Page 27 - Biblical Counseling II-Textbook

Let’s create an example that would apply to this next picture. Sara is a woman who attends your
church. She is married
and has two children.
Her mother died a year
ago, and she has been
grieving. Sara does not
want to do anything
she once enjoyed. She
often sleeps and just
sits in her home. Sara’s
family is becoming
concerned about her.
Sara’s brother, Samuel,
seemed to grieve after
his mother’s death and
then return to his
responsibilities at work
and in his home. Sara’s
husband has asked if
you will meet with him
and his wife to help her with her depressed mood. Look at the chart that explains how biology +
psychology + social-cultural influences may all be contributing to Sara’s depressed mood.

4.4 Let’s Practice

After looking at this chart and reading about the Social-Cognitive Perspective on personality,
how would you explain the difference in Samuel’s response to his mother’s death compared
to Sara’s.

1. What cultural influences may have impacted how they grieved?

2. What social factors could account for how Sara and Samuel grieve?

3. What biological reasons could be behind Sara becoming depressed while Samuel was able to return to
life as it was before his mother’s death?

4. What psychological explanation could you imagine for the difference between Samuel and Sara’s
responses to grief?

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