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LIFE CAREER DEVELOPMENT INTERVIEW
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LIFE CAREER DEVELOPMENT INTERVIEW
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Introduction
Career development is an evolution that a worker goes through as they aspire to more futuristic, pragmatic and productive with their responsibilities. The process is significant as it helps employees to develop into a well informed task force that has a very strong sense of purpose (Baruch 2006, 126-138). Developed around several principles, the subject would define a healthy task force that has responsive actions, and always take to shouldering their burden with defined ability. The principles used in career development not only make the participants self-aware, but also make the veil between them and their working environments transparent, thus others-aware (Brotherine & Jackline 2008, 480-496). The process is always influenced by plans that are adopted by an organization, depending on their aspirations and visualized programs (Baruch 2006, 126-138).
Depending on the plan adopted, career development serves a purpose of satisfying and molding two persona. The first is the organization involved with its aspirations on the kind of model taskforce it aspires to create. The second is the individuals who are undergoing the process, as they are made to unlearn vices and conceive virtues. The plan adopted should be comprehensive to avoid flaws, succinct to avoid complications and philosophical to create an inspired taskforce (Baruch 2006, 126-138). It should also be flexible to accommodate the different characters that individuals exhibit. Other issues that should be factored into career development include cost, duration spent and the level of engagement involved (Brotherine & Jackline 2008, 480-496).
Baruch’s Career Development Model
The interviewee accepted to be part of the interview after a vivid explanation was given to him on the objectives and risks of the interview. The interviewee voluntarily agreed to be interviewed, and samples of questions were presented to him to offer his answers. There was also an agreement between the interviewer and the interviewee about the confidentiality and the privacy of the interviewee and the privacy of the firm he works. It agreed that vital information was not to be leaked to the third party and an information sheet signed by both the two sides to guarantee the confidentiality of the interviewee specifically.
Considerations like such had be made to ensure that the psych of the interviewee is maintained to the maximum, with his openness and lack of biasness made eminent. Making the interviewee relaxed and comfortable by giving such kind of assurances was necessary. That was so to ensure that the entire process was not muddled with irregular information as the interviewee would have made attempts to conceal some information that he didn’t trust strangers with. Managers would obviously want to conceal certain information to keep the secrets that keep their companies thriving, secret (Brotherine & Jackline 2008, 480-496). As such, the assurances were not just meant to protect the credibility of the information, but also to protect the company manager and his company.
The Msheireb Properties Cultural Affairs Manager, who is my uncle, gave out elaborate answers to questions about his career achievement. Similarly, he explained the development of his career since his childhood and the challenges he has experienced in life (Greenhaus, Inkson & Pringle 1999, 713-715). The aim of the study was to know how the member of the family who is considered most successful made it to his status. The questions were designed in a manner that would help understand all the stages of life he went through from childhood to being a manager (Brotherine & Jackline 2008, 480-496). The manager’s life was influenced by family members; more so, his parents and his brother who influenced and helped him develop his ambitions. As a result, he worked hard to develop a career of his childhood dreams.Baruch’s career foundation model emphasizes on a person’s earlier life as a child and also as an adolescent. A person can know what career he would want to venture into during childhood and even at the adolescent stage. Career development starts early in individuals through with the guidance of parents, teachers, and other responsible people. During this period, an individual’s personality and attitudes toward future occupations can be tampered with because of negative peer influence. The manager indicates that there were several challenges he faced as an adolescent but further says that it was the guidance and counseling he got from his superiors that helped overcome the challenges (Baruch 2006, 126-138). As his hard work at the workplace can as well be due to the counseling and guidance, he got from childhood and even during the adolescent period. The model illustrates that focus and hard work and workplace is influenced by how a person was brought up.Baruch’s model of career development explains that career evolves around a person’s behavior and attitudes toward attaining his ambitions. The Cultural Affairs Manager explains in the questionnaire that his personality helped him remain focused on his ambitions as he did not succumb to negative peer influence (Furnhama 2005, 420-435). He explains that for a person to achieve