Social Work Assignment_

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Nov 24, 2024

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1 Social Work Assignment Student’s Name Instructor’s Name Institution Course Due Date

2 Social Work Assignment Introduction In the past, the family dimensions were viewed differently as a system. The perception has changed to be one of the important theoretical frameworks not only for family psychologists but also counselors. According to Hutchison (2018), a family functions as a unit, with every member having a diverse role in fulfilling. Thus, it becomes significantly challenging for one of the members to change without creating a ripple within the family system. Additionally, the family has been observed as an integration of different agents. As such, any particular conduct of one family member was not necessarily connected to the demeanor of other members. This constrained idea of the family has allowed parents to assume that since they have many children, the behavior of one child, for instance, a son who is intelligent and functional, yet the daughter is not intelligent. There is a possibility the daughter has a problem since the parents raised them together under similar circumstances (Esping-Andersen & Billari, 2015). However, within the analysis of the family system, this perception is interpreted differently. Each member is perceived as functional within the unit. If the daughter contributes negatively to the family role, the son plays an equal role positively. A closer examination of such a family can reveal some functional elements founded and upheld within the system. For example, in “Anton’s” family, the son, Noah (23), is a prolific and intelligent person, making him connect well with the parents and attract their interest. Arguably, the daughter, Kylah (25), understands her incapacity to contest with her brother academically and socially. Resultantly, Kylah's average performance does not meet any recognition or praise from her parents. Instead, she receives comments such as “you can do better.” Soon, Kylah acknowledges her inabilities and cannot meet her parents’ expectations in and outside the school. She ends up engaging in

3 felonious behaviors. Although she usually gets negative criticism, Kylah feels contented as a full partaker within the family unit. On the other hand, there is a likelihood that parents engage in frequent fights because the father blames the mother for their daughter’s behavior. Additionally, the father abuses alcohol (although he denies drinking unduly). Noah believes that he can change things in their household by achieving recommendable results at school. As he tries to perfect things, his sister continues to feel miserable over the events happening within the family, especially when her mother is mistreated. With all the anger, her acting out at school and getting into unlawful acts attracts her parent’s interest, reducing the unnecessary drama at home. Kylah believes that any attempt to change her behavior gives her parents an opportunity to concentrate on their problems, likely to cause more fighting. This paper focuses on the above case study. First, the paper examines the family as a social system using three different perspectives and five concepts as derived from the theories in Hutchison’s (2018) text. Second, the paper examines these perspectives in detail, giving instances of how they relate to the family unit. Also, in this section, the paper reveals the diversity issues relating to the family unit. Finally, the paper illustrates how social systems promote or blocks the achievement and maintenance of health and well-being, with a critical focus on the selected family unit. Examining the Family Unit using Theories/Perspectives and Concepts The three perspectives for discussing the selected family unit include the symbolic interaction perspective, the family stress, coping, and resilience perspective, and the social constructionist perspective. According to Hutchison (2018), the symbolic interaction perspective tends to comprehend family as a system that creates interaction. Different streams explain the symbolic

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4 interaction, with each focusing on the thematic idea of social life. They include rituals, responsibilities, symbols, and meaning. This theory posits that the behaviors of family members are based on the meaning they hold about the social world. Additionally, the theory suggests that meanings arise from social interactions and depend on how well individuals interpret that interaction. The family unit comes in because the theory looks at the individual's behaviors and how they are influenced individually in terms of beliefs and cultural aspects. The next is the family stress, coping, and resilience perspective, which seeks to ultimately recognize whether scenario A in the family unit causes crisis X and understand the family resources (B) and how the family defines events (C) (Hutchison (2018). Here, the idea is that the effects of stressors on a family unit are based on other factors. Specifically, this theory is the foundation for looking at the stress and coping mechanisms of the family. According to this theory, a period of challenges and issues is followed by several possible outcomes. The family can recover from the previous functioning level, suffer from maladaptation, or adapt well to previous events. In other words, stressful events might create a suitable coping mechanism for a family unit, strengthening it in the long run. Lastly, the social constructionist perspective is the very aspect of personality existence and the expression of traits and feelings between individuals. Someone decontextualized from the social context, possibly if they lived alone or in a deserted land, cannot be “caring” or “sociable” as these behaviors reveal how individuals relate with others. Komarovsky et al. (2017) postulate how individual behaviors emerge from collective actions rather than personality aspects. Humans are positioned to interact uniquely with others, irrespective of their intents. In the family, there are different kinds of members based on the abstract traits that tend to describe them. Each trait describes the family member within the context of that family system. The

