Example Of Essay On The Case Of Donna

Jane Doe

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Donna is fifty-one year old mother of two children ages ten and twelve. Most would say she is a good mother. As a descendant of Dutch parents, Donna has traits of her personality carried on from previous generations. She prefers perfection in all that she does, and expects it from her children as well. If any criticism is directed toward her by others, or to her children Donna does not handle it very well. She is an extremely organized individual who prides herself on efficiency, which to her shows responsibility. Unfortunately the pressure she puts on herself drives her to cope through excessive use of caffeine and nicotine, smoking about a pack per day of cigarettes.
Based on the Five-Factor Model, Donna is often dwelling in the neuroticism phase of the spectrum. Her obsessive nature for perfection in the way she controls her children and daily activities reinforces this theory. The extrovert in her, possibly enjoys boasting about her superior organization with others, places her in situations where she becomes vulnerable to criticism. The addictive nature associated with neuroticism drives her towards using caffeine and cigarettes to cope with the stress.
In my assessment of Donna, it seems she is likely to be shifting between a level of extraversion and neuroticism, caught in a vicious cycle. If Donna wants to attempt to move away from this personality trait, an interruption, through self-awareness is suggested. Therapy may be an option for her to heal herself; however studies show that the problem may be more serious if there is a biological factor associated with her neurosis, which requires a thorough physical and mental health examination.

References

Jeffe, E. (2012). Inside the neurotic mind. Retrieved from
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/video/inside-the-neurotic-mind-2.html
Judge, T. A., Heller, D., & Mount, M. K. (2002). Five-factor model of personality and job
satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(3), 530-541. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.3.530