Psychodynamic Theory Case Study

Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Theory

Nellie had childhood events that influenced the mental functioning of her decisions. Her mother often talk to her in a negative way about her weight and appearance. Which harmed her confidence. Nellie did not have a lot of friends and she felt in depression. Nellie’s relationship became tighter every time her mother made her feel bad, which was usual. Nellie did not have a mother she could rely on. She even told her that she was a mistake, which made the situation worse. I cannot think of having a close family member hating me or someone else so much as Nellie’s mother hated her. She needed someone to make her feel important, however the only solution she found was food. Every time she got in a fight with her mother food was there, every time anyone bullied her food was there. Food became a scape for her problems and Nellie associated it as a close friend because it was there when she needed it. “She thinks of food as a friend as well as solution to her problems. She also craves goodies, and still feels fat” (Nellie). The problems Nellie have not been erase from her memory. Even though she is now slimmer she still feels her mother does not like her.

Humanistic Theory

In the humanistic view, people are responsible for their lives and actions and have the

Differently her mother pushed her down and made Nellie feel lonely. Humans have a bigger need for love and acceptance. Her mother should had gave her unconditional acceptance and love, which would allowed her to develop self‐acceptance and to achieve self‐actualization. Her father gave her love when they were eating. Her father related the love with her food, and food became even more important in Nellie’s life because she found love with it. . “Food always made her feel better; it was always there when she needed it, like a good friend” (Nellie). She got the love that her mother did not give her in