ASWB Bachelors Exam

Theories of Couples Development

couples interactions follow a developmental model

stages

1. romance

2. power struggle

3. stability

4. commitment

5. co-creation

Theories of Couples Development:

Romance

-stage one

-begins at introduction, common interests, learning about each other

• focus of this stage is attachment

-romantic bond is foundational and critical to health of relationship

-members in engage in symbiotic or mutualistic relationships

Theories of Couples Development:

power struggle

-stage two

-realize that they arent the same person

defining one's self

-loss of romance from self expression

-differentiation

-acknowledge differences, learn to share power and accept partners w/o needing to change them

Theories of Couples Development:

stability

stage three

becoming more independent within the relationship

focus on personal needs

autonomy and individuality

disagreements can occur w/o a party "winning"

power struggles are avoided

ultimate goal is intimacy that doesn't sacrifice separateness

Theories of Couples Development:

commitment

stage 4

marriage is ideal

good outweighs the bad

realization that they want to be together

still need work to effectively function in next/last stage of couple-hood

Theories of Couples Development:

co-creation

stage 5

constancy

partners are able to value and respect separateness of the other

respect and mutual growth

work on projects together

creating positive change that benefits other people

Acting out

Emotional conflict is dealt with through actions rather than feelings

instead of talking about feeling neglected, acting out to get attention

compensation

enables one to make up for real or fancied deficiencies. (little man syndrome)

conversion

repressed urge is expressed disguised as a disturbance of body function, usually the sensory, voluntary nervous system

decompensation

deterioration of existing defenses

denial

primitive defense; inability to acknowledge true significance of thoughts, feelings, events

devaluation

Defense mechanism frequently used by individuals with borderline personality organization in which a person attributes exaggerated negative qualities to self or others. split of primitive idealization

dissociation

a process that enables a person to split mental functions in a manner that allows them to express forbidden or unconscious impulses w/o taking responsibility for the action bc they dont remember it or bc they are not experienced as their own actions

displacement

directing an impulse, wish or feeling toward a person or situation that is not the real object

(mad at boss, kicks dog)

idealization

overestimation of an admired aspect or attribute of another

identification

universal mechanism whereby a person patterns themself after a significant other. plays a major role in personality development, especially superego

identification with the aggressor

mastering anxiety by identifying with a powerful aggressor to counteract feelings of helplessness and to feel powerful oneself. (abusing others after one has been abused themself)

Incorporation

Primitive mechanism in which psychic representation of a person (or parts of a person) is/are figuratively ingested

inhibition

loss of motivation to engage in activity avoided bc it might stir up conflict over forbidden impulses

introjection

loved or hated external objects are symbolically absorbed within self (depressed, unconscious unacceptable hatred is turned toward self)

Intellectualization

where a person avoids uncomfortable emotions by focusing on facts and logic. Emotional aspects are completely ignored as being irrelevant.

isolation of affect

Unacceptable impulse, idea, or act is separated from its original memory source, thereby removing the original emotional charge associated with it.

projection

primitive defense; attributing ones disowned attitudes, wishes, feelings, urges to some external object or person

projective identification

— a form of projection utilized by persons with Borderline Personality Disorder— unconsciously perceiving others' behavior as a reflection of one's own identity.

rationalization

third line of defense, not unconscious. giving believable explanation for irrational behavior, motivated by unacceptable unconscious wishes or by defenses used to cope with such wishes

reaction formation

person adopts affects, ideas, attitudes or behaviors that are opposites of those he or she harbors consciously or unconsciously

regression

partial or symbolic return to more infantile patterns, can be in service to ego

Repression

key mechanism, expressed clinically by amnesia or symptomatic forgetting serving to banish unacceptable ideas, fantasies, affects, or impulses from consciousness

splitting

defensive mechanism associated with borderline personality disorder in which a person percieves self and others as all good or all bad. splitting serves to protect the good objects. a person cant integrate the good and bad in people

sublimation

potentially maladaptive feelings or behaviors are diverted into socially acceptable adaptive channels (angry person channeling that into sports)

Substitution

Unattainable or unacceptable goal, emotion, or object is replaced by one more attainable or acceptable.

symbolization

a mental representation that stands for some other thing, class of things, or attribute. this mechanism underlies dream formation and other symptoms (such as conversion, obsessions, compulsions) with a link btw latent meaning of symptom and symbol; usually unconscious

turning against self

defense to deflect hostile aggression or other unacceptable impulses from another to self

undoing

a person uses words or actions to symbolically reverse or negate unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or actions (i.e., a person compulsively washing hands to deal with obsessive thoughts).

goals of treatment of substance abuse disorder

1. abstinence from substances

2. maximizing life functioning

3. preventing or reducing the frequency and severity of relapse

stages of treatment of substance abuse disorders

1. stabilization

2. rehabilitation/habilitation

3. maintenance

stages of treatment of substance abuse disorders

stabilization

stage one

focus is on establishing abstinence, accepting a substance abuse problem, and committing ones self to making changes

stages of treatment of substance abuse disorders

rehabilitation/habilitation

stage two

focus on remaining substance-free by establishing a stable lifestyle, developing coping and living skills, increasing supports, grieving loss of substance use

stages of treatment of substance abuse disorders

maintenance

stage three

focus is on stabilizing gains made in treatment, relapse prevention, and termination

closed system

uses up its energy and dies

differentiation

becoming specialized in structure and function

entropy

Closed, disorganized, stagnant; using up available energy

Equifinality

Arriving at the same end from different beginnings

Homeostasis

steady state

input

Obtaining resources from the environment that are necessary to attain the goals of the system

negative entropy

exchange of energy and resources between systems that promote growth and transformation

open system

a system with cross-boundary exchange

output

A product of the system that exports to the environment

subsystem

a major component of a system made up of two or more interdependent components that interact in order to attain their own purpose(s) and the purpose(s) of the system in which they are embedded

Suprasystem

An entity that is served by a number of component systems organized in interacting relationships

throughput

Energy that is integrated into the system so it can be used by the system to accomplish its goals

role ambiguity

lack of clarity of role

role complementarity

role is carried out in an expected way (parent, child, social worker-client)