). Behaviourists consider all sorts of complexities and unusualness in a
person’s attitude as simple response to stimuli. It has to be dealt accordingly. Although Lewis
was subjected to such measures and help from school but it triggered more of negative
behaviour.
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Strengths: It is a scientific approach and has therapeutic effects on the patients (Seligman and
Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). There are various experiments that are involved with this approach and
can be useful in critically handling Lewis’s situation.
Weaknesses: biology is not included in this approach. Since, behaviours are considered as
response to stimuli, this approach ignores biology. It also ignores mediators and processes that
will be involved in traditional healing process of psychology. Behaviourists often compare
humans with animals and then judge the behaviours of patients. This fact is unacceptable for
humanity. Hence, it is a reductionist approach.
2. Physiological approach to psychology
An approach to psychology which involves biological functioning that occurs within the
body and causes certain behaviour is studied under physiology. Brain functioning and attributes
are judged in this approach (Groome, 2013). Human body reactions depend on gens, hormones,
nervous system reactions as well functioning of other body parts. When a person’s internal body
functions are not in coordination then behaviour of that particular person definitely diverges and
affects his near-by surroundings. Physiological psychologist perceives this approach as a
biological condition of a person. Voluntary and involuntary actions are regulated by mind. If
mind of a person is not healthy due to certain circumstances then attitudes do differ (Wade and
Jones, 2014).
Lewis’s personality had some disorders since his childhoods. According to biological
psychologists or physiological psychologist, it was impulsiveness and aggressiveness of Lewis
since his childhood was major detrimental factor. Lack of techniques and medical care resulted
in growth of this mind conditioning. Declining interaction socially and emotionally with related
family members resulted in greater deterioration (Smith, Mackie and Claypool, 2014). The
biological condition of Lewis worsened when he started getting subjected to alcohol and
smoking. These activities damage liver and lungs and also the brain of a person. Declining health
status resulted in bad conditioning of Lewis.
Strengths: Completely scientific and based on medical calculations and analysis, this approach
helps in understanding functional aspects of psychology. Empirical studies validate the
effectiveness of this approach to psychology. It helps in counter arguing irrelevant facts and
helps in focusing on objective rather than surrounding facts.
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Weaknesses: Often while applying this approach physiologist deny certain conditions that might
be affecting the patient. This could be negligence to conditions of the victim. Cognitive
responses are not recognised. Complex situations become more complicated when simple
prevention techniques are applied by physiologists who use this approach.
3. Other approaches to psychology
There are many other approaches to psychology like cognitive approach,
psychoanalytical, cross cultural approach, evolutionary approach, etc. (Nestor and Schutt, 2014).
Cognitive approach is highly adopted my modern psychologists. Human mind is itself a
computer. Cognitive approach to psychology is considered monitoring of human mind as an
information centre which processes and transmits according to stimuli responses. Language,
memory, perceptions and attention to every instance is recorded and interpreted by brain. The
use of equipment and scientific simulation techniques is involved in this approach. Experiments
are conducted and use of artificial intelligence with computer technology helps in recognising
damage areas inside the brain which results in disturbances of behaviour of a person (Levine and
Parkinson, 2014). This model does not combat with behaviourist approach. Cognitive approach
defines internal behaviour of a person in every situation.
The cognitive approach to psychology determined following factors that were responsible
for Lewis’s situation:
 Tendency to indulge in wrong activities like watching only 18 certificate films and
playing Xbox games made Lewis more prone to loneliness. According to cognitive
approach these activities make an individual to gain impulsive nature and become
incompatible with general human attitudes (Gale and Edwards, 2016).
 Less interaction with people leads to less growth of mind. Lewis was used to living alone
and he did not like talking and meeting people. Hence, his mind could not develop. Lewis
also could not adapt to surroundings, this means that he was not able to respond properly
to stimuli.
 Living lonely results in depression and retards development process of children (Sprague
and Epstein, 2013). Lewis could not find appropriate opportunity for employment
because of his underdeveloped childhood. He wasn’t able to cope in his school days and
this resulted in failure and early departure from school.
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Strengths: Having therapeutic effects and based on scientific evaluation cognitive approach to
psychology is the best known method till date. It doesn’t only helps in analysing external factors
but also determines internal disturbances of the patient. A valid combination of behaviourism,
social learning and biological factors is cognitive approach. This helps in improved judgements
and better medications once the major flaw in behaviour is detected.
