Behavioral Problem Analysis Using Theories, Principles, and Research Findings

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Self-analysis
The field of psychology is integral in understanding many facets of our lives. By understanding psychological concepts and theories, we can explain some, if not all, of the behaviors we engage in, and in the process, we understand ourselves better and the actions we can take to improve. One problem that I am seeking to explain and understand through this exercise is my worry about money. I tend to worry about money a lot, and I believe this, to some extent, affects my ability to function well as a person. At the back of my mind, money thoughts are always lurking, and I believe key concepts learned in this class can help me understand this problem better and consequently devise a way to solve them. The concepts that can explain my problem are levels of processing theory, availability heuristics, dream function, and top-down processing.
Levels of Processing Theory
To some extent, the levels of processing theory explain why I am always worried about money. According to the theory, as learned from the lecture notes, the way one perceives and analyzes a material initially determines how one recalls them. When one is exposed to a material, the depth of processing involved is vital in determining how they are going to recall that material. According to the theory, there are three levels of processing, with the first one being the shallow level. At this level, one processes only the physical and sensory aspects of the material. This means that one encodes aspects such as appearance. The second level is referred to as the intermediate processing level and is characterized by the translation of information into meaningful units. Finally, the third one is the deepest level of processing, where information is analyzed in order to deduce its meaning. It is deducible that at this last level of processing, one finds connections between the material in question and other aspects.
The three levels of processing theory can explain why the thoughts about money are always easily accessible. In this case, the reason for always worrying about money could be due to the deepest levels of processing, as explained by the levels of processing theory. I spend time thinking about money, what it means, how I will manage my bills, how I will buy food, and how I will pay my rent. Therefore, to a great extent, my thoughts revolve around money, and I believe this corresponds with the deepest levels processing part of the levels of processing theory. Given that I try to find connections between money and other aspects of my life, including career, education, and lifestyle, I think the theory significantly explains why I am always worried about money.
Availability Heuristics
Availability heuristics is another key concept from the lecture notes that can be used to explain my constant worry about money. Availability heuristics means judging the likelihood that an event will occur based on information that comes to our minds quickly. Examples include worrying that people are more likely to be murdered than die of heart disease or fearing air travel more than auto travel. In these cases, when one has been thinking recently about murders or has been exposed to several news pieces about murder, they are likely to be tricked into thinking that they are more likely to be murdered than die of heart disease. Similarly, when someone has recently been exposed to information about plane crashes or has watched documentaries on the same, they are likely to believe that traveling by car is safer when statistics tell otherwise. In such cases, it is conceivable that one may make an incorrect decision based on availability heuristics. This is especially when making a quick decision about something and one’s brain takes the shortcut i...