Discussions

Discussions 1-5
Name of Student
Name of Institution
Discussions 1-5
Abstract
The discussions, encompassing different issues, will explore the paradigms of social work and human behavior. There is an understanding of parent-child interactions during childhood, the place of social work in young lives, the effects of divorce and the challenges of FGM and CEFM, as cultural practices. These social workers ensure that all the individuals, families and related parties are in touch with themselves. By delving into the scope of adolescence, this paper attempts to show that development is necessary for molding an individual’s adulthood. Identity crises that augur during adolescence are serious issues that should be taken into consideration by these social workers. The paper will also incorporate my personal opinion(s) to make it more relatable and believable. Answering most of the question from the first-person point of view leads to factual rather than speculated inferences. Each of the content in discussion 1, 2, 4 and 5 will be merged to understand social work and human behavior.
Unit 1 Discussion 1:
During my childhood years; there are particular adjectives that I would use to describe the interaction(s) with my parents and vice versa. To begin with, we were both honest with one another regardless of the situation. I learned that honesty was necessary to ensure that my parents were aware of any ‘predicaments’ that I had. Honesty is working in my favor as it was more comfortable than making up stories which; would, in fact, proved regrettable.

They believed that my actions were quite remarkable and continued to influence our interactions positively. Again, my parents were diligent enough to ensure that I did not lack in my childhood. All my primary and secondary needs were well handled by their utmost industrious nature.
In retrospect, there are different pieces of advice that I would give my parent. For my academic success, for instance, I would inform my parents of the need of authoritativeness (Lundahl & Hull, 2015; Berns, 2015; Budwig et al., 2017). Children with lenient parents rarely perform exemplarily as they have no serious motivation to achieve academic success (Lundahl & Hull, 2015). For my sibling and peer relationships, it is necessary for my parents to offer emotional support to influence the socialization process (Barnow & Balkir, 2012). The authoritative parenting style is also crucial in this space as ‘stern’ parents make it easier for children to avoid negative interactions with their siblings or peers (Berns, 2015; Grusec & Hastings, 2015; Barnow & Balkir, 2012). The possibility of punishment or consequences causes them to desist from unacceptable socialization. My ability to follow the rules begins from the household. If my parents do not impose basic rules in the house; then it becomes a task to follow social rules. It all begins with the conditioning and; therefore, neglecting such an aspect due to lack of authoritativeness may affect the children’s development. An authoritative environment is more likely to increase self-regulation skills in the child (Lundahl & Hull, 2015). The same applies to my ability to enjoy family events as I will be on my best behavior; to represent my household impeccably.
Unit 2 Discussion 1:
Now, social work with adolescents involves working together with the adolescents and their families, friends, neighbors, and schools, as well. These adolescents may undergo issues such as drugs, racial discrimination or homophobia which may interfere with their resilient selves (Lundahl & Hull, 2015). Often, these are issues that affect the physical, emotional [and mental stability] of these adolescents. Certain rehabilitation programs assist these adolescents in regaining their normalcy. The future of social work in dealing with adolescents will take a similar path by improving the quality of help bestowed upon them. Delving into the LGBT adolescent community, most of the Transgender adolescents struggle with their identities and psychological assistance works in their favor. Now and in the future, social workers are obliged to look into the physical and emotional needs of these adolescents.
Engaging with an adolescent today may be digitized communication involving texting, emails, Twitter or Facebook. Unfortunately, technology has robbed these adolescents the ability to embrace face-to-face contact (Brunck, 2014; Lundahl & Hull, 2015). Insofar as technology has its benefits, there are numerous disadvantages attached to the same. Assuming an adolescent suffers from social anxiety or introversion; it is salient that exposure to social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter play a significant role in their problem(s). Phone and internet addiction interferes with the adolescent’s ability to make real-life friends (Brunck, 2014). It is forlorn that digital communication only accentuates the adolescent’s issue and only in-person conversation may work to ‘placate’ the issue(s). Furthermore, in the future, these adolescents will interact with even more open-minded social workers that will impact their lives positively. For instance; an orphaned adolescent from the LGBT community may be placed in a home with gay couples for acceptance and overall understanding. If at all they are adopted by a heterosexual couple, they may be forced to suppress their same-love feelings due to the ‘forbidden’ nature of homophiles in the society. Numerous developments in social work have led to an embrace of all adolescents regardless of sexual orientation, race, age, gender or religion.
Unit 4 Discussion 1:
There are various effects of divorce on the couples and family development. Foremostly, there is the need to realize that divorce has effects on one’s economic status, physical being, emotional make-up, social life, the threshold to drugs as well as their sex lives (Lundahl & Hull, 2015; Everett, 2014). The financial issues that are predicted from divorce may affect children considerably especially if the wealthier partner is not open to alimony. It may be ‘better’ to suffer emotional torture rather than economic constraints since the latter influences the former (Lundahl & Hull, 2015; Everett, 2014; Jeynes, 2012). Even if a couple undergoes divorce but, each one of them has enough money as security, it becomes easier to deal with the whole process of recovery.