his career goals then his personality should not waver. The manager took the development of his career as his property and worked hard in school to get the best knowledge he could within the time he had. Baruch’s model talks of career entry after a person attains an education that gives him the knowledge and skills to be employed (Hughe 2015, 5-10). After graduation, the manager went for an interview to look for a job. The manager further explains that the organizations he has worked for sponsor their employees to gain better skills and knowledge. The employees are later promoted depending on their skills and experience. The manager’s experience is in line with Baruch’s model of career development in which it is the obligation of the organization to assist workers in their career management and development (Fish, Allan & Jack 1993, 40-60).The manager has been dependent on the organizations he has worked for both as a junior and a senior employee during his career development. He explains that the second degree he acquired while still a junior employee made him have an edge over other applicants and therefore aided him in getting the managerial job at Msheireb Properties (Arnold 1997, 31-198). At this point, the manager’s information from the questionnaire is a clear indication that his career development corresponds to Baruch’s integrated model of career stages (Kramar 2013, 1069-1089). According to the model of Baruch, the manager is at the reinforcement stage of career development. After reviewing his career and deciding to go for further studies while still a junior employee, he gave a new turn to the development of his career. He therefore completed Baruch’s model of revaluation by advancing his professionalism through further education. According to Baruch’s age and stage model of career development, getting a second degree was the manager’s process of rethinking (Parry & Shaun 2008, 257-274).The manager also talks about the challenge he has faced both as a junior and a senior employee. He describes some challenges as distressful, but his perseverance, and ability to adapt with speed sailed him through. The manager’s challenging experiences as an employee corresponds to Baruch’s decline stage that encompasses gradual withdrawal from work if a person lacks perseverance (Ramsey 2010, 219-235). Some people can consider quitting an option in order to search for jobs elsewhere. The scenario is similar to the manager’s when he quit working with Qatar Museum Authority though his reasons for quitting are not well elaborated.Baruch explains that it is always the responsibility of a person to manage and develop his career before employment that the manager has done by working hard to attain the necessary knowledge and skills to do a job. Once employed, the responsibility of career development shifts to the company. The manager indicates in the questionnaire that the organizations he has worked for offer training sponsorships to its employees. The organization also promotes the employees once the necessary knowledge and skills have been achieved. As a matter of fact, the promotion and sponsorship of employees align with Baruch model of career development as Baruch talks of career advancement (Singaravelu 2005, 46-49). Acquisition of skills and knowledge can be done either by the organization or an individual as Baruch model states. The manager is an example of career advancement as his life seems to revolve around the organizations in which he has worked. He seems to be at the peak of his career as he holds a managerial post, and he is not young too. ConclusionAs a matter of fact, Baruch’s model of career development does not suit all the employees’ career development since every job requires different training. Some jobs require less education as others consider vigorous education. The model’s different stages can be used in judging people’s career and to explain the various stages people pass through from childhood to adulthood as they nurture their careers. Additionally, there is no time frame for every Baruch’s model stage. The period only arises during the evaluation of a person’s career development from childhood to the time the person gets employed. Similarly, every stage can be categorized by some age during the period of developing one’s career.
To sum up, the processes of career development should not be compulsive, but rather wholesome and endeavoring to fulfill the necessary guidelines that have been outlined in the Baruch’s model. In a sense, skipping some of the stages, just like in human growth, would lead to premature ‘characters’ as a career would not be pragmatic. The philosophies of career conception and development are not just sensible, but also have a lot of value in nurturing the characters of individuals, their productivity and even reliability. Baruch’s model not only eliminates erratic characters from employees, but improves their efficiency and pragmatism and would ease the tasks of management in an organization. Employed to the latter, and with keenness, the model would see organizations grow, productions multiply, and economies expand as such is its significance.
List of References
ARNOLD J. Managing Careers into the 21st Century. London: P. Chapman, (1997): 31-198.
BARUCH, Y. “Career Development In Organizations And Beyond: Balancing Traditional And Contemporary Viewpoints.” Human Resource Management Review 16.2 (2006): 125-138.
