Levi's Case: Communication Barriers & Cognitive Restructuring Analysis

This case study examines Levi, a 35-year-old HIV-positive man, who has withdrawn from social interactions due to his diagnosis. The analysis focuses on the breakdown of interpersonal communication and the increased reliance on intrapersonal communication as Levi isolates himself from family, fri...Read More

Discussion Questions
Discussion

Discussion Questions 2
Table of Contents
Discussion 1..........................................................................................................................................3
Discussion 2..........................................................................................................................................5
References:............................................................................................................................................6

Discussion Questions 3
Discussion 1
The interpersonal, intrapersonal and environmental are three types of communication which
are being used in the group of people or in workplace area to communicate between the
employees or the staff members. The major difference between these three interventions in
the context of group work is:
Intrapersonal:
This is basically the communication that occurs within an individual. This type of
communication is used by an individual for various purposes like for analysing the situations,
reflecting upon phenomenon and for clarifying concepts. There are majorly three subdivision
of intrapersonal communication these are: perception, expectation and self- concept.
Intrapersonal communication can be called as the self-evaluation of a person. This is the way
in which a person can analyse his/ her innersole; this also involves solo vocal communication
which means speaking out aloud to oneself (Stacks & Salwen, 2014)
Interpersonal:
This is the type of communication that takes place in-between two or more person. This type
of communication is usually done in the groups. The interpersonal communication consists of
four basic elements they are sender, receiver, message and medium. There are verbal and
non- verbal forms of communication which are used for interpersonal communication (Lane,
2016). Verbal forms means the person speaks or expresses his/ her feelings and non-verbal
communication is where the person expresses his/ her feelings and expresses them on the
paper or through the forms other than verbal forms that include signs, letter, text messages
and e-mails (Pavord & Donnelly, 2015).
Environmental:
This is actually a practice for the healthy and safe communication between the employees at
work place and members of any group. Environment comprises of social, economic and
political groups. The communication practice in all the three groups is different. As we see
our social groups the communication pattern is informal contrary to that the communication
in economic and political groups is formal. Our social groups are comprised of our family
and friends. The people in our economic circle are our co-workers and employees. The

Discussion Questions 4
communication patterns that we follow amongst our groups are very different a bit casually
we behave in our social groups and we need to behave formally in our economic groups
(Gackenbach, 2011).
The present case is about Levi who is 35 years old and is suffering from AIDS. He blocked
all his communication from his family, friends and even with his co employees. He is having
after that everyone will take wrong contentions about his as they came to know about the
disease of Levi. He is having fear within that everyone will stop communicating him after
knowing about his disease and people will gossip on his character. He just started doing
intrapersonal communication as he talks with himself and evaluates the things and takes
decisions on the basis of his own contentions and believes. He stopped being social and
restricted himself from doing interpersonal communication.

Discussion Questions 5
Discussion 2
Cognitive restructuring is a rational emotive theory (RET), this emphasis on two notions
theses are:
1. Thoughts effect the human behaviour as well as emotion, and
2. Irrational beliefs are responsible for the disorders in human (Beck, Emery &
Greenberg, 2005).
RET is also classified in these four types of irrational beliefs: feeling awful, self-
condemnation, dire necessity and person cannot stand for something.
Cognitive restructuring is used to help the individuals who are experiencing some psychiatric
conditions, including substance abuse disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and social
phobia (Mueser, Rosenberg & Rosenberg, 2009).
In the present case Levi is going through depression and facing the problem of social phobia.
He is having cognitive distortions which can be cured by taking cognitive behavioural
therapy. The therapy will help him to get out of his depression and social phobia and he will
be able to communicate with people easily and normally as he used to do before. After taking
the therapy he will rescue all his thoughts like thoughts about evaluation of others and self-
evaluated thoughts.

Discussion Questions 6
References:
Beck, A. T., Emery, G., & Greenberg, R. L. (2005). Anxiety disorders and phobias: A
cognitive perspective. Basic Books.
Gackenbach, J. (Ed.). (2011). Psychology and the Internet: Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and
transpersonal implications. Academic Press.
Lane, S. D. (2016). Interpersonal communication: Competence and contexts. Routledge.
Mueser, K. T., Rosenberg, S. D., & Rosenberg, H. J. (2009). Treatment of posttraumatic
stress disorder in special populations: A cognitive restructuring program. American
Psychological Association.
Pavord, E., & Donnelly, E. (2015). Communication and interpersonal skills. Lantern
Publishing.
Stacks, D. W., & Salwen, M. B. (Eds.). (2014). An integrated approach to communication
theory and research. Routledge.