Grounded Theory Methodology Design

Theories are the organized concepts that help to define or understand behaviors, relationships or a phenomenon (Green, 2014). Thus, theories are the foundation of scholarly research and act as an outline to carry out a study. They are used to process and analyzing data and contribute to knowledge in literature and practice (Green, 2014; Udo-Akang, 2012). Theories are used to guide research but are also utilized in a parallel process with research to explain and to predict, explain problems, events, systems, and experiences (Udo-Akang, 2012). In a wraparound effect, studies help to advancement theories through the application of the framework to the research methodology (Green, 2014; Udo-Akang, 2012). The theory and its constructs guide the research design (Green, 2014; Udo-Akang, 2012). Existing theories are said to most likely

Unacknowledged Shame Theory is seen in a perspective that shame can cause a destructive emotion and can promote crime instead of preventing it if it is not managed positively. By using apology in return for forgiveness symbolises that reparation can commence (Braithwaite, 2004).

Brene Brown, a researcher in social interactions, takes an unexpected perspective in her ted talk called “The Power of Vulnerability”. She starts out her speech by telling a joke and explaining her education and experience in social work. A quote her professor put on the board led her to research the connection among people. However, this led to many other things such as shame, fear, and the most prominent factor, vulnerability. She realized that for connection to occur we must be seen completely for who we are. This led to 6 years of research, including hundreds of stories and thousands of pieces of data. Brown wrote a book about her findings but she felt that something was still missing. It turned out the missing component was worthiness. To delve deeper into worthiness, she did a study on people who think they are worthy and people who don’t. People who thought they were worthy had these four things in common, courage, compassion, connection, and vulnerability. Brown realized at this point that she needed to understand vulnerability thoroughly by facing it herself. A therapist helped brown face vulnerability head on for a year straight, and in the end, she potentially won her life back. Brown stated “…vulnerability is the core of shame, of fear and of worthiness, but it is also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love…” After facing her fear, she knew that vulnerability was the core of not only fear, but also happiness. Brown goes on to say that we

Research was conducted by Wiklander, Samuelsson, Jokinen, Nilsonne, Wilczek, Rylander, and Asberg (2012) on the relationship between shame-proneness and suicide attempt. The introduction mentions that the researchers wanted to explore whether or not shame proneness was a stable tendency for attempted suicide. According to Wiklander, et al. (2012), when individuals encounter situations of failure, they typically experience shame. The researchers define shame as "an aversive affective state paired with a negative evaluation of the entire self" (Lewis, 1971; Tangney, Stuewig, & Mashek, 2007; Lindsay-Hatz, 1984 as cited by Wiklander, et al., 2012).

When studying shame, Brené Brown (2006) found that many people brought up feelings of being trapped. These same people felt as though others had the same feelings of being trapped but still had difficulty sharing these feelings. The areas that most women had shame about were their body image, sexuality, parenting, their job, religion, aging, speaking out, surviving trauma, family, and motherhood (Brown, 2006) These same topics were the most common in the sessions I sat in on and in group. Many counselors at Mindful Soul specialized in areas such a trauma, parenting, and family due to how often they are the root causes of a clients visit.

Shame is unspoken, it is the main secret behind different forms of broken behaviors. The aspiring researcher Brene Brown, in her earlier talk, “The Power of Vulnerability”, which became a viral hit and the most favored TED Talk video, explores what the possibilities are when people confront their shame. Along with her most recent video “Listening to Shame”, Brown speaks of both shame and vulnerability throughout the presentation. She digs into the uncomfortable, unacceptable, and human emotions that we keep deep within us and dares us to show our authentic selves. The presentation includes the rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos and pathos to build the fundamental objectives of the talk. In which throughout her talk, Brown portrays great credibility

This article analyzed the positive experiences of twelve individuals who had visible differences (Egan et al 2011, p. 739). This study discovered four main elements that helped people to interpret their related experiences in a positive way. Generally, it can be seen that the authors applied interpretive social science (Neuman 2006, p. 87) to produce this study to capture participants’ experiences and feelings. There are some advantages that can be yielded by utilizing this perspective. Firstly, the authors were able to understand individuals’ different social lives. The complex social factors can be extracted to interpret participants’ feelings and emotions from their personal experiences. It was