BROTHERIDGE C.M., & JACQUELINE L.P. “Are Career Centers Worthwhile?: Predicting Unique Variance in Career Outcomes through Career Center Usage.” Career Development International 13.6 (2008): 480-496.
FISH, ALAN, & JACK W. “A Challenge To Career Management Practice.” International Journal of Career Management 5.2 (1993): 40-60.
FURNHAM A. The Psychology of Behaviour at Work: The Individual in the Organization. 2nd ed. Hove [England: Psychology, 2005: 420-435.
GREENHAUS J.H. “The New Careers: Individual Action and Economic Change, ARTHUR M.B., INKSON K, & PRINGLE J.K. 1999. Sage: London. 181pp.” Journal of Organizational Behavior (1999): 713-715.
GREENHAUS J.H. CALLANAN G.A. & GODSHALK V.M. (2010) Career Management 4th ed., Thousand Oaks : Sage
HUGHES, C. “Intergrating Diversity into Organization and Career Development.” Impact of Diversity on Organization and Career Development. IGI Global, 2014: 5-10.
KRAMAR, R. Beyond strategic human resource management: Is sustainable human resource management the next approach? The International Journal of Human Resource Management (2013): 1069-089.
PARRY E. & SHAUN T. “An Analysis Of The Use And Success Of Online Recruitment Methods In The UK.” Human Resource Management Journal 18.3 (2008): 257-274.
RAMSEY, C. “Narrative: From Learning in Reflection to Learning in Performance.” Management Learning 36.2 (2010): 219-235.
SINGARAVELU, H. D. “Factors Influencing International Students’ Career Choice: A Comparative Study.” Journal of Career Development 32.1 (2005): 46-59.
Tourism Destination and Management
Institution:
TOURISM DESTINATION AND MANAGEMENT
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Student’s Name
Instructor:
Date of Submission
Tourism Destinations
A Tourism destination is the most significant and fundamental unit of from which the several dimensions of tourism derive basis. It is the point of delivery of products of tourism and defines the implementation of the policies of tourism. It is a projection/representation of the image and identity of tourism.Modeled, the sector of tourism would a assume a circular figure with the destination at the epitome. Visitors, community, regional authorities, industry services and the management organization all bear their operations on an energy level around the destination.For instance, the Waikiki beach in Hawaii, US, makes a destination that pulls a massive tourists population annually. In Hawaii, it is significant as it strengthens the region’s economy in various ways. The residents at its location, Honolulu, make up the recipient community that is affected in different manners by the destination. The destination has strengthened them economically but in as much, any adverse effects that would emanate from the destination would also bear a negative repercussion on their well being. The destination is located on Oahu Island and is as such subject to government protection through the Oahu administration. The regional authorities not only protect the beach, but also safeguard the residents from any dangers they would be exposed to from the beach (Pfister and Tierney 2009, 41). Considering that it is a beach, the various resorts and hotels that have established a base in the region play the role of managing the destination, in partnership with the marine authorities and local police.Waikiki gets a high number of annual visitors who seek to rest on the island and who get their services from the hotelier industry established in the island.
Destination Management
The integration of elements and their coordination are the definitions of destination management (Laws 1995, 53). Destination management mires with tourism plan and strategy and the mix elements that include events, infrastructure, facilities and hospitality resources. Such management is always accredited to organizations that bear the responsibility of conducting or overseeing the processes named above. The organizations’ (DMOs) structures take variations according to the practices of its hosting community and systems of the hosting government (Ritchie and Campiranon 2014, 59).The factors that call for management in a destination include people (visitors and residents), physical products inclusive of transportation, attractions and facilities and programs. The organizations also manage the packages presented to the visitors and research and planning involving the destination (Harrill and Lodg 2012, 63).
