Psychological Formulation
Psychological formulation
Real World
A forensic psychologist working with a convicted arsonist might formulate that childhood neglect led to an insecure attachment style, fuelling low self-worth and anger dysregulation, which in turn triggered fire-setting as a maladaptive coping mechanism — this formulation then directly shapes the therapy chosen.
Exam Focus
Emphasise that formulation is individualised and collaborative, not a diagnosis — examiners penalise conflating the two.
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