Weaknesses: Ecological validity of this approach is not present. Sometimes people reject
scientific or instrumental methods of checking divergence in behaviour.
4. How Lewis was forced to enter an unhealthy lifestyle?
Right from childhood, impulsiveness was predominant in Lewis’s behaviour. Certain
observations were made in his case study which is mentioned ahead:
 Attention seeking attitude of Lewis was observed in school when he tried to make
inappropriate comments and laughing at wrong instances.
 Misbehaving with people and showing aggression was dominant in Lewis’s behaviour.
 Watching 18 certificate movies and chronic drinking and smoking habits also led to
deterioration in his relationships with others.
 Loneliness was also a crucial contributing factor for Lewis’s conditions which could not
be resolved by his parents or step father who actually cared for his son.
Disruptive and negative behaviours are triggered when people are unable to cope with
normal situations. Lifestyle is one such aspect that plays a vital role in individual well-being
maintenance. Experimental method that can be used to investigate this situation is counselling
and cognitive approach (Svare, 2013). Technological support can be taken with help of a
psychologist by Lewis’s parents so that valid observations can be made. It will not only help in
judging factors that are contributing to ill mental health of Lewis but also prevent him from
taking dangerous steps to escape from the situation.
Strengths: Effective treatment can be gathered and applied to patient, which will give best
results (Brunia, 2013).
Weaknesses: If Lewis doesn’t take these tests positively then end results could be fatal as these
are not so valid to humanism.
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Non experimental methods that can be used are surveys and feedbacks from all known
people who have had certain experiences with Lewis. This will give a personalised judgement to
situation and deeper observations can be gathered. Since, patient himself is not involved then,
better and clear reactions can be recorded (Thompson and Patterson, 2013).
Strengths: No dangers are involved. Human observations are much better objectives for
evaluating the situation. This method can be applied easily by relatives and parents to cure Lewis
and change his living standards by taking help from health and social care organisations that
function locally.
Weaknesses: Sometimes, observations can be weak and wrongly recorded by humans.
Committing of errors can change dynamics of these psychological observations.
CONCLUSION
Psychological studies and approaches help in understanding human reactions and
behaviours deeply (Sprague and Epstein, 2013). In this report various approaches to psychology
were described using the case study of Lewis. The living conditions and methods that were used
by Lewis landed him in critical situation which was too difficult to handle. Behaviourists’ theory
was traditionally used but could not be applied because it is unconditional and often results in
irrelevant judgements. While cognitive approach can be opted as a therapy for healing Lewis
because it is based on technological predictions of human brain activity and its reactions to
particular stimuli. Above all experimental and non-experimental techniques evaluation by
support of family members or loved ones helps in effective treatment of patients that are
psychologically disturbed.
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REFERENCES
Books
Scott, M. J.(2015) A Cognitive-Behavioural Approach to Clients' Problems (Psychology
Revivals). Routledge.
Benson, N. (2014). Introducing Psychology: a graphic guide. Icon Books Ltd.
Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). Positive psychology: An introduction (pp. 279-
298). Springer Netherlands.
Groome, D. (2013). An introduction to cognitive psychology: Processes and disorders.
Psychology Press.
Wade, J. C., & Jones, J. E. (2014). Strength-based clinical supervision: A positive psychology
approach to clinical training. Springer Publishing Company.
Smith, E. R., Mackie, D. M. and Claypool, H. M., 2014. Social psychology. Psychology Press.
Nestor, P. G. and Schutt, R. K., 2014. Research methods in psychology: Investigating human
behavior. Sage Publications.
Levine, G., & Parkinson, S. (2014). Experimental methods in psychology. Psychology Press.
Gale, A., & Edwards, J. A. (Eds.). (2016). Individual Differences and Psychopathology:
Physiological Correlates of Human Behaviour (Vol. 3). Academic Press.
Sprague, J. M., & Epstein, A. N. (Eds.). (2013). Progress in psychobiology and physiological
psychology. Academic Press.
Svare, B. B. (2013). Hormones and aggressive behavior. Springer Science & Business Media.
Brunia, C. H. M. (2013). Department of Psychology Physiological Psychology Section. Slow
Potential Changes in the Human Brain, 254, 99.
Thompson, R. F., & Patterson, M. M. (Eds.). (2013). Bioelectric Recording Techniques:
Electroencephalography and Human Brain Potentials (Vol. 1). Academic Press.
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