Application of Destination Management
In the US, there are several parks that attract several visitors annually, thus generating much revenue for the US government (Harrill and Lodg 2012, 64). The parks have been placed under the management of National Park Service by the government. The organization is thus entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that the local communities around the parks derive maximum benefits from the touring activities. In addition, it ensures that the visitors are guaranteed satisfaction during their visits. Any activity that concerns the parks must also get the consent of the organization and must be supervised by the organization (Laws 1995, 53).
Minimizing Risks and Maximizing Benefits for a Tourism Destination
Managers have the obligation of ensuring that negative repercussions in a tourism locality are limited (Woodside and Martin 2008, 34). On the contrary, they should ensure that there are benefits for the place. To meet the responsibility, the managers are required to take into account a stream of operational and strategic interventions. Such considerations harmonize the tourism with the hosting locality, making it bearable and comfortable for either party to develop a mutual relationship (Laws, Prideaux and Chon 2007, 26).Managers have adopted a governance that is neo-liberal and comes with the introduction of actions and policies that channel the tourism financial output in the poor communities (Laws, Prideaux and Chon 2007, 26). As such, the community is encouraged to participate in the supply chain. They are also encouraged to form enterprises (Pfister and Tierney 2009, 52). Promoting such pro-poor tourism is a strategy that managers use to maximize benefits for the destination community by spreading the social and economic benefits throughout the community. The approach improves income, opportunities and services to the poor (World Tourism Organization 2007, 11).Managers also equip the recipient communities with local control to make them feel less threatened. The approach involves inclusion of the communities as stakeholders with some level of voice in the manner of operations of the tourism business (Woodside and Martin 2008, 37). This promotes their well-being and provides the grounds for defining the limits of tourism of actions that would otherwise infringe their rights. They are involved in decisions that have an effect in their community and are also duly informed of available opportunities (Marshall and Taylor 2006, 36).To further make sure that the residents get maximum benefits from the tourism industry, the managers also implement policies that encourage local spending by the tourists (Ritchie and Campiranon 2014, 56). The organization can promote the use of local produce and employing of local labor thus creating jobs. The policies can also include infrastructure development. For instance, the organization can put up roads and improve medical facilities (Marshall and Taylor 2006, 37).Establishing well-defined parameters around the destinations also reduces the attack of the residents by savage animals and predators. The destructive nature of some animals can lay a setback to the development of a region (Ritchie and Campiranon 2014, 57). For instance, tropical animals like the elephants and hippos destroy agricultural farms thus reducing the food supply for the residents (Pfister and Tierney 2009, 22). Establishing of substantial barriers around such parks would hence ensure that the residents engage in their activities uninterrupted (World Tourism Organization 2007, 12).
Role of Marketing in Destination Development
The process of marketing, in a business perspective, projects the act of packaging and presenting a package in a manner that influences the decision to take the package as preference by the target (Pforr and Hosie 2009, 71). The process bears a rather similar significance in tourism and has a significant effect on destination development (Gartrell 1994, 37). It is a communication that involves the persuasion of travelers to lure them immensely to a place.Marketing in Tourism is usually conducted by organizations with the capacity to impact on a tourist’s decision to travel. As such, they play a factor in choosing a destination for travelers by presenting to them all the plausible reasons to visit a place. By presenting a destination as perfect and making desirable to the travelers, the marketing organizations develop the destination. Marketing is important in tourism as it avails touring clients to a place and keep them there (Gartrell 1994, 46).
Elements of Promotional Campaign
A campaign to promote tourism bears a great strain upon the elements that would project a destination as desirable and with the capacity to fulfill the travelers’ quest to traverse regions. A marketing campaign should hence meet the objectives of the touring organization. Below are elements that should be considered in a promotional campaign (Morrison 2013, 45).Projecting measurable goals that are easy to analyze and comprehend. Such action enables the tracking of success and presents the opportunities of taking relevant remedies in cases of missteps. Little consideration to this factor makes it the process of implementing new marketing initiates mired in complication (Wang and Pizam 2011, 23).The second element is the consideration of implementing goals that maintain relevancy to the marketing (Soteriades 2011, 64). For instance, running a promotional campaign that only earns the destination popularity does not achieve financial success for the place. Goals that are set in a promotional campaign should hence pave the way for the accomplishment of positive results for the destination (Morrison, 2013, 45).Additionally, the objectives should be attainable and time-based (Blattberg, Kim and Neslin 2008, 44). Setting objectives that can be obtained inspires the feeling of success and the motivation to strive for more achievement (Wang and Pizam 2011, 23). It also makes it possible to allocate resources in proportionate manners without excesses wastages. Timing the realization of an objective also assists with the process of allocating resources as goals set for indefinite times drains the resource banks (Beirman 2003, 13). Operating under the guidance of time also inspires the drive to beat a deadline thus timely achievement of the objectives (Blattberg, Kim and Neslin 2008, 45).The other important element of the factors is the objective specificity that informs the implementers of the exact factors to deliver (Pforr and Hosie 2009, 75). Specificity not only identifies the precise objectives but also sets the path through which they should be achieved. As such, it presents simplicity to the entire process. In addition, it makes it possible to choose the right personnel for the processes (Beirman 2003, 13).
List of References
BEIRMAN, D. (2003). Restoring tourism destinations in crisis: a strategic marketing approach. Crows Nest, N.S.W., Allen & Unwin.
BLATTBERG, R. C., KIM, P.-D., & NESLIN, S. A. (2008). Database marketing: analyzing and managing customers. New York, Springer.
GARTRELL, R. B. (1994). Destination marketing for convention and visitor bureaus. Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co.
HARRILL, R. ;. A. H. &. L. E. I. ;. A. L. A., &. LODG. (2012). Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing with Answer Sheet (Ei). Prentice Hall.
LAWS, E. (1995). Tourist destination management: issues, analysis and policies. London, Routledge.
LAWS, E., PRIDEAUX, B., & CHON, K. S. (2007). Crisis management in tourism. Wallingford, Oxon, CABI Pub. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10159722.
MARSHALL, S., & TAYLOR, W. (2006). Encyclopedia of developing regional communities with information and communication technology. Hershey, Pa. [u.a.], Idea Group Reference.
MORRISON, A. M. (2013). Marketing and managing tourism destinations. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=670620.
PFISTER, R. E., & TIERNEY, P. T. (2009). Recreation, event, and tourism businesses: start-up and sustainable operations. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics.
PFORR, C., & HOSIE, P. (2009). Crisis management in the tourism industry: beating the odds? Farnham, England, Ashgate.
RITCHIE, B. W., & CAMPIRANON, K. (2014). Tourism crisis and disaster management in the Asia-Pacific.
SOTERIADES, M. (2011). Tourism destination marketing: improving efficiency and effectiveness. Saarbrücken, Germany, Lambert Academic Publishing.
WANG, Y., & PIZAM, A. (2011). Destination marketing and management theories and applications. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, CABI. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781845937621.0000.
WOODSIDE, A. G., & MARTIN, D. (2008). Tourism management: analysis, behaviour and strategy. Wallingford, UK, CABI Pub.
WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION. (2007). A practical guide to tourism destination management. Madrid, World Tourism Organization.
Social Work Theories- The Cruise Family Case Study
Institution:
Social Work Theories- The Cruise Family Case Study
By:
Student’s Name
Name of Instructor
Date of Submission
Social Work Theories- The Cruise Family Case Study
Introduction
It is hard not to notice the positive contribution that has been made by social work in demystifying the dilemmas oft faced by societies. Theories have been devised to project an understanding into idealized conceptions and present amicable solutions to matters that derail relationships, communication, personality development, and other odes. Social work has been significant as a mediating factor for most problems that create factions based on gender, age, social status and the differences between parents and their children or even among siblings. As a social work enthusiast, I believe in detailed analysis of a problem to fully comprehend it before applying a theory appropriately to make an end to otherwise troubling situations.
The case study stresses a more common situation that has bedeviled relations in some families and could have been inspired by the poverty and squalor in which the family lives. It would be considered a common example, but if care is not given to the detailed analysis of the situation, a solution will not be eminent. I consider the cruise family to be average in size. In fact, it is even a small family. Considering that the family has both parents alive, and the small family size, it would be hard to comprehend the problem that has muddled their relationships. However, it is important to note that relationship complications stem from the mind and such calls for the attention of an expertise with the capacity to understand the psychological orientation in the family.
Theories that Offer an Insight into the Cruise Family Problems
In my capacity, there are numerous theories that would best provide an insight into the Cruise family problems. However, my pick on Attachment Theory, Feminist theory, and the Narrative therapy is dependent upon the fact that they each articulately address the situation from three angles; individual, structural, and postmodernism influenced angles respectively. My choice on the three has been influenced by some factors; the family’s financially crippled status, the age factors of the children, and the family’s willingness to seek help as a remedy to their problems. Theories play their greatest significance in providing an outline to an approach for understanding the family problems and guiding them to a permanent solution.
Attachment theory that is based on individual’s interactions is more comprehensive in deciphering the cause of the rebellious nature of the adolescents. It also significant in comprehending the attachment patterns within the family and the resultant repercussions of the attachment patterns on the children (Colmer, Rutherford & Murphy 2011, 19). The parents-children relationships at the younger stages of development has psychological impacts on the brain development. The characters that are exhibited by the boys appear to be psychological as they go to the extremes of calling their parents names. That is an occurrence that points to the level of dissatisfaction the children have with their parents parenting ability. Attachment theory will provide an insight into the aspects that were not applied to the children’s development and the factors that are still missing as their development is not complete and can be manipulated.
To analyze the structural influences that have contributed to the dilemma facing the family, I chose the feminist theory so as to analyze the structural relations in the Cruise family (Orme 2002, 220). That is because, to me, they appear to be gender based. The feminist theory would provide an insight into the negligence that has been applied to the entire family in providing care for the youngest of all in the family, the girl Lisa. It would also help us comprehend the different responsibilities that should be embraced by all family members in caring for their mother too. To my understanding, collective responsibility would improve communication, relations, and understanding. The feminist theory accords a specialist the chance to understanding the relations between the feminine characters, and the imbalanced nature that the family has adopted in exhibiting love toward each other (Orme 2002, 221).
The last theory, a projection of postmodernism, is important as it would provide an insight into the conceived perceptions that family members have developed toward one another. The development of events, the revelation of the family relations by the parents, the utterances of the boys to their father, are pointers to final decisions that have been made concerning the stories around them. I chose the theory because the family appears to have a great potential and drive, yet the stories they have chosen to believe have dressed them differently. The potential of the family could be realized if they were made to understand their actions or inactions and how to appreciate each other rather than bear tantrums in desperate attempts to solve their problems. The narrative therapy provides the insight into the reasons that define the family’s strenuous relations as provision of limited room to prove oneself, or explore potentially (Morgan 2000, 1).
Discussion
Attachment Theory
Primary care giving should have intimate bonding and attachment given by the caregiver as the two are vital in manipulating and influencing the growth and development of a child’s brain. The attachment theory explains that children require to be loved and given attention by their caregiver so as to feel secure and explore their environs to develop effectively (Colmer, Rutherford & Murphy 2011, 17). The attention received, or even the manner of care, affects the children’s psyche and make them end up with different ways of relating to their family. A great bonding relationship established with a child supports their exploration and growth and the contrary happens in situations that bonding was inappropriately conducted (Watson 2005 218).
The classifications of behavior affected by bonding are; secure, insecure ambivalent, insecure avoidant insecure disorganized (Hardy & Prior 2001, 56). Secure children have been accorded adequate bonding and grow happy and attached to their caregivers. Insecure ambivalent children are rather unpredictable and feel security and insecurity in equal measure. This behavior stems from caregiving that is fine but inadequate, the kind that presents the child with love at times, but scolding or negative reactions at other times. Insecure avoidant children express no desire to spend time with their caregivers as they feel safer alone. Insecure disorganized behaviors are exhibited by children who have lived in troubled situations and have been accorded no attention whatsoever during their development. They often develop repulsive and aggressive mannerisms as they seek alternate attention or stand up for themselves (Hardy & Prior 2001, 56).
Feminist Theory
Feminist theory points to social roles that have been assumed by members of the society (Kemp & Brandwein 2010, 345). It seeks to overturn the notion that the masculine gender bears superiority over their female counterparts. That females should be relegated to the lesser roles and yet get overburdened with the social roles of caring for their families is a factor not given much consent by the theory. The theory also asserts that women are conditioned to think and act differently compared to men and so should be handled with care. Therefore, all matters that are centered around the actions or inactions of women do not bear the same volatility as with men.
As such, the feminist theory would point the structurally disjointed relationships in a family as the female gender is given less attention (Orme 2002, 224). The overburdening of the females with particular social roles even if they are not in handy situations also complicates the relationship in a family. The theory is relevant in pointing out the factors that lead to disjointed relationships that are gender based, and the factors that cripple communication in a household. It clarifies that collective responsibility would improve communication and the family relationship as well. A family structure is influenced by the gender-based relationship that the family adopts (Featherstone 2001, 1).
Narrative Therapy
The theory relies on the use of stories to analyze, comprehend and present solutions to families plagued with problems (Morgan 2000, 1). The stories that have been adopted by the clients are the are dominant stories and define their perceptions about themselves or other individuals. The stories are developed from a sequence of events that drive an individual to a belief. A social worker can help a client perceive alternate stories that have alternate plots to help the client point out factors that they have missed in developing their initial stories that led them to certain convictions. Alternatively, alternate stories can also come up as the turn of events convinces the concerned party to believe in matters contradicting the earlier perceptions (Morgan 2000, 1).
The theory points out that use of dominant stories often drive concerned parties to perceive what is termed as a thin conclusion (Morgan 2000, 1). Over-reliance on a single story (thin description), makes it hard to identify other factors in a relationship as reasoning is limited and even the conclusion predetermined. When questioned individuals realize that they have been misinterpreted, they resign themselves to fit the descriptions that they have been given as they commit to the thin description and conclusion. The impact of thin stories is an overstrained relationship that plunges the concerned parties into an abyss. Narrative therapy requires a social worker to assist a client to recognize the alternative stories and other positive aspects in an individual (Morgan 2000, 1).
Application of the Theories
Attachment Theory
The theory deduces that the relationship of a child and the caregiver greatly influences the primary development of the named child. Antony and Andrew have exhibited indiscipline toward their parents as they even engage with them in verbal exchange. Their withdrawal from the family and school and even participation in violent activities have defined them as children who missed an important element in childhood development. According to the attachment theory, they exhibit the insecure disorganized attachment classification. Having not taken notice of the problem that interfered with their children’s development, they seem to be letting the same kind of problem challenge the development of Lisa. Andrew and Antony seem to marvel at the company of their uncle John and have developed into bullies in the society, thus creating havoc.
The psychological conceptions that have been developed by Andrew and Antony point little caregiver attachment that they had when younger. The parents must have been preoccupied with some other issues or did not just adequately play their role as caregivers. This affected the development of their brains and because Lisa is equally receiving no attention, is also subject to developing in that very manner. Attachment theory explains that pathetic situations in a family can also greatly affect the development of a child (Hardy & Prior 2001, 58). Growing up in poverty stricken backgrounds, or a background mired up with complications like the poor health status of Jill, can immensely affect children. Problems drive the children into developing a cocoon as haven for safety. That explains the irresponsible and repulsive behaviors that have been exhibited by Andrew and Antony. Minimal caregiver attention also drives the children to seeking the missed attention elsewhere or by any means (Watson 2005 219). Caregivers should take their time to bond with the children to make develop with confidence and the feeling of security. Secure children explore their environs and grow with the belief in the relevance of good family relations.