When children grow up in a home that does not have both parents, they are bound to protect the dysfunctional nature in their adulthood (Everett, 2014; Jeynes, 2012). For instance; when boys only grow up with their mothers, they fail to have a father-figure who relates to their issues as a male individual. Single-parenting, therefore, opens the avenue of remarriage(s) which may take a toll on both the parents and children (Lundahl & Hull, 2015). With children, it becomes difficult for these parents to appear successful in the dating scene. The children may either find it difficult to accept their parents’ new partners or they may begin competing for attention with the new partner. It becomes a whole psychologically torturous issue as the parents fail to build intimate relationships (Everett, 2014). Additionally, there are numerous people who do not date people with children. It may be a deal breaker for some to involve themselves with divorced people with children.
Fortunately, divorce also has it’s few but positive effects. After ending toxic marital unions, for instance, it is inevitable that one of the parties will be more rejuvenated and peaceful (Lundahl & Hull, 2015). They become more in touch with themselves and develop positive perspectives toward life. Such individuals that regain their independence and freedom through divorce are part of the few that delineate its positive effects.
Unit 5 Discussion 1:
Insofar as working toward the eradication of a long-held cultural ceremony sounds impossible, there are particular ways that social work handles the same. If at all I intend to eradicate cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM); I should enlighten my colleagues about the same. FGM:
Causes injury to the female genitals
Violates and demeans girls’ rights
Lead to uncontrollable bleeding and health complications
Complicates childbirth
Causes psychological problems such as low self-esteem, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression
These are enough fatalities to ‘persuade’ my colleagues in social work about the dangers of FGM (Luesley & Kilby, 2016; Ham, 2017; Badrī & Tripp, 2017). Similarly, I should look into enlightening them about CEFM and its abolition as:
It forces girls to drop out of school
Child pregnancies lead to death
Young wives are prone to domestic violence
The girls are exposed to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) at a tender age
Nonetheless, social workers should also define their bases apropos of indulgence in other people’s cultures. FGM and CEFM are cultural practices which are supposed to define particular communities in African nations (UNICEF, 2015; Ham, 2017; Badrī & Tripp, 2017). However, for the well-being of these young girls’ physical and mental health, social workers should be involved in rejecting these harmful cultural practices. They are; in fact, more derogatory than progressive since it is only the older men that benefit from marrying younger girls. It is some form of prestige which places the lives of these girls in utmost danger. To accept these cultural practices would mean that an individual is unbothered by the consequences of both FGM and CEFM. When a girl’s genitals are mutilated at a tender age, there are no positives tied to such a practice (UNICEF, 2015; Luesley & Kilby, 2016). If it about sexual abstinence; the girls should be exposed to sex education which teaches them about the same.
As an immigrant to these African cultures, there are ways that the latter influenced my cultural beliefs. I learned that culture is relative; and therefore, depending on a people’s past and origin, their way of lives vary immensely. In my culture, marriage is a personal choice and girls are not forced to indulge in uncouth practices such as FGM. Especially after an individual is 18; they have free will to make their decisions. Naturally, the old-fashioned, backward and primitive cultural practices upheld by some of the African communities lead to non-progression.
References
Badrī, B. Y., & Tripp, A. M. (2017). Women’s activism in Africa. London: Zed Books.
Barnow, S., & Balkir, N. (2012). Cultural variation in psychopathology: From research to practice. Cambridge, MA: Hogrefe.
Berns, R. (2015). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support. Cengage Learning.
Brunck, B. (2014). Howard Gardner and Katie Davis: The app generation: How today’s youth navigate identity, intimacy, and imagination in a digital world. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 66(4), 673-694.
Budwig, N., Turiel, E., & Zelazo, P.D. (2017). New Perspectives on Human Development. Cambridge University Press.
Everett, C. (2014). Divorce and the Next Generation: Effects on Young Adults’ Patterns of Intimacy and Expectations for Marriage. Routledge.
Grusec, J. E., & Hastings, P. D. (2015). Handbook of socialization: Theory and research. New York: The Guilford Press.
Ham, A. (2017). West Africa. Footscray, Victoria: Lonely Planet
Jeynes, W. (2012). Divorce, Family Structure, and the Academic Success of Children. Routledge.
Lundahl, B. W., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2015). Applied human behavior in the social environment. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Luesley, D, M., & Kilby, M.D. (2016). Obstetrics & Gynaecology: An Evidence-based Text for MRCOG, Third Edition. CRC Press.
UNICEF (2015). “Girl Summit: A Future Free from FGM and Child and Forced Marriage.” Retrieved from: https://www.unicef.org/protection/files/6.1057_DFID_AR_Girl_Summit_Final_web_20072015.pdf