Depression in Adults - Natural Scientific and Humanistic Science Approaches - Essay Example

Insert A comparison of Depression in Adults from a natural scientific approach and a Humanistic science approach Depression can be defined as a medical illness that causes an invariable feeling of misery and lack of concentration. It significantly affects how a person feels, thinks and behaves. Depression can eventually lead to both physical and emotional problems since the affected person seems not worth living. Major forms of depression include major depression, dysthymic disorder, Psychotic depression, Bipolar disorder, bipolar depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Major depression can prevent the patient from functioning normally; it undermine their sleep, work even study in case the patient is a student. Dysthymic disorder is also known as mild chronic depression since it takes long for it to be diagnosed a year even more. In Psychotic depression case, a patient may suffer from hallucinations, delusions or withdraw from reality. Postpartum depression or postnatal depression (PND) occurs to mothers within a year of giving birth according to National Library of Medicine. It is believed that it affects 10% to 15% of women but may go undiagnosed thus many patients may not receive required treatment and support. Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness is not very common. Patients suffering from this disorder may feel extremely high sometimes extremely small. SAD occurs seasonally especially during winter when it is extremely dark. Patients suffering from this are subjected to a special light, but some patients are given antidepressants in addition to that. There are many approaches to depression; some of the approaches are natural science approach and humanistic science approach. Humanistic, scientific attitude was developed to respond to behaviorism and psychoanalysis by using phenomenology and first person categories. Humanism focused on human issues as free will, self-actualization, self-identity, freedom, meaning and death. Humanistic approach highlights more on self-actualization and free will. Humanistic approach is based on the principle that individuals must have the freedom in directing his/ her future. (Bandura 1961) Natural science approach can be addressed in two ways nature approach and nurture approach. Quality approach claims that a man is like a puppet on strings of life. To control person you must first find the ropes. Is can be done only if it is for the benefit of man. In Natural science approach, anything man does is driven by mechanics of nature while humanistic science approach a person does anything by free will. According to natural science approach, human thought is caused and is epiphenomenon that is minor and insignificant result of a principal event while according to humanistic science approach human thought is naturally good and self-righting their own thoughts not from nature. Natural science approach beliefs that parental nurturing shapes human character and behavior, humanistic science approach believes every human being is character and behavior shaped by humans themselves. According to natural science, human beings turn out the way they do because of the experience they gain in society from people they come in contact with, humanistic science approach persons behavior is controlled by him/ herself not external forces. In Humanistic science approach, each individual is unique and what matters is each persons subjective view not objective reality but in natural scientific approach what matters is an objective reality. Humanistic, scientific approach is derived from principles of humanism while natural science approach is derived from the principle of nature (Chorney et a., 1998) Humanistic psychologists Maslow (1943) and Rodgers (1951) state that freedom is possible and necessary to be a full functional human being but natural science approach does not observe freedom as a necessity it rather states that nurture is the basis of full functionality. According to natural science, free will is undermined; patients with depression tend to loose control over their feelings thus their will to do anything can be aroused by how they feel not by their free-will. Humanistic science approach views humans as a whole not a collection of behavior or objects of unconscious forces as natural science approach. Humanistic approach thinks that people have an innate capacity towards self-understanding and mental health. Blewett argues that the importance of human knowledge relative beyond behavior that is given a consideration as one that surpasses the experienced action just as feeling extends beyond the concept of language (Blewett, 1969 p.22) Natural science approach emphasizes narrative description of experience that is individuality and variety while humanistic, scientific approach emphasizes sympathetic and explanation (Lyotard, 1984). According to Carl Rodgers, humanistic, scientific approach is client-centered if focuses on patients self-actualizing center and constructive forces of the patient the skills he/she used to deal with the problem in the past. Natural scientific approach is person-centered it focuses on wholeness of individuals experience at any given moment (Corey, 1991, p. 218). Humanistic, scientific approach is often associated with physiological reductionism, explaining behavior in terms of emotional mechanism while natural science approach uses environmental words like response, stimulus and punishment to explain about behavior. Natural science approach tends to undermine the inseparable unity of experience unlike humanistic, scientific approach, which upholds quality of human beings. Natural science approach contradicts and destroys object of psychological inquiry. Humanistic, scientific attitude lacks movements to spiritual values that natural science approach has. Humanistic, scientific approach is incoherent since it tries the possibility of approaching the biology in line with the psychology in a way that is illogical (Rowan 2001). Humanistic, scientific approach has been criticized for lack of clearly defined theory. It promotes optimistic but unclear view of mind and promotes egoistic interests. According to Rowan, humanistic, scientific approach is designed to foster a sense of self not parts as in the case of natural science approach. Human scientific attitude seeks to reflect on what a patient feels and helps him/ her overcome conflict and helps them replace negative thoughts with positive ones not to interpret patient’s insensible motivation as the case of natural scientific approach. As in the case of Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment clients denial is rampant, human scientific approach have effective ways to handle the problem. One the therapist engage a client in reflective listening, accepting the customers past and clarifying the current situation. When the client develops full trust with the therapist, the therapist can help the client understand his/ her whole self and make informed the choice of whom she really wants to be. Unlike the case of natural science approach, which assumes that events in life are naturally unclear and the ways that people create meaning is influenced by nature that is family, cultural beliefs, and the society. Natural scientific approach presumes that peoples lives, relationships, friendship are formed by language and the awareness and significance contained in the stories they hear and tell about themselves (Feinstein and Krippner, 1997). It is believed that when people understand about themselves, the story of their life can create a healing platform. Transpersonal therapy is another form of humanistic, scientific approach that acts as a bridge between spiritual and mental practice. It recognizes the development of a person and character. It also recognizes human religious mission and identify human motivated to find unity, freedom, and truth. Both the approaches; humanistic and natural approaches both work well in the field of psychology to assist patients with depression. Works cited Freud, Sigmund, et al. The Standard Edition Of The Complete Psychological Works Of Sigmund Freud. London: Hogarth Press, 1953. Print. Read More