Identifying Relevant Theories and Models of Neuroscience - Essay Example

It is important that humans selectively allow certain information to get into their brains. Much of the challenges affecting human lives are caused by the exposure of our minds to negative thoughts. The 54-year-old client presented in this case is no exception as he has developed sexual problems that have affected his daily activities as well as his family. This paper focuses on relating the learning, cognitive and feminist theories to the client’s sexual problem. Also, an explanation of how neuroscience affects human sexuality has been provided as well as a systems support and a treatment program for the client.

Theory Identification

The Learning Theory

The theory explains how people obtain information and apply it to their daily lives. The theory explains how information is absorbed, perceived and retained during the learning process by the human brain (Kostelnik, Whiren, Soderman, Rupiper, & Gregory, 2014). Research on the theory identifies that cognitive, environmental, and emotional influences play an integral role in shaping the way that people understand information. Also, prior exposure to certain information controls the acquisition of skills and knowledge by individuals. Researchers in this model have identified that the learning process is conditioned in that it is learned mainly through the influence of repeated stimuli.

The learning theory can be used to explain the client’s sexual behavior. The client indicates that he was introduced by his father in his childhood into sexual activities. The brains of children are usually very active in the retention of information owing to the clients understanding of sexual activities. His learning and understanding of the issue of sex have influenced his actions for decades. His behavior further developed because he could easily access pornographic materials from the magazine and the internet. The client has identified that he regrets of the much time that he spends on the sites which have been determined in theory as part of the learning process through conditioning. His repeated behavior has become a habit which has corrupted his religious beliefs.

The Cognitive Theory

The cognitive theory bases its argument on that most of human actions are learned through imitation rather than a personal trial and error method. Researchers in this theory has established that the learning process used by people is influenced greatly by observing the actions of others. Individuals acquire knowledge from different sources such as during social interactions, the media, and personal experiences. People watching a model doing something usually hold memories in the brain of the sequence of the consequences of the action (Sommerville, 2016). The information retained often influences the subsequent behaviors of the individual. The observed behavior prompts the learner in most scenarios into executing the learned action. The learner’s repetition of the action is further accelerated or reduced depending on their experience. Psychologists identify that humans are more likely to retain the behaviors that reward their feelings.

On applying the client’s case into the theory, it can be identified that the case greatly matches with the theory. The client has determined that he regularly watches pornographic images from various sources which have affected his life on a large scale. Through viewing the materials, the client’s brain is fed with information that stimulates him into engaging in sexual activities such as masturbation, having sex with random people and engaging in sex for payment. The sexual fulfillment received by the client from participating in the activities promotes him into exploring more of his human experiences. His life in the process has been affected to the point that he requires counseling to cease of his behaviors.

Feminist Theory

The feminist theory seeks to establish gender differences between men and women in various fields. Some of the areas that the theory focuses on include sexual objectification. The method identifies that in most cases, women in the society are perceived as sexual objects which men want to satisfy their sexual desires with. People have regarded women as powerless objects that can be used for sex rather than rational human beings (Galdi, Maass, & Cadinu, 2014). The objectification is promoted through the presentation of women in the media, art, advertisements, stripping, prostitution and judging women especially at social places such as in beauty contests. Recent research has identified that women are also, in the present day, objectifying men as sexual objects.

In this case, the theory has in a way influenced the client into engaging in masturbation and excessive watching of pornographic materials. Being a man, the client is susceptible into engaging in sexual activities. The introduction to sexual immorality by his father while he was still young triggered the brain into engaging in sexual activities as well as viewing women as sex objects. His father’s actions exhibit the feminist theory. The client has in the past decades promoted his objectification of women through watching pornography on his mobile phone and the computer. Also, he spends time watching magazines having erotic images.

Neuroscience Influence

Neuroscience greatly influences human actions and behaviors. The science involves the study of the nervous system. Neuroscience affects sexual orientation in that it influences sexual attraction between individuals of the same or different sex and gender (Galván, 2017). In this perspective, sexual powers are majorly impacted by the release of certain hormones such as androgens that are triggered by the brain. The hormones promote sexual stimulation (Galván, 2017). However, sexual orientation among humans is affected by one's developmental stages such as childhood and adulthood. At any of the stages, the ability of the body to produce the hormones determines one's sexual activeness.

In the case, it can be identified that the client’s behavior was affected by his nervous system significantly. The client admits that watching pornographic material enables him to engage in sexual activities with his wife as it stimulates his erection.

The Most Effective Theory for the Identified Case

The cognitive theory provides a better understanding and explanation of the client’s behavior. The theory which bases its idea on the fact that humans learn most of their behavior through actions carries more weight as compared to other theories in explaining various sexual concepts. The learning process is made more evident by the fact that the client spends a lot of his time on the sites revealing erotic images. The client explains of the transformation that his life has experienced since his father introduced him to the sexual activities. As a result, he masturbates and engages in sex with other people other than his wife.

Systems Perspective

The client identifies that he was brought up in a family where both parents were mostly away. He was brought up together with his siblings. He identifies that they have managed to maintain a healthy relationship. The family is significantly bonded as evidenced in the way that they share meals at least once a week. The client’s family environment can be identified to have significantly promoted to his behavior. With the client being brought up in a family where parents were mostly away it is likely that the condition encouraged his behavior significantly. Research indicates that children who are raised in such families usually have plenty time and freedom to execute whatever actions that they wish. Also, his father wrongly introduces his son into sexual activities by providing him with a sex oriented magazine and assuring him that observing the images would influence his sex life. Also, the father figure was ready to clarify issues that the child would not understand on sexuality.

It is important that the client’s addiction to pornography and masturbation is addressed so that he can resume a normal life. The client’s case has developed to a great extent, requires a comprehensive treatment plan. The treatment scheme would involve psychotherapy with an experienced sex counselor (Carlin, & Capps, 2015). The counselor would determine, provide and guide the client through various assessments on the client. The treatment should seek to gradually reduce the occasions that he visits the pornographic sites or masturbates with the aim of a gradual change in the client’s behavior. Also, the patient’s treatment should involve preventing the client from staying alone. His wife and friends should be encouraged to keep the client company. Also, the client should be encouraged to engage in social activities where he can interact with other people. Besides, the client should be involved in scheduled events that would keep him occupied at all times to prevent idleness which promotes negative thinking. Also, healthy feeding styles should be encouraged so that the client manages his erection failure which he has identified has improved his access to pornographic materials.

Conclusion

The three theories define how humans receive and understand information which influences their actions. Also, the sexual concept among people has been explained from a neuroscience perspective where the influence of hormones has been identified to affect sexual behavior. The cognitive theory presents the best explanation that relates to the client’s behavior. It explains that human behavior is mainly learned and developed through observation. The client’s family has contributed to some extent to the development of his current behavior. His parents were mostly away, therefore, creating him much time to explore his sexual desires.