Question

Eight-year-old Randy has behavioral difficulty in school and is overly aggressive with other children. His parents seem to ignore his problems and blame the school and the other children. His parents are convinced that Randy has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. When they take him to a child psychiatrist, the psychiatrist is reluctant to give the diagnosis after observing the unhealthy interactions between the family members and between the parents. The psychiatrist's reluctance to give this diagnosis is based on the _____ related to the cause and diagnosis.

Answer 1

Answer: Equifinality

Explanation: Equifinality in psychology is a basic principle that states that one outcome can have many causes. In Randy's case, it could be that there are many reasons he has behavioral problems and is aggressive at school including the unhealthy interactions amongst family members. The psychologist is mindful of this and has to present his diagnosis in such a way that the parents will accept it instead of blaming everyone else.