Emotional Neglect or Over-Controlling Parents

1. Introduction

For this case study, the brief background of the topic would discuss the importance of
attachment theory and the impact of early childhood experiences on personality development.
You'll explain how two seemingly opposite parenting styles—emotional neglect (a lack of
warmth, support, and responsiveness) and over-controlling parenting (excessive monitoring,
rule-setting, and micromanagement)—can both lead to similar psychological struggles later in
life. The objective of the study is to explore the connection between one of these two parenting
styles and the presenting problem, providing a psychological analysis and potential intervention
strategies.

2. Subject Profile (Fictional Client Details)

You'll need to create a fictional client. Let's call him Arjun.

Name: Arjun Sharma

Age: 25 years old

Gender: Male

Presenting Problem: Arjun seeks counseling because he feels suffocated by his parents' constant
involvement in his life, and he struggles to make even simple decisions without their approval.
He feels a significant lack of independence and often experiences anxiety when faced with
choices, both big (career) and small (what to wear).

Family Background: Arjun is the only child of two professionals. His parents, who have high
expectations for his success, have always been highly involved in his life. They meticulously
planned his education, extracurriculars, and even his friendships. They often made decisions for
him to ensure he "didn't make mistakes." This created a dynamic where Arjun never had the
space to fail, learn, or develop his own sense of self.

3. Methodology

The methodology for this case study will combine qualitative and quantitative approaches to
provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject's challenges.

The primary tools used are:

A semi-structured interview to collect rich, qualitative data about the client's current struggles,
family history, and personal feelings.

Two self-report questionnaires to provide objective, quantitative data that supports the client's
subjective experience. These tests were chosen to directly assess the key issues associated with
either emotional neglect or over-controlling parenting.

Observation of the client's behavior and non-verbal cues during the interview and test
administration. This is crucial for understanding the client's emotional state and any underlying
anxiety.

The data collected will be a mix of qualitative information (interview responses, observed
behaviors) and quantitative scores from the questionnaires. This combination allows for a more
robust analysis and a stronger conclusion.

4. Tests/Techniques Applied

Based on the presenting problem, the following mock tests were administered:

For a client with an over-controlling upbringing:

Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI): This is a retrospective self-report questionnaire that assesses
the key dimensions of a person's parental upbringing, specifically care and overprotection. The
PBI has separate forms for mothers and fathers. The "overprotection" subscale is particularly
relevant as it measures the degree of control and intrusion a person perceived from their
parents.

Mock Administration: The client completed the PBI for both parents. The scores on the
overprotection and low care subscales are expected to be high, providing objective data that
supports the client's subjective experience of feeling suffocated and micromanaged.

For a client with a history of emotional neglect:

Alexithymia Questionnaire (TAS-20): This 20-item self-report scale measures three facets of
alexithymia: difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and an externally
oriented thinking style. Alexithymia is often linked to emotional neglect, as a person's emotions
were not acknowledged or validated.

Mock Administration: The client was asked to complete the TAS-20. A high score would indicate
they have trouble understanding and expressing their own emotions, which would strongly
support the hypothesis that their emotional neglect led to this emotional "numbness."

I'll provide revised sections for the case study, aligning with the new methodology. I will provide
two distinct scenarios: one for the over-controlling parents and one for emotional neglect, as
your latest prompt provides two options.

Scenario 1: Over-Controlling Parents

5. Observations / Mock Test Results

The client, Arjun, showed clear signs of anxiety during the interview, fidgeting and avoiding
direct eye contact when discussing his family. The most significant finding came from the
Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Arjun's scores were notably high on the overprotection
subscale for both his mother and father, and low on the care subscale. This quantitative data
directly supports his subjective feeling of being suffocated. Observations during the interview
revealed a pattern of seeking approval; Arjun would frequently look to the mock administrator
for reassurance after making a statement.

6. Analysis / Interpretation

The findings from the PBI and the interview observations reveal that Arjun's current struggles
with decision-making and autonomy are a direct result of his over-controlling upbringing. His
high PBI scores on overprotection indicate that his parents' consistent micromanagement
prevented him from developing a sense of self-efficacy and internal locus of control. The low
care scores further suggest that this control was not perceived as nurturing, but as intrusive.
The psychological understanding of the issue is that Arjun has developed dependent personality
traits and a fear of failure, as he was never allowed to make and learn from his own mistakes.
His anxiety is a manifestation of this learned helplessness, where he believes he lacks the
capacity to make sound choices on his own.

7. Suggestions / Intervention

The intervention plan for Arjun would be multi-faceted. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is
suggested to challenge and reframe his core beliefs about his inability to make decisions. The
focus would be on building self-esteem and gradually introducing him to making small,
independent choices. Psychodynamic therapy would also be beneficial to explore the underlying
resentment and feelings of suffocation that stem from his childhood. We would also
recommend assertiveness training to help him establish healthy boundaries with his parents.
The long-term goal is to help Arjun internalize a sense of personal agency and develop a healthy,
separate identity from his family.

8. Conclusion

This case study demonstrates the profound impact of an over-controlling upbringing on an

individual's psychological development. Arjun's case illustrates how constant parental intrusion
can lead to an adult who struggles with independence and decision-making. The combination of
qualitative interview data and quantitative PBI scores provided a clear and compelling picture of
the issue's origins. The proposed intervention aims to empower Arjun to overcome his learned
helplessness and build the confidence necessary to lead a self-directed life.