5 social constructionist theory reveals that family members create instead of discovering themselves and others through interactions. The five concepts applicable to the selected family unit include the relationship concept, the social support concept, the concept of stress, the coping and adaptation concept, and the attachment concept. The relationship concept explains the formation of lasting family connections. The social support concept reveals the interpersonal engagement and connection that offer attachment needs to family individuals perceived as caring (Feeney & Collins, 2014). The concept of stress reveals the toxicity likely to affect a person and their relationship with other family members. The coping and adaptation concept is the individual choice to focus on problem-solving, which entails changing the entire environment (Hutchison, 2018). Finally, the attachment concept highlights the ability of family members to express their need for closeness. Defining and Discussing the Perspectives/Theories and Concepts The social constructionist perspective stresses that the typical family is not a representation of all families yet a continuation of the reinforced institutions and social system in our community. The theory examines how individuals develop a sense of belonging, control, and interactions. The concept of relationship plays a vital role in this case, outlining the capacity of individuals to form lasting connections with each other (Hutchison, 2018). The perspective heightened interaction with each other and their surrounding based on shared beliefs and meanings. Classification. According to the family unit, the social constructionist perspective is critical in identifying how members understand others and themselves to increase interactions. Everyone tends to have different subjective realities about the world as they interact in various contexts. This theory sees individual conception or human realization as a result of social interaction. For example, social constructionists might view the issues affecting Anton’s family

6 as social constructions resulting from social issues and social processes (Holstein & Miller, 2017). Therefore, the social constructionist perspective could be vital in understanding how the family unit has constructed the implication of phenomena such as violence and drug abuse. The social support concept explains how interpersonal connections improve attachment to individuals perceived as close. Noah is perceived as close to his parents in the above family unit than Kylah. The family stress, coping, and resilience perspective can be explained based on the family adaptations. Violence and alcohol abuse are the main stressors in Anton’s family. This model has been applied in studies linked to parents and children's relationships to recognize the available coping mechanisms and resources within the family to help all members acquire another level of coherence and harmony (Walsh, 2016). For instance, the focus of the above case study is on violence and alcohol abuse, the efforts of some family members to restore sanity, and the appraisal needs to solve the existing problems. Therefore, the ability of the family to adjust rather than adapt is stressed in this theory as this is the most critical response to family events. The family stress, coping, and resilience perspective integrates the concept of stress, indicating the key events in the family’s life (Hutchison, 2018). Two real stressors are evaluated in this model, which is related to family violence and drug abuse. These stressors can drain all the resources in a family. Especially the normative stressors are the typical transitions of a family cycle of events. Therefore, the theory extends the mechanisms of adaptation by attempting to recognize and improve areas that can allow Anton’s family to revert from the distressing events. Under the symbolic interaction perspective, referring to the case study, the interaction between Noah and his parents is healthy. Noah has to stand up as the family's oldest member by attempting to bring change within the family. As the theory suggests, Noah’s behaviors are based on the meaning he holds about the social world (Hutchison, 2018). Noah has to partake in

