Social Work Theory Application - Case Study Example

SOCIAL WORK THEORIES Student’s Name Course Professor’s Name University City Date Social Work Theory Application In social work, various obstacles are experienced every day. Every obstacle that social workers encounter represents a new or different kind of challenge. Various theories have been developed in a bid to help social workers face most of these challenges. These theories in social work additionally equip social workers with the skills and knowledge requisite in achieving positive solutions. Theories are statements that are backed with scientifically testable evidence, which can be used to explain a situation or something (Healy 2005). In social work, various theoretical approaches are used in explaining human behavior. Hence, they plausibly serve as starting points for various treatments. A sound example is the Psychodynamic Theory that explicitly explains how both external and internal forces interrelate in influencing emotional development (Healy 2005). This paper will explore the systems theory paying specific attention to the family systems theory, as well as the attachment theory in understanding the case presented. Systems Theory Systems theory seeks to explain human behavior as a function of multiple interrelated systems. Systems theory helps a social worker to understand and assist individuals faced with various situations such as family issues, individual, societal, organizational as well as other systems inherently involved (Teater 2010). This theory asserts that all systems are interrelated, and being parts of one whole system, every subsystem in one way or another influences the other parts of the ordered whole. In his book “Social System” Talcott Parsons, a renowned social economist at Harvard University gave an advanced perspective of the systems theory in social work (Healy 2005). This book features a critical view on the systematic determinants of behavior (Healy 2005). Another sociologist highly regarded and cited in the development of the systems theory is Robert Merton. He is considered as one of the modern sociology and advanced systems theory founding fathers through his immense contribution in functional analysis. Additionally, Robert came up with the ubiquitous terms in sociology “role model” and “self-fulfilling prophecy” (Healy 2005).Besides, Carel Germain is another famous sociologist who has substantially contributed towards the advancement of the systems theory in social work. She is internationally acknowledged for her work in fostering the explanation of human behavior in a social environment setting. Carel Germain worked hard in hand with another renowned sociologist, Alex Gitterman, who uses the Life Model to develop the Systems theory in social work (Healy 2005). Case Study Analysis using Systems Theory In the case of Jill, Bob Cruise, and their children; Anthony, Andrew, and Lisa, we can plausibly view a concrete basis to apply the systems theory in understanding how various interrelated factors can contribute to unhealthy actions. We find Bob, who is the client in this situation being caught up in a family dilemma where his wife is experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. His son Anthony, is caught up vandalism, he is afraid that his other son is idolizing Anthony and falling into his footsteps via skipping school. Besides, his small daughter Lisa is too demanding, yelling all the time. In this case, the Family Systems Theory fits since it asserts that evaluation of individuals should not be in isolation but in the context of the family, since the family operates as a unit (Healy 2005). The family systems theory bases its argument on family triangle. It perceives family as a triangle and believes that if any part of this triangle is not consistent with each other, the whole system is set to fail. The most forms of this wholesome family system entail parent-parent-child relationship. In the case study above, the corners of the triangle are not consistence with each other, and the family may fail. There exists two types of anxiety in the family systems theory: the chronic and acute anxiety. Acute anxiety entails the uneasy feeling that one feels especially when a threat is on the way, prompting someone to get out of a situation that eventually would lead to harm especially when a car is approaching (Teater 2010). This kind of anxiety is good since there exist a natural alarm in one’s body that alerts him or her in case of danger. This kind of anxiety ends when the stressor ends. Apparently, Jill seems to be suffering from chronic anxiety which primarily is generated within relationships. Unlike acute anxiety which is generated by the fear of what is, Jill is seen to be suffering from anxiety of what might be. She is even afraid of what John; Bob’s brother is doing with the children whenever they are claiming that she does not trust John. Additionally, this kind of anxiety is seen in Bob when he is seen afraid that if they got too well, they would lose their money. Apparently, the core principles of the systems theory are premised on the fact that for the whole system to be healthy, every subsystem have to function appropriately (Teater, 2010). In the case of Jill, her dilemma and fears affect her role in the family set up which brings a breach in strengthening the family system (Teater, 2010). According to the family systems theory, different people react differently when subjected to the same conditions as depicted by the difference in behavior between the boys and the girl. The boys are aggressive and skip school while the girl is extremely demanding as seen to seek attention all the time (case study). Additionally, family systems theory claims that certain behaviors in humans are rubbed off on people in that it is transmitted as well as absorbed without thinking or knowing (Healy 2005). In this case study, we find Andrew absorbing Anthony’s behaviors as his idle, besides, we also find Bob reasoning together with Jill in anxiety regarding their daughter, where they both blame themselves of her behavior. Similarly, we find Bob, who is afraid of living better, due to fear of losing their money. This is a form of chronic anxiety where one worries about what might happen. Of important to note is that while an individual in the emotional system may exhibit elevated anxiety symptoms, he has the power to modify the emotional system eventually influencing how other individuals behaves in the system (Teater 2010). If Bob starts having positive attitudes towards his brother and fight anxiety, he will be in a position to approach his sons to seek what they discuss with his brother, and eventually clear the doubts in his wife. Similarly, he has the courage to questions his sons on their attitudes towards him and their mother. Apparently, we find that Bob has issues with the level of fit concerning him and his sons. He fails to adapt to his situation and lack of positivity to personal and environmental changes which leads to a dysfunction in the family system (Teater 2010). According to Teater (2010), Systems theory is fundamental in addressing various issues though developing a holistic view of people within a given environment. Thus, Systems theory is best applicable in situations where various systems connect in an extricable manner, influencing one another especially in the case of an open system. The open system often allow for new information to flow within systems. Thus, the theory, can be applied in situations where contextual behavior understanding leads to the beast practice interventions. In the Bob’s case, we find that Andrew is influenced by his brother’s actions and the fact that their parents do not have the courage to question his elder brother’s behavior. The family’s environment have influenced how Andrew behaves especially in being arrogant to his parents and skipping school. A recommended intervention to Andrew’s behavior is strengthening the missing family unit in his life and that is serious parental intervention. There is a communication gap between the children and their parents, hampering the effectiveness of an open system which supports the effective flow of information (Teater 2010). Apparently, we find that these two boys are freer with their uncle and with an understanding of what they share with their uncle can play a significant role in pushing their uncle to sensitize them on the need to respect their parents as well as take their studies seriously. Eventually, working out the microsystem especially the one affecting the boys will enhance reciprocal influence to work in favor of the family, where a positive influence will exists within the family (Teater, 2010). In the Bob’s case, in a bid to strengthen the children’s issues, a social worker will plausibly opt to start with molding Anthony’s behavior since he is Andrew’s role model and changing his view of life will eventually be emulated by his brother. Similarly, since he is the elder child, he is in a position to effect change in their sister who will eventually respect her elder brother. Secondly, an intervention that will come in handy in this situation is networking and use of referrals. It is imperative for a social worker to help a client navigate between systems he is entangled in (Teater, 2010). Referral may involve referring Bob to a specialist, or connecting him with resources that may come in handy to help his situation. In the case affecting Anthony, it is plausible that he can be referred to a counselor or uses his uncle, whom he adores to help him change his behavior (Teater, 2010). Thirdly, the sociologist may employ the use of ecomaps which are flow diagrams that helps the social worker and the client capture as well as organize the family system’s complexity. Lastly, in order to understand the family systems theory, the social worker may apply genograms. Genograms are family trees which are represented graphically and usually describe relationships between extended families (Teater, 2010). In Bob’s case, a social worker may typically construct a genogram with him to better understand as well as identify pattern in the extended family especially his brother’s past behaviors in relationship to the behaviors depicted by his sons. Basing on the reciprocal and circular nature of systems, we find that all these efforts employed by a social worker play an integral role in countering the unpredictability nature in the situation facing Bob. We find that the problems facing Bob are influenced by different levels in the family system, a situation known as circular causality in systems theory (Teater, 2010). Adoption of the aforementioned remedies will be imperative in easing the depression Bob is undergoing. Attachment Theory According to Prior & Glaser (2006), Attachment Theory is said to be highly influenced by psychodynamic perspectives which emphasizes the importance of people’s internal feelings. Psychodynamic perspectives additionally conflicts in the generation of behavior as well as in resolving problems that people face. In these psychodynamic perspectives, we find that clients have early experiences