Application of the Feminist Theory
Gender relations affect the structuring of every family (Kemp & Brandwein 2010, 350). Jill and Bob’s family is one such family that has not considered the factors affecting their relationships within the household as gender based. My interpretation is that Lisa is a loner in the family. The parents tend only to consider themselves and so are the boys. It seems like the family has developed the stereotype that girls should just stay at home and be silent. Not even Lisa’s yells are considered as a demanding situation that should be duly considered as the parents and instead, she is considered as attention seeking. Lisa is discriminated upon by the entire family, including Uncle John who instead of distributing his time equally for all the children, spends most of his time with Andrew and Antony.
Jill, the other female in the house, is also victimized to some extent. She has been unwell but seemingly, nobody seems to be interested in relieving her of the social burdens of family responsibility, or in adequately caring for her. If the family unites in caring for Jill and Lisa, the relationship in the family will improve and other factors that go with it like communication. The feminist theory intuits that women have a different voice compared to men. When they desire the ethic of care, the males will desire the ethic of justice (Featherstone 2001, 1). That explains Lisa’s yelling and the boy’s shouting and arrogance as they seek to justify the misery that has befallen their household. The theory will amend the problems that face the Cruise family as they try to consider a more improved relational capacity that befits all (Orme 2002, 220).
The Narrative Therapy
The theory’s principle is the use of stories to comprehend the matters that affect the relationships or characters of individuals (Morgan 2000, 1). When thin descriptions are used in a story, the conclusions are also oft thin and affect the relationships of individuals for the bad. A social worker would hence use a story for a therapeutic purpose. In the Cruise family, people have developed perceptions on each other guided purposely by certain events or occurrences that have set out to believe. Antony and Andrew have a negative perception of their parents and have labeled them losers, probably because their parents have survived of government aid support. On the other hand, Jill and Bob have labeled all three of their children also based on thin descriptions.
Lisa has been labeled as attention seeking and demanding because she yells a lot. Consideration has not been given to an alternate story that would portray otherwise. For instance, the parents have not considered her as strong and aggressive. I would be convinced so because her family is muddled with problems yet she seems less affected by the negative situation in her family. Her demanding status proves that she has a drive to have a normal family and is not happy that her parents have resigned to the misery. Andrew and Antony have also been labeled violent by their parents without considering alternative stories. The misery that looms over the family could have driven the boys to want to prove to their peers that their family is not entirely useless as it seems. Their engaging in violent activities has more to it than just the desire to do terrible things. They could have been overcome with the desire to prove to the world that they are capable of achieving something, unlike their dad who is dependent on government aid. However, developing thin descriptions has totally obscured the parents’ ability to recognize their children’s attempt to prove other aspects (Morgan 2000, 1).
Conclusion
Several factors contribute to the development of behaviors in a child. However, it is important to note that all these factors rely on the ability of a caregiver to interpret situations properly and change either attitude, or approach to a problem. Structuring of a family is reliant upon the relations that are developed between the adults and the young, among the young themselves or the perception that people have towards each other dependent on gender. The interpretation of a social worker before giving professional counseling should be comprehensive enough to cover the several theories so as to improve the relations in a family. Consider, for instance, that I had chosen the attachment theory and narrative theory alone, I would miss out on the factors that affect the family relations on gender basis.
To conclude, the Cruise family is one that is affected by so many factors and requires the initiative to backtrack on all of them. Recognizing that they have the problems would just be the first step, but as most problems have resulted from the parents, they should start by changing their perceptions on the family members. Application of the three theories makes it easier to point out all the factors that affect the family from the three angles I mentioned earlier; individual, structural and postmodernism. The family needs to restructure their relations, perceptions, and psychological setups to make a turnaround and rid of the problems that bedevil them.
List of References
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HARDY, C., & PRIOR, K. (2001). Attachment Theory. Occupational Therapy for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 48-66.
KEMP, S., & BRANDWEIN, R. (2010). Feminisms and Social Work in the United States: An Intertwined History. Journal of Women and Social Work, 25(4), 341-364.
MORGAN, A. (2000). What is narrative therapy? Retrieved February 27, 2015, from http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au/what-is-narrative-therapy.html
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