Social work, psychology, and psychiatry have all influenced the counseling field. Please select the one you believe is the most impactful and explain your reasoning. Incorporate two additional scholarly sources that support your opinion.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Impact of Psychology on the Counseling Field
Introduction
The counseling field has been shaped by various disciplines, including social work, psychology, and psychiatry. While all three disciplines have made significant contributions, this essay argues that psychology has had the most impactful influence on the counseling field. Drawing upon the work of leading scholars, this essay will explore the reasons behind this assertion and provide evidence to support it.
Impact of Psychology on the Counseling Field
Theoretical Foundation: Psychology has provided the counseling field with a strong theoretical foundation that underpins various therapeutic approaches. Psychologists have contributed extensively to the development of theories such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and humanistic-existential therapy. These theories have become cornerstones in counseling practice, guiding therapists in understanding human behavior, emotions, and mental processes (Corey, 2017).
Research and Evidence-Based Practice: Psychology has played a pivotal role in fostering evidence-based practice within counseling. Through rigorous research methods and empirical studies, psychologists have contributed to the advancement of knowledge in areas such as psychotherapy outcomes, treatment effectiveness, and the understanding of various mental health conditions. This empirical evidence serves as a foundation for evidence-based counseling interventions and ensures that therapeutic techniques are supported by scientific research (Norcross & Lambert, 2018).
Assessment and Diagnosis: Psychology has greatly influenced the field of assessment and diagnosis within counseling. Psychologists have developed and validated numerous psychological assessment tools and diagnostic criteria, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). These tools aid counselors in accurately assessing clients’ mental health conditions, identifying symptoms, and formulating appropriate treatment plans (Butcher et al., 2018).
Professional Training and Ethical Guidelines: Psychology has contributed to the professionalization of the counseling field through the establishment of training programs and ethical guidelines. Psychologists have played a key role in shaping educational curricula for counseling programs, ensuring that future counselors receive comprehensive training in theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and ethical practices. Moreover, psychology has established ethical standards, such as those outlined by the American Psychological Association (APA), which serve as a guide for ethical conduct in counseling practice (Corey, 2017).
Supporting Scholarly Sources
Corey, G. (2017). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Cengage Learning.
Corey’s book is widely used as a textbook in counseling programs and provides an in-depth exploration of various counseling theories, many of which originate from psychology.
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2018). Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based therapist contributions. Oxford University Press.
Norcross and Lambert’s book emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practice in psychotherapy and highlights the substantial contributions made by psychologists to the field.
Conclusion
While all three disciplines—social work, psychology, and psychiatry—have influenced the counseling field, psychology has had the most significant impact. Its strong theoretical foundation, emphasis on research and evidence-based practice, contributions to assessment and diagnosis, and establishment of professional training programs and ethical guidelines have shaped the counseling profession. By drawing upon these contributions from psychology, counselors are equipped with effective therapeutic techniques and a solid understanding of human behavior and mental processes.
References
Butcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. (2018). Abnormal Psychology: Core Concepts (9th ed.). Pearson.
Corey, G. (2017). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Cengage Learning.
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2018). Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based therapist contributions. Oxford University Press.
