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Writing Assignment #1

This document provides instructions for a 12-point writing assignment based on required reading about distal and proximal factors in borderline personality disorder. Students must complete short answer responses ranging from 3-5 sentences for each point referring to material from Chapter 1 of the required textbook and an external reading link. Writing assignments must be successfully uploaded by noon on February 17 to avoid late penalties. The document provides sample questions and items to address in the response.

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Nallely Alvarez Diaz
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88 views

Writing Assignment #1

This document provides instructions for a 12-point writing assignment based on required reading about distal and proximal factors in borderline personality disorder. Students must complete short answer responses ranging from 3-5 sentences for each point referring to material from Chapter 1 of the required textbook and an external reading link. Writing assignments must be successfully uploaded by noon on February 17 to avoid late penalties. The document provides sample questions and items to address in the response.

Uploaded by

Nallely Alvarez Diaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 This is a 12-point assignment based on Chapter 1 of the required textbook and a

link to an external reading (Week 2 External Reading #1) explaining distal and
proximal factors in borderline personality disorder. Short answer responses
should range from 3-5 sentences each. The 3-5 sentence recommendation does not
apply to “fill in the blank” and “list” items.
 Writing assignment responses will be accepted under Blackboard Content  Turn
It In  starting Thursday, February 12 at Noon
 The writing assignment must be successfully uploaded no later than Noon on
Monday, February 17 to avoid late penalties described in the syllabus.

USE YOUR OWN WORDS – DO NOT COPY DIRECTLY FROM THE TEXT
unless you are answering a “fill in the blank” or “list” item.

Items 1-6 refer to Chapter 1 of the Sue et al., required textbook.

1. Chapter 1 provides background information on Jared Lee Loughner who shot U.S.
Representative Gabrielle Giffords and bystanders. Loughner was not diagnosed
with paranoid schizophrenia until after his arrest. Imagine that your roommate
borrows your textbook and argues that Loughner’s anger and paranoid symptoms
were solely due to biological risk factors for schizophrenia. You disagree with
your roommate. Based on the textbook discussion, briefly describe one of the
stressors or other environmental factors that have also contributed to Loughner’s
anger and eventual shooting spree.
2. According to Buchanan, Binder, Norko, & Swartz (2012), list any two risk factors
that are associated with increased violence potential. OK to quote the text for this
item.
3. Briefly explain what Thomas Szasz means when he argues that people may have
“problems in living” but not “mental illness.”
4. Imagine that you are a licensed therapist working with Tomas, a new client
seeking help for depression. Tomas has only been living in the United States for
six months. Tomas has had to deal with numerous racial slurs by coworkers who
were born in the United States. Briefly explain why self-stigma might be relevant
to Tomas’s depression.
5. Positive psychology emphasizes resilience in the form of strengths and assets.
Imagine that you are a licensed clinical psychologist who values positive
psychology. A senior colleague with many years of experience tells you that
positive psychology is “just a fad.” In your own words, describe any one of the
advantages of the positive psychology approach in relation to working with
Darwin, a combat veteran diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
6. Briefly describe how technology-assisted therapy might be useful in working with
Darwin to reduce PTSD symptoms.
DONE
7. (7A) Kristen Salter-Pedneault focuses on distinguishing distal risk factor
symptoms and treatments for the development of borderline personality disorder.
According to her definition of a distal factor, it can be put into simpler terms as a
risk factor that can has been correlated with a particular condition occurring in the
near future but does not necessarily cause it instantly or for sure.

(7B) After taking several courses for my minor (Law, Justice, and Social Control),
a career that has called my interest is criminal psychologist. As a criminal
psychologist, distal factors is a concept that will be used very often. As my
greatest interest has been to work with children and youth, distal factors that could
predict criminal behavior would be things such as: homelessness, living in a
single parent household, poverty, and abuse.

8. The author of the article mainly focuses on the risks of the development of
borderline personality disorder. Based on Kristen’s description of the personality
disorder and its risk factors, two distal factors that increase the development of
BPD are: genetics, childhood abuse and trauma. Genetics are considered to being
huge contributors to the development of certain illnesses such as diabetes, and in
this case BPD (when having a first-degree relative). On the other hand, childhood
abuse simply introduces a child to stress so early on in their lives, which creates a
greater risk for the development of this disorder.

9. As described by the author in the article, distal risk factors are seen more as
possible predictors of something occurring. Blair misunderstood the idea behind
what a distal risk factor is. Instead, her point made describes a proximal risk
factor, which is immediate rather than far in the future as a distal risk factor is.

10. Immediate

11. Salters-Pedneault elaborates on the difference between a distal and a proximal


factor. The four proximal factors that elevate the risk of developing borderline
personality disorder are: “ongoing abuse, physical impairment or injury, poor
academic or work performance, and stressful life events.”

12. As a licensed school psychologist, I am fully aware and informed about


personality disorders and their symptoms. Two symptoms or behavior patterns
that are likely to describe a student who possibly has borderline personality
disorder would be: unstable mood, and engaging in risky behavior such as
unprotected sex. Although symptoms may vary, these are two very obvious
behavioral patterns that are able to be pointed out.

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