1.
Running head: Case Vignette 1
Case Vignette
Name
Pepperdine University
PSY 612 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
Due Date

2.
CASE VIGNETTE 2
Case Vignette
The case Vignette represents Paul's life with his wife Miranda and some Matthew. Paul
had high hopes to improve the quality of his life. However, he opted to marry Miranda. He hoped
to lead a successful and satisfying experience with his wife and child. However, his family
seemed out of control. Miranda used projection and denial of defense mechanisms in her life.
The two parents and son decided to use operant conditioning to avoid creating further challenges.
However, the method did not help to solve the underlying problems. The existential approach
and behaviorism theory are essential in understanding the challenges that Paul experiences and
Matthew's life, respectively.
Miranda’s Defense Mechanisms
Miranda uses projection and denial as the defense mechanisms in her relationship with
Paul and Matthew. Freudian Psychoanalytical Theory described defense mechanisms as
unconscious psychological approaches that people use to distort or deny reality (Paul, 2018).
This behavior allows people to protect themselves against psychological factors like anxiety,
inadequacy, and fear. In the case of Vignette, Miranda uses a projection defense mechanism
when she accuses Paul of cheating on her. In reality, she perceives cheating as a threat to her
relationship. Besides, she relies on the denial defense technique when she claims that Matthew
does not complain about her absence in his life. Thus, Miranda uses these two techniques to
escape from the realities of her problems.
Operant Conditioning

3.
CASE VIGNETTE 3
The case Vignette reveals instances that fit in the operant conditioning theory, where
Paul, Miranda, and Matthew engage in wrong conducts knowingly. Operant conditioning theory
implies that people tend to participate in a specific way when they try to prevent an adverse
effect from occurring (Blackman, 2017). In this case, an individual tries to avoid causing a more
significant problem through unjustified behavior. For instance, Paul and Miranda failed to take
away the cellphone from their son due to security reasons. Despite that the gadget caused him to
misbehave, the parents decided to allow him to continue using it. In the second instance,
Matthew proceeds with his lousy conduct, regardless of continual frustrations. He knew that his
conduct stressed his parents but could not change for the better. Thus, operant conditioning
theory explains the behavior exhibited by Paul, Miranda, and Matthew.
Attachment Theory
Attachment theory helps to explain why Matthew opts to spend time in isolation.
Attachment theory explains that people develop close relationships with parents and friends
(Carvallo & Gabriel, 2006). Since humans are social, it is difficult for them to spend time in
isolation. However, some people with dismissive avoidant attachment feel comfortable without
close relationships (Carvallo & Gabriel, 2006). This behavior makes them different from others.
Matthew was a dismissive-avoidant individual. For instance, he felt awkward when people
requested for his company. Besides, he liked spending time alone while at home. These
observations show that Matthew did not value any form of attachment with close friends or
relatives.
Existential Approach

4.
CASE VIGNETTE 4
There is a possibility of understanding the challenges that Paul experiences from an
existential approach. People tend to search for the meaning of their lives through free-will
(George & Park, 2016). This statement suggests that people have a mandate to select the
conditions that they experience in their lives. Besides, such choices can lead them to significant
problems that may lower the overall quality of life (Kazdin, 2013). Paul made choices that led
him to significant challenges in life. For instance, he decided to get married due to loneliness in
his home. The decision made him lose many friends and meet Miranda, who would cause
challenges in his life. The need to maintain a healthy relationship with Miranda forced Paul to
fail to pursue its career. Thus, the choices that Paul made in his life resulted in many challenges.
Behaviorism
The behaviorism theory is useful in explaining Matthew’s case. Behaviorism theory states
that all behaviors result from external stimuli (Huey & Polo, 2008). As people interact with the
environment, they tend to acquire some of the actions that they observe. The case of Matthew fits
in this theory since he copies the actions he watches from his parents. For instance, his mother
did not allocate time for him. She overlooked the need to assist her child in his daily
assignments. The condition forced Matthew to disregard the need to maintain a healthy social
connection with close friends. Thus, behaviorism theory explains that Matthew acquired his
behavior from his surrounding environment.
Conclusion
In summary, different theories help to explain the life that Paul and his family experience.
From the analysis, Miranda used projection and denial defense mechanisms in her life. Paul, his
wife, and son decided to use operant conditioning to avoid creating further challenges in their

5.
CASE VIGNETTE 5
lives. However, their method did not help to solve the underlying problems as the marriage may
end in separation. The existential approach and behaviorism theory are essential in understanding
the challenges that Paul experiences and Matthew's life, respectively. Paul made choices that led
him into difficulties. Besides, Matthew obtained some behaviors through observation.

6.
CASE VIGNETTE 6
References
Blackman, D. (2017). Operant Conditioning. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315083735
Carvallo, M., & Gabriel, S. (2006). No man is an island: The need to belong and to dismiss
avoidant attachment style. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(5), 697–709.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167205285451
George, L. S., & Park, C. L. (2016). The multidimensional existential meaning scale: A tripartite
approach to measuring meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(6), 613–
627. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1209546
Huey, S. J., & Polo, A. J. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for ethnic minority
youth. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 37(1), 262–301. https://
doi.org/10.1080/15374410701820174
Kazdin, A. E. (2013). Behavior modification in applied settings. Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/
Thomson Learning.
Paul, R. (2018). Psychoanalysis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351307802

7.
CASE VIGNETTE 7
References
Corey, G. (2017). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Boston,
MA: Cengage Learning.