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7 adulting responsibilities at an early age, although he is two years younger than his sister. From the social interactions with his family members, Noah realizes that the meanings depend on how well he interprets that interaction. For instance, Noah understands that his social interaction is meaningful; thus, he does not want to follow Kylah’s path and only wants his family to have a better relationship. The Diversity Issues relevant to the Family Unit Diversifying a family unit might encompass different aspects of family processes, social class, gender, mental/physical capacity, and family structure. Family diversity challenges are family division, domestic violence, and lack of proper integration of members within one unit (Komarovsky et al., 2017). Family members should comprehend the differences to address the difficulties together and improve understanding. The problems resulting from the diverse issues of a family unit can be solved or avoided. The major thing to understand is that family relationships and the surrounding context have a huge implication on the family members. Positive and peaceful families help members navigate possible solutions and develop a healthy psychological and biological lifestyle (Sampson, 2017). Although not all families are similar, the quality of their relationship is more critical than the entire composition. Irrespective of who forms the family unit, members are encouraged to create a cohesive and strong connection with each other to promote individual well-being and support everyone’s physical/mental health. How Social Systems Promote or Block the Achievement and Maintenance of Health and Well-being A family unit makes the most impactful institution in society today. Family offers a context where everyone feels part of the group. Indeed, socialization is nurtured and learned within the family. Additionally, family is where an individual’s beliefs and behaviors take form.

8 Economic impacts and sociocultural formations, including those influencing the individual state of mind, are facilitated through families to individual members (Weare, 2018). Therefore, executions directed to enhance individual empowerment and education via families are a chance to contribute to the growth of society. Whatever the family nature, whether nuclear or combined, its pivotal role in maintaining individual health and well-being is vital. The family continues to play other significant roles of nurturing children, increasing their socialization, and impacting their behaviors, positively and negatively, creating opportunities and the essence of healthy living. For instance, early childhood development is significantly based on family conditions. The emotional, cognitive, and social domains are acquired within the family and tend to influence individual health and well-being. Integrating a life-course standpoint shifts attention on how other social health determinants influence every stage of growth, from childhood, through adolescence, to adulthood, significantly forming the foundation for good or bad health in the later stages of life. From the traditional perspective, women in the family play a significant role in influencing health. How effective their role is impacted by education status, employment, social class, and cultural practices. These factors tend to block or allow them to make family decisions. Evidence shows that parents’ level of knowledge, education, and social status influence their engagement and participation in the community (Erola et al., 2016). As such, a systematic engagement from different sectors, such as local health contexts, education, and local administrations, should empower parents, especially women, to make informed decisions that help to improve the health and well-being of family members. Additionally, interventions are required in the family unit that proactively helps educate, motivate, empower, and support families to operate and practice improved behaviors. Society should educate community-based

9 workers and volunteers working in the context of the family unit to heighten skills and empower them. Parents, in their role and contributions, can make vital health decisions. If the family unit is supported, parents can form healthy living.

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10 References Erola, J., Jalonen, S., & Lehti, H. (2016). Parental education, class and income over early life course and children's achievement. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility , 44 , 33- 43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2016.01.003 Esping-Andersen, G., & Billari, F. C. (2015). Re-theorizing family demographics. Population and Development Review , 41 (1), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2015.00024.x Feeney, B. C., & Collins, N. L. (2014). A new look at social support. Personality and Social Psychology Review , 19 (2), 113-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868314544222 Holstein, J. A., & Miller, G. (2017). Social constructionism and social problems work. Constructionist Controversies , 131-152. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315080505-7 Hutchison, E. D. (2018). Dimensions of human behavior: Person and environment (6th ed.). SAGE Publications. Komarovsky, M., Hess, R. D., & Handel, G. (2017). Family worlds. A psychosocial approach to family life. Marriage and Family Living , 21 (4), 399. https://doi.org/10.2307/347124 Sampson, R. J. (2017). Family management and child development. Facts, Frameworks, and Forecasts , 63-94. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203792452-5 Walsh, F. (2016). Family resilience: A developmental systems framework. European Journal of Developmental Psychology , 13 (3), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1154035 Weare, K. (2018). Promoting mental health and well-being. Oxford Textbook of Public Mental Health , 389-398. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198792994.003.0042

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