Question

Case Study #1: Mark

Mark has found himself drinking much more in recent months. He doesn’t know why this transition has occurred, but he has a sense that it probably stems back to two different things—a recent divorce and some new friends that he recently met. To be more specific, Mark has found that alcohol really helps him forget the pain of his divorce—for at least a little while—and he has also discovered that his new friends are almost always happy to hang out with him if he goes out to a bar.

• What concept of behaviorism can explain this new development in Mark’s behavior? Use detailed terminology to explain how both of these situations listed above relate to this concept.
• How could issues with generalization and discrimination exacerbate or help in this situation?
• With respect to the concept listed above, how can Mark utilize this concept to help lower his alcohol consumption if he finds that it is getting out of control? Again, use detailed terminology to describe this process.

Please help me explain case 1. Thank you.

Answer 1

The alcoholism concept of behaviorism can explain this new development in Mark’s behavior because after his divorce he started drinking to forget the pain. Based on the case scenario it has been observed that both situations are associated with the alcoholic behavior of Mark. He was addicted to alcohol in order to forget his pain of divorce and his friends like him when he hangs out with them to bar.

Issues with generalization and discrimination exacerbate or help in this situation is mentioned below:

Generalization: As Mark has developed the behavior of drinking alcohol with his friends for fun and to forget the pain; he can easily learn to drink by himself.

Discrimination: It is the opposite of the generalization concept because it depicts the Marks finds it fun while drinking with his friends and forget the pain of divorce, but he might not feel better while drinking alone.

Mark can utilize this concept to help lower his alcohol consumption if he finds that it is getting out of control by saying no to alcohol and minimizing the habit of drinking with friends for fun. It is of utmost importance to use the discrimination concept so that Mark can develop a habit of not drinking when he was living alone.