Download Case Study PSY480 Case Study: Elvis Presley The concentration of

Case Study
PSY480
Case Study: Elvis Presley
The concentration of clinical psychology is to evaluate and treat a collection of
psychological as well as behavioral abnormalities (Plante, 2005). The procedure of
comprehending how and why abnormalities evolve is the objective in this area. Also, treating the
patient is not only the important factor; however, investigating the probable causative measures
versus abnormalities is also another factor. When undertaking the responsibility of
comprehending the etiology of an abnormality, it is vital to be knowledgeable to the idea of
multiple causalities. No abnormality has a single component; however, there are many that add
to its commencement. There are usually predisposing factors, like former circumstances and
incidents that the person sees and installed in the mind in a certain manner. There may also be
precipitating reasons in which present effects exists that causes the behavior to appear. Also,
there is a link between what the individual perceives in his/her mind and the biological mind
functions that precede or turn out to be an outcome. How an individual believes, like one’s
thoughts, values, beliefs, attitudes, etc., has everything to do with interconnectivity of signs and
symptoms. In this article, I will investigate polysubstance abuse and its etiology in the case of
Elvis Presley’s.
Elvis Presley: Case Overview
In 1935, Elvis Presley was born to a needy couple in Mississippi (Meyer, Chapman, &
Weaver, 2009). Elvis grew up in a fairly usual family, in spite of his father being imprisoned for
three years which made Elvis distant to his father. By 1954, Elvis began his career in astronomy.
He became extremely popular and altered the record of rock and roll. Important events like being
enlisted in the army, the loss of his mother with whom he has an intimate relationship with, and
the failure of his marriage were issues that affected his problem. Elvis Presley depended
extremely on various prescription pills. His mother also relied on prescription medication for
anxiety and to be able to get to sleep (Meyer at al., 2009). Elvis passed away in 1977, at the age
of 42. Elvis’ toxicology result has shown occurrences of numerous kinds of drugs.
In lieu of traditional scientific psychology, Elvis Presley would have been diagnosed with
polysubstance dependence. Polysubstance dependence includes the utilization of three or more
substances but does not involve caffeine or nicotine and should have been taken for at least half a
year (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Applying the idea of multiple causality, biologic,
behavioral, cognitive, and socio-cultural mechanisms of polysubstance dependence will be
tackled.
Etiology of Polysubstance Dependence
Biological Factors
The biologic style to misuse of substance involves various justifications. First is the
neurotransmitter system that regulates the center of the mind is the one mostly affected with the
utilization of almost every drug (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Over a period of time, the mind
stores memories of the pleasures inherited from the drugs, leaving a biologic mechanism of drug
usage. Ecological factors, which will be tackled later, can activate the biologic memory and
produce desire to repeat the effect of the drug again. The disease model also adds to the biologic
style with self-medication philosophy. This philosophy of using substances to change the brain
chemistry is biologically deficient in a brain chemical or to relax unpleasant emotional
conditions (Hansell& Damour, 2008).
Hereditary factors are also connected to substance abuse. Just as mental abnormalities are
connected to family inheritance, likewise is substance misuse. Genes can also have an impact on
the susceptibility of effects of substances, like the level of pleasure and the level of presence of
withdrawal effects (Hansell & Damour, 2008). A few individuals take pleasure in the effects of a
substance whereas others might mostly not like it, and withdrawal of “hangover” manifestations
differ widely from person to person. Elvis Presley’s reliance on prescription drugs can be
connected to hereditary factors with multiple probabilities. Social stress and self-medication
philosophy might fit and other genetic aspects that can be identified to his parents.
Behavioral Factors
Operant and classical conditioning are two conventional philosophies pertinent to
substance use. With operant conditioning, drugs can have a great impact on the person for both
the positive and negative reinforcement it gives. Drugs can give an extremely pleasant feeling
while using them, and at the same time relieves any bad emotions, also known as tension
reduction (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Classical conditioning can also add to the behavioral
mechanism of substance use. With the case of Presley, the on-stage surroundings and elements of
rock and roll lifestyle could easily have conditioned his intellectual processes into connecting it
with drug usage. Also, aside from conditioning and hereditary factors, modeling drug usage
through Presley’s mother might have had a vital impact on his personal substance dependence.
Presley saw his mother take alcohol and drugs to get by, as well as in conclusion manage to
utilize drug to help him get by as well. This is classified as social leaning (Hansell & Damour,
2008)
Cognitive/Psychological Factors
The cognitive factors, like low self-esteem and self-efficacy, have much to do with the
possibility of drug usage in people. Presley, in spite the love of his fans and attaining a bright
future in his chosen profession in life, still turned out to be an unhappy and lonely individual
who attained a poor sense of self-efficacy. Dysfunctional cognitive schemas and negative
automatic thoughts evolve throughout the substance user’s existence, as well as therefore make
the opportunity and the downward spiral of substance utilization as well as abuse. Meyer,
Chapman, and Weaver (2009) recommended suicide as probable reason of death, although
autopsy results do not say so. If this is the case, suicide is also connected to psychological factor
and low self-esteem and self efficacy, as well as the not being satisfied with life.
Socio-cultural and Family Systems Factors
The socio-cultural model looks at substance abuse as an outcome from social
environment. Socio-cultural pleasures as well as stresses can be an adding factor in substance use
and the eventual reliance on drugs. The family systems technique is quite the same; however, the
main issue of substance abuse originated inside the family. Family may not admit or overlook the
situation, or they might unconsciously allow the substance abuser. Any of these probabilities
might have taken part in Elvis’ polysubstance dependence. His mother, who loved him dearly,
might have not admitted that her child had any kind of problem because she herself had a
dependency issue. Later in Elvis’ life, after his mother had passed away, his spouse might have
primarily been an enabler to the problem that eventually detached that bond.
Case Study and Clinical Psychology: Adaptation
Clinical psychology, like any other areas of work, is continuously developing and
constantly adapting with the changes of the society. The case of Elvis Presley might have been
dealt differently now than it was 50 years ago. The recent investigation and understanding
connected to prescription drug usage and the result on mixing these drugs has come a long way.
Now and in the upcoming years, clinical psychology should adjust to the standard of society,
involve and integrate up to date investigation findings, as well as continue and attempt to
comprehend the psychological procedures behind individual’s behavior.
Conclusion
Elvis Presley became dependent on several prescription pills. The reason of this
dependence, and ultimately his death, has several issues as well as probabilities. It is vital to
remember and perform the concept of multiple causalities that involves mechanisms like
neurotransmission, genetics, cognitive processes, behavioral conditioning, environmental
influences, and family effects. All of these ideas had an impact on Presley’s life in various levels
at various episodes in his life. Unfortunately, if only the problem was addressed right away by
close family and friends, even his physicians, then intervention techniques might have been done
to alleviate the situation and gave Presley a good quality of life.
References
Hansell, J. & Damour, L. (2008). Abnormal psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Meyer, R. G., Chapman, L. K., & Weaver, C. M. (2009). Case studies in abnormal behavior (8th
ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
Plante, T.G. (2005). Contemporary clinical psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley