Case Study: Fred

This case study follows the life of Fred.

The following case study follows the life of Fred and his younger brother Josh, who you met last week.

Let’s follow Fred (now 19) and Josh to gain insight into how their experiences shape their patterns of reacting, relating, and responding.

Watch and share

Watch the animation and think about how you could apply what you have learned so far in the course to Fred and Josh’s experiences. See below for some examples to get you started and share your reflections in the comments.

Step 2.2 and Step 2.3 Relate Dr. Siegel’s hand model to Josh’s behaviour. Which parts of the model are particularly activated when Josh is experiencing a fight-flight response?

Step 2.6 According to the Window of Tolerance model, is Josh experiencing hyperarousal or hypoarousal? What evidence can you see in the case study for your answer? Would trying to logically explain to Josh why punching walls is undesirable in this moment be likely to assist him return to a regulated state? Why not (relating to Step 2.2)? What might be a more effective strategy?