A Psychologist Is Diagnosing a Patient and Wants to Measure

question 60

Essay

A psychologist is diagnosing a patient and wants to measure the patient's prefrontal brain metabolism levels while the patient is told to concentrate on her obsessions.The psychologist uses fMRI to measure prefrontal brain metabolism levels before,during,and after her patient concentrates on obsessions.She finds that her patient's concentration on obsessions is correlated with increases in prefrontal brain metabolism levels,and she concludes that her patient has obsessive-compulsive disorder.Discuss the grounds on which such a conclusion would be criticized,and describe what else the psychologist might do to diagnose her patient.

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Definitions:

Personal-Document Approach

A qualitative research method that involves the analysis of personal documents, such as diaries or letters, to understand individual experiences and perspectives.

Personality Traits

Enduring characteristics or qualities that define an individual's behavior across varying situations.

Mature Personality

Characterized by the ability to cope effectively with the realities of life, show emotional stability, and demonstrate empathy and concern for others.

Self-Objectification

The process by which individuals treat themselves as objects to be viewed and judged based on appearance.