Identifying Developmental Theories of Family Members

University
Reflective Essay
Author’s Name
Date
Professor’s Name
Program of Study
Reflective Essay
Terrence’s Family Genogram
right13335MaryMary163830034671059055080010BenBenParents
28670241524000
5295900102870685800762000
O/C
Terrence and the family
241871511747500
532447591440Lena 00Lena 61150503581404495800100965Rumi00Rumi
550545076205314950352425Hope 0Hope
A family examination is one of the most effective ways of identifying the existing developmental theories that relate to the experiences and relations of family members. After a close assessment of family members, the findings help in reflecting the case study and the life encounter of the various participants. The idea in the discussion falls under developmental theories and social aspects that affect the fate of family members. In some cases, some parents deny their children an opportunity of interacting with other family members, thus affecting the effectiveness of the socialization process. In such a case, one of the major factors that hinder the socialization process is the fear of perpetrators causing harm to innocent children. The analysis will entail findings of a child protection conference I had attended in the social work module.
Notably, numerous issues, such as developmental factors can harm the welfare of children. In some instances, sick children might encounter difficulties to concentrate in class like their counterparts. Equally, the children face numerous challenges that might hinder them from attending school. Therefore, social workers have to work collaboratively with parents and caregivers alike in formulating effective mechanisms of enhancing the wellbeing of the children. Notably, social workers have to enlighten parents on the need for being responsible and taking care of their children without any neglect. However, social workers and parents alike have to consider ecological systems that have a significant influence on children’s lives.
Assumptions in Assessing the Family Members
I applied various premises in the process of observing and assessing the family members at the conference. One of the assumptions is that Terrence invited all the family members and that everyone had an opportunity of expressing themselves. Besides, all the children had a chance of interacting with the parents without any form of disruption. Furthermore, I assumed that Terrence’s family consisted of first-marriage conjugal individuals who were living together with their biological children. For that reason, the children adopted some of the behaviors from their parent’s genes. Besides, the family in the case study is both culturally and historically specific. The key focus is the context and quality of the children’s environment based on Bronfenbrenner’s theory of ecological systems. In the case study, the interaction of a child becomes more complex as they develop. For that reason, Rumi, Lena, and Hope have varied characteristics because of the variance between their ages. The children were reluctant to speak about the situation at home in fear of their aggressive father.
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory is one of the fundamental models of assessing the family welfare and wellbeing of the children. The American psychologist formulated Ecological system theory to illustrate the inherent qualities of children and the way that the environment influences their overall development and growth. Therefore, the approach is applicable in the case study of Terrence and his family. Notably, the Bronfenbrenner theory is useful in assessing children in various environments and ways that they interact with the environment (Hayes, O’Toole, and Halpenny, 2017, p.43). In the case study of the family, Lena likely associated with a situation that influenced him to draw the indecent picture that raised concern. According to the theory above, children are caught up in numerous ecosystems that include society, culture, and other ecological systems.
Bronfenbrenner theorist posits that the microsystem is one of the primary and immediate environments, which children live. In the case of Rumi, Lena, and Hope, a microsystem comprises of a peer group, community environment, school/daycare, or a home. Arguably, interactions with the microsystem entail personal relationships with teachers, caregivers, and family members. According to research findings by Ashiabi and O’Neal (2015, p.54), the groups and individuals that interact with the children affects their overall growth and development. Besides, the way that children interact with the microsystem influences ways that they treat other children in return. In the case of the family in the case study, supportive and nurturing interactions fostered improved development of the children.
The most relevant findings that Urie Bronfenbrenner revealed in the research of ecological systems is that siblings can encounter varied environments despite finding themselves in similar environmental systems. In the case of Lena and Hope, they experienced an identical microsystem despite being in parallel eco-friendly methods. For that reason, the siblings progressed in different manners for being in diverse microsystems. Besides, genetic and biological factors influenced their personality traits. In the case study of the family, peer groups, school, and home are the microsystems that influenced the growth and development of children.
The mesosystem is a relevant model in the ecological theory because of the influence it has on children. Dishion, Mun, C.J, Ha, and Tein (2019, p.52) posits that the linkages between home and school, community and family, and peer groups have a significant influence on the development of children. According to Bronfenbrenner’s theory, the parents that take part in the friendship of their children have an opportunity of making a significant impact on them (Bluteau, Clouder, and Cureton, 2017, p.425). In the case study, Terrence and Nbesa likely invited their children’s friends to their house, thus affecting their children positively through like-mindedness and harmony. Nbesa agrees with various interventions suggested by professionals, thus revealing that she is pretentious. However, parents who criticize their children’s peers openly cause negative development of their children.
Notably, the mesosystem affects the welfare and overall development of a child in either a negative or positive way. The physical abuse, which Rumi encountered from her father had a significant influence on her growth. The son must have learned from the behaviors of his father on being violent, especially in assaulting other students in school. The son and the father have similarities in their character because a child learns through observing parents and caregivers in the social environment. In one of the instances, Rumi breaks the door while her mother, Nbesa, is around. Besides, Rumi reveals that his father assaulted him using a belt, thus an indicator that the children suffered from intense stress. Therefore, Rumi needed and anger management therapy because he was so aggressive to others. The family needed to get convicted by law enforcement officers for their uncontrollable behaviors. The social workers need to support the perpetrators of gender-based violence in managing anger.
On the contrary, Lena likely lived in an environment that influenced him to draw indecent pictures. The images triggered section 47 of the children’s Act, thus protecting the daughter from committing other sexual offenses. Notably, development psychology is evident in the family, thus making developmental theories applicable in the case study (Garbarino, 2017, p.65). A social worker lacks an opportunity of meeting Lena, thus making her report non-informative. Terrence’s family does not have effective communication among the members, which results in the uncontrollable behaviors among the members. For instance, Terrence is a perpetrator of violence towards the mother. Therefore, the two would not maintain effective communication. However, Lena is less assertive and even hesitant to talk about the sexualized image that she has drawn. For that reason, an IRO, who shared a meeting with other professionals, agreed that the family needed a child protection plan to determine if the children perseve...