The Fraenkel Approach

Question:

Bob had stomach cancer. After about 3 years, the treatments were ineffective. During his final months he was vomiting blood, lost about half his body
weight, was incapable of walking, and experienced a degree of pain that he never had before. He chose to live out his remaining days at home, and his wife
Barbara took on the responsibilities of caring for his basic needs.

Even with pain killers, his suffering eventually became overwhelming. He resolved to end his life. However, because the state he lived in did not legalise
euthanasia, he asked Barbara to travel with him to Switzerland where it is legalized. She couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was conflicted.

Use Fraenkel approach to resolve Barbara’s conflict.

Conflict (C) What is the dilemma? (social, personal  Bob decided to end his life.
interpersonal, intergroup  Asking Barbara to take him to Switzerland.
 Barbara was conflicted.

Choices of action (C) What are alternative actions that can Alternative 1: Bring Bob to a counselor
be taken to resolve the conflict?
 Bob was mentally depressed
 Counsellor is an expert in cognitive behavioral therapy

Alternative 2: Schedule exclusive time for Bob and his extended family

 Spend happy time with family

 Sharing beautiful memories
 Make Bob feel he is needed and loved

Alternative 3: Introduce Bob to religious circle

  Rituals help to calm mind
 A form of meditation

Effects (E) For each alternative action, what are Alternative 1: Bring Bob to a counselor
the effects likely to be produced?
Positive effect:

- Bob has someone to listen to his problem

- Bob feels relieve once he shared his problem

Negative effect:

- Bob feels exhausted to explain about the same thing

- It will be difficult if Bob is a shy person

Alternative 2: Schedule exclusive time for Bob and his extended family

Positive effect:

- Bob feels needed

- Bob cherishes the memories he had with his family

Negative effect:

- Bob will think he is useless.

- He starts to think that he becomes a burden and bad memory for his
beautiful family, especially to his wife.

Alternative 3: Introduce Bob to religious circle

Positive effect:

- Bob feels guided through rituals and meditation

- Bob starts to understand the wisdom behind things happened to him
 Negative effect:

- Bob feels that God hates him, that is why he is punished with this pain
- Bob even hates God as he assumed that God has ignored his prayer

Results (R) What results can be obtained from Alternative 1:

those effects? Proof?
Positive result:

- Bob starts to learn on the coping technique to sooth his pain

- Bob is no more alone as he has someone professional to help him

Negative result:

- Bob feels that the counsellor fails to understand him

- Bob assumes that his pain has no dead end, even the counsellor can’t help
to solve his problem

Alternative 2:

Positive result:

- Bob feels that he needs more time to spend with his family
- He believes that ending his life will make his family miserable

Negative result:

- Bob even becomes sadder than before.

- Ending his life will lift up the emotions of his children.
- He doesn’t want to look at people who feels pity at him.

Alternative 3:

Positive result:
 - Bob deepen his knowledge on religion.
- Bob feels enlightened and always believe that God is always there.

Negative result:

- Bob stops praying.

- End his life will make God’s job easier.
- There will be less problematic people to be handled.

Judgement (J) Which result is better? What are the - As Bob has difficulty to move around, alternative 2 will be a good choice
criteria for the choice? for him as the family members are the one who will come and visit him.
They can bring things which might help Bob to remember their good
memories.
- Counsellor – need to go to his/her office.
- Religious circle – Bob needs to be rationalized through things he can see or
touch, so religion is incapable of providing this element.

Decision of action (D) What is the final decision? Choose alternative 2.

1st method: based on the steps

There are three alternatives which _____________________________.

The effects of the first alternative are _________________________________. Whereas, the effects of the second alternative are ______________.

2nd method: based on the alternatives

First, Bob should see a counsellor. __________________________________________________. __________________________________________. The

effects of meeting the counsellor are __________________________________________________. Based on the effects, Bob will
_____________________________.

Second, Barbara should schedule a __________________________________.

1st paragraph: CONFLICT

2nd paragraph: 1st ALTERNATIVE + EFFECTS + RESULTS

3rd paragraph: 2nd ALTERNATIVE + EFFECTS + RESULTS

4th paragraph: 3rd ALTERNATIVE + EFFECTS + RESULTS

5th paragraph: JUDGEMENT

6th paragraph: DECISION