Dr. Sandra D. Wilson (2001) asks, “Have you ever felt as if you were the only caterpillar in a butterfly world? Do you often feel as if you have to do twice as much to be half as good as other” (p. 16)? If you answered, yes, then that is what Wilson (2001) calls binding shame. “Shame is the soul-deep belief that something is horribly wrong with me that is not wrong with anyone else in the entire world. If I am bound by shame, I feel hopelessly, distinguishingly different and worthless (p. 16).

The primary assumptions of shame are feelings we experience when we feel inadequate. The theory helps women to recognize shame, what triggers shame, and how to handle it (Robbins, S., Chatterjee, P., Canda, E.,2012, p.231). I chose the resiliency theory because it encourages women with mental health to develop a positive attitude by speaking out loud the life challenges that triggers traumatic events they face which will bring quick healing to them. Also, speaking up will aid social workers to refer them to the appropriate resources for therapy and intervention needed to recover and socialize within the

All types of psychological theories from Psychoanalytic to behavioral can be incorporated with a multitude of diverse

Alternatively, the individual has to acknowledge that the trauma is real, undeserved, and important. Through therapy sessions, the patient is made to acknowledge that the nature of the disorder may have led to the additional and undeserved trauma in addition to admitting that the process of recovery is not at all trivial and requires a substantial amount of time and effort to go through. Moreover, the therapist works to separate the residual problems into bits that are resolvable, for instance, personal improvement goals and those that are irresolvable, such as the behavior of another disordered member of the

This essay is based upon a study of my personal reflections, emotions and opinions of the five major psychotherapy theoretical frameworks that I have studied over a five week period as part of a postgraduate diploma in psychology: psychoanalysis; behaviour therapy; person-centred and humanistic therapies; cognitive behaviour therapy; and family therapy. The purpose is to assist in determining which framework is the best fit for me as a future therapist based on my personality, life experiences and beliefs. The main basis of this evaluation is a weekly reflective journal (refer to Appendix A) I have maintained in which I recorded a range of background theoretical information, ‘gut’ reactions, pertinent life experiences and reports on practical ‘homework’ activities. I begin by undertaking a qualitative analysis of my journal which provides the insight to make the most appropriate selection of psychotherapy theory. Once the selection is made, I then provide a more focused evaluation of the chosen theoretical framework, based on a review of the literature, interwoven with pertinent elements from my journal.

Brené Brown received her bachelors in Social Work in 1995 from the University of Texas in Austin. She went on to obtain her Master of Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work in 1996, and later her Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work in 2002. Brené Brown is also a licensed social worker. She currently teaches and serves as Assistant Professor of Social Work Research at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She is impressive in her studies, her published works and her public speaking abilities. Brené Brown champions the research and conversation on vulnerability and shame and the cycles that affect human behavior.

First, when watching Brown’s Listening to Shame TED-Talk video, it is crystal clear that the licensed-therapist is not afraid to discuss how her vulnerabilities shaped the woman who she is today. For example, Brown discussed how one of the worst experiences of her life regarding how her TED-Talk video in Houston, Texas on her research on the study of vulnerabilities, literally showed Brown’s vulnerabilities to the audience- In which she did not want to happen. Even though, the licensed-therapist Brown acknowledged that particular experience as one of the most shameful and

“Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change”(Brené Brown). In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a woman is publicly shamed for having a child with a man who is not her husband. Another example of public shame can be seen in modern day articles “Florida ‘Scarlet Letter’ Law is Repealed by Gov. Bush,” by Dana Canedy, and “Houston Couple Gets ‘The Scarlet Letter’ Treatment.” Both talk of public shame that people have had to endure in the present day. Public shaming is not an effective punishment because it is a cruel and unusual punishment, it does not deter crime, and it can emotionally traumatize the one being shamed.