Temperament Case Studies Biblical perspective.

Get an Expert Solution to this question. Click on the WhatsApp button below.

BASIC INCLUSION TRAITS: S

1. Introvert/Extrovert.
2. Approaches very few people for association. She has indirect behavior. She appears to be cold and withdrawn; however, this is only a defense mechanism. She rejects others before they have an opportunity to reject her. She is devastated when she perceives that she is not included in social activities. Inside, she is screaming: “Please include me.”
3. Relationship-oriented and task-oriented. She likes doing tasks, but they tend to stress her and wear her out (if she does this for long periods of time). She also likes to be with people, but they tend to stress her and wear her out (if she is with them for long periods of time). She needs to alternate between being with people and doing tasks.
4. Has the need to be organized, but at times, she may set her responsibilities aside to socialize.
5. Responds to both the threat of punishment and the promise of reward. She also has a need for recognition, and tends to become angry if she does not receive it.
6. Because of her low self-esteem, she has a hard time accepting compliments. She has a tendency to see only her imperfections.
7. Tends to think a great deal, and needs time, throughout the day, to think and organize or “file” her thoughts.
8. Fear of rejection. When she feels rejected, insulted, or offended, she internalizes her anger. This anger then remains unresolved. She is tenderhearted and has a gentle spirit, and so for her, it is easier to say: “I am hurt” rather than: “I am angry.”
9. Moody and emotional. Crying is a safety valve that helps her deal with her stress. After a good cry, she is usually able to deal with the situation that caused the stress. A change of surroundings will refresh and energize her.

Control

Control is our willingness to make decisions and to accept responsibility for self and/or others.

BASIC CONTROL TRAITS: M

1. Independent/self-motivated.
2. Expresses very little control over the lives and behaviors of others, and will not tolerate control over her life and behaviors.
3. Makes decisions and takes on responsibilities very well when dealing in known areas (areas previously dealt with).
4. Good leadership capabilities if she is allowed to move into unknown areas at her own pace.
5. Demands truth, order, reliability, and dependability from self and others.
6. If pressured into making decisions or taking on responsibility in unknown areas she tends to procrastinate. If she is pressured long enough, she will rebel and become angry.
7. Must “appear” competent and in control.
8. When moving into unknown areas, requires time to build up her self-confidence. Others tend to view this as procrastination.
9. Becomes angry if confronted for mistakes, criticized, or made to look foolish.
10. Tends to be legalistic, uncompromising, and rigid.
11. Becomes uneasy or anxious if she is solely responsible for anyone, including herself.
12. Will give advice when people ask, but will not pressure them to follow this advice.

Affection

Affection is the need to express and receive love, affection and approval. Need for deep personal relationships.

BASIC AFFECTION TRAITS: PS

1. Expresses a moderate amount of love and affection, and requires a great deal. She has a tender heart and a gentle spirit.
2. Expects her deep relationships to initiate so that she knows that their love and affection are genuine; and also, so that she does not have to expend her low energy.
3. Uses her dry or wry sense of humor to keep her deep relationships from draining her energy.
4. Because of her moderate fear of rejection, she will, if she is rejected or hurt by deep relationships, react with her dry or wry sense of humor.
5. Capacity of serving and loving her deep relationships. Once the relationship has been established; she will serve faithfully in order to maintain the relationship.
6. Hurt or offended if her deep relationships do not express love to her. She will moderately internalize her anger and “mask” it as “hurt feelings.”
7. Indirect behavior. She appears cold and aloof, but needs and wants love and affection.

Counseling Suggestions

Based on the Basic Traits of her Inclusion, Control and Affection, the following is a composite list of the most vital needs that this counselee has, i.e., the need:

INCLUSION: S

1. to socialize. On the surface, she appears as if she does not want to socialize, but on the inside, she desperately wants people to give her a personal invitation; otherwise, she feels that they do not want to include her.
2. to be told every day in words and actions that she is needed and appreciated.
3. to be more direct in expressing her needs. She needs to learn that people cannot read her mind.
4. to be of service to others. It helps her to feel valuable. Because of her need to please people, she needs to be careful not to take on more than she can handle.
5. to have time to “file” her thoughts.
6. to learn to deal with anger constructively instead of masking it as “hurt feelings.”
7. to find life situations where she can undertake tasks while interacting with people.

CONTROL: M

1. to not be forced to take on responsibilities or make decisions with which she is not comfortable.
2. to learn to submit to authorities while maintaining control of her own personal life.
3. to not be forced to take full responsibility for others.
4. to not be offended, insulted, criticized, confronted for mistakes or made to look foolish or incompetent.
5. to “appear” competent and in control. The need to “appear” competent is more important than the competency itself.
6. for truth, order, reliability, and dependability.
7. to learn to trust God with her life and her future in order to reduce her fear of the unknown.

AFFECTION: PS

1. to learn to make an effort to stay involved with her deep relationships. She tends to be moderately protective of her low energy. She also needs to be more direct in expressing her love and affection. She needs to be told every day that she is loved.
2. to learn to recognize her “hurt feelings” as anger, and deal with this anger.
3. to learn not to use her dry or wry sense of humor to hurt her deep relationships if they hurt or reject her.
4. to learn to go to God for her love and affection. God will not reject her.

Special Notes to the Counselor

NOTE! This entire report is based on this counselee’s temperament, not actual behavior. It is your responsibility as a counselor to determine if her actual behavior is conducive to her temperament. The wider the gap between temperament and actual behavior, the greater the counselee’s anxiety levels. The accuracy is subject to the counselee’s honesty in response to the questions. Environment and learned behavior may magnify or lessen the intensity of a person’s temperament.

You, the counselor, because of her severe fear of rejection, must initiate and be warm and friendly and let her know that she is accepted. You also must maintain a professional attitude. She may actually say: “I am a nothing and a nobody—everybody else is better than me.” Intellect is important to her, but only after acceptance has been established. She is a rebel and she is self-motivated. It is important that you provide her with the facts and her options then allow her to make her own decisions. She has a fear of the unknown and a fear of making a fool of herself. She must be provided with ample time to build up her self-confidence before entering into a new or “unknown” area of responsibility or to make any significant changes in her life. Truth and reliability are important to her; therefore, if provided with the proper facts, she normally makes the right choice. She needs you to be reliable and dependable.

She tends to become angry if confronted for mistakes; and she is very self-protective. You need to approach her by saying: “Other people with your temperament tend to be…”