PSYC 110 Week 7 Psychological Disorders Create a Case Example

Name

Chamberlain University

PSYC-110: Psychology

Prof. Name

Date

Psychological Disorders: Case Study of Specific Phobia – Claustrophobia

Jack is a 25-year-old male residing in a high-rise apartment on the fifth floor. Despite having several friends living in the same building, many of whom reside above him, Jack has never visited their apartments. Although he has lived in the building for approximately two years, he avoids using the elevator, which his friends often joke about. Jack dismisses their teasing, claiming he prefers taking the stairs for the sake of physical exercise. However, his friends have begun to take offense, interpreting his reluctance to visit them as a sign of disinterest. They find it frustrating that they must always gather at Jack’s apartment. Sensing that his friendships are starting to suffer, Jack decides to open up about his avoidance of elevators.

During a lunch outing with his friends, Jack chooses to share the reason behind his refusal to visit their apartments. He recalls an incident from his childhood, explaining how he has harbored a fear of elevators ever since. When he was young, he and his mother were trapped in a malfunctioning elevator at a mall. His mother’s panic caused him to feel anxious and afraid. Both Jack and his mother began to breathe heavily, sweat, and experience intense anxiety during the ordeal. Since that day, Jack has avoided elevators and other enclosed spaces, as they trigger the same sense of panic he felt in that mall elevator.

PSYC 110 Week 7 Psychological Disorders Create a Case Example

Jack explains that while his friends live ten or more floors above him, the thought of using the elevator to reach their apartments fills him with dread. Although he is hesitant to climb numerous flights of stairs, his fear of enclosed spaces, particularly elevators, outweighs the inconvenience of walking. Jack tries to convey that while elevator rides may seem routine to them, they evoke a deep sense of prolonged anxiety and distress for him.

References

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.