that eventually shape their later development. This highly applies to children where their later intellectual and emotional developments are conditioned by the kind of care they receive when they are infants. The kinds of attachments children have with adults in their early ages play an integral role for their later social competencies. In an early stage, children are able to form their identity in social relationships, where they learn dealing with other people and their brains eventually make sense of what is going on around them. Through this kind of experience, children are able to develop expectations that aid in forming a social reality (Prior & Glaser 2006). Attachment theory therefore focuses mainly on the bond formed between an individual (infant) and an attachment (infant-caregiver). An attachment in this context entails a tie based on the need for safety protection as well as security. Therefore, attachment in attachment theory is purposively focused on the bond created between one individual and his attachment figure and not synonymous with love or other activities (Nash et al. 2005). Attachment theory argues that as humans, we need belonging to certain social groups regardless of our ethnicity or culture. Apparently, people seek to matter to those who matter to them. Attachment theory focuses on four types of attachments. We have secure attachments, insecure-ambivalent attachments, insecure-avoidant attachments and disorganized attachments. Secure attachments entail a situation where babies or children’s are encouraged exploring certain behaviors but are welcome back in any situation to be comforted by their attachment figure (Nash et al. 2005). Insecure-ambivalent attachments entail situations where children often display extreme distress when children are finally separated with their caregivers, especially in cases where their caregivers never gave them the opportunity to explore (Nash et al. 2005). On the other hand, insecure avoidant attachments entail a situation when a child typically offers no sign of pleasure when their caregivers return to comfort them, hence shows no distress after separation. This is a situation that arises when the caregiver seems not to give the care that the child might be seeking, hence the child feels more secure associating with other groups and being detached with the caregiver. Lastly, the insecure disorganized attachment is explicit in children who do not display any apparent strategy of handling distress. These children perceive their caregivers as both comforting and frightening hence are always in a dilemma whether to remain attached to the caregivers or detach themselves completely from the caregiver (Nash et al. 2005). Application of the Attachment Theory in the Case Study In Bob’s case study, we find that his main issues are focused on his children’s behavior especially his elder son Anthony, who eventually can be related to the insecure avoidant attachment theory. Anthony seems to be more attached to the other world where his parents do not exist. Anthony have influenced his younger brother, Andrew, into feeling that their parents cannot offer them the security they need both financially as well as in advice as depicted when they tell them to piss off, asserting that they are hopeless and do not amount to anything. This is an indication that both Bob’s sons feel insecure with their caregivers and they seek attachment elsewhere which is essentially through Bob’s brother John. When a social worker understands this connection, he will be able to help Bob in navigating situation. Bob will be able to understand that his sons do not feel secure with their caregivers and work ways in which these two children can appreciate what their parents can offer so as to regain the trust. In conclusion, the attachment theory bases on various principles which apply specifically situations like the one faced by Bob and his family. Some of these principles are that attachment theory focuses on the absolute importance of interpersonal relationships in individual lives. This particular principle gives an explicit outline of the relationship between Bob and his boys whom feel that they are not cared for effectively by their parents, seeking for external attachments through their uncle whom is not trusted by their mother. The second plausible principle is that attachment theory provides a framework where social workers are able to understand the psychological as well as cognitive adaptations to attachments (Newton 2008). In the case study, a social worker can effectively use attachment theory to explore the psychological adaptations that revolve between Bob and his sons. Bob is psychologically disturbed by his wife’s situation as well as his pressure from his children hence application of the application theories principles in analyses of his situation will eventually provide the most viable therapy. Reference List Healy, K, 2005, Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Houndsmill. Nash, M, Munford, R, & O'Donoghue, K, 2005, Social work theories in action, London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Newton, R, P, 2008, The attachment connection: Parenting a secure & confident child using the science of attachment theory, Oakland, CA, New Harbinger Publications. Prior, V, & Glaser, D, 2006, Understanding attachment and attachment disorders: Theory, evidence and practice, London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Teater, B, 2010, Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, England, Open University Press. Read More