Applicationoftheorytoacasestudy.docx

Running head: APPLICATION OF THEORY TO A CASE STUDY 1
APPLICATION OF THEORY TO A CASE STUDY 2

Application of theory to a case study

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Application of theory to a case study

The social work theories are significantly fundamental in the practice since they are essential in explaining various situations as well as predicting their behaviors, guiding social workers in dealing with their clients and providing the social workers with various perspectives for conceptualization of the problems affecting their clients and application of proper interventions. Social work theory however identifies the gaps on knowledge about about practice (Becvar, & Becvar, 2017). Thus, taking into account, this paper aims at discussing the application system theory to

The case of Jim Garner

We can describe this family as dysfunctional to a certain extent because of presented case. Jim Gordon is comprised of husband and wife Jim and Jell respectively and they have two sons aged 15 and 13 years old. Every member of this family has individual issues that can be related to the family system. For instance, Jim presents concerns that his wife on several occasion threated to leave him due to his drinking, mean behavior, and lack of involvement in the lives of his sons. He has found it difficult blending back into the family and the community at large ever since he came back from Iran. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress dis but he does not really understand what it is. He reports that there have been escalation in arguments with his wife and he often drinks to sleep and to also take the edge off. While growing up he never had the opportunity of being to his father who was a military officer. Because of his upbringing, he now believes that men are not supposed to show their weaknesses and should always take the responsibility of being the heads of their families. However, he is concerned with his continued display of negative behaviors which can potentially affect his role as a father, husband, and provider to his family. Moreover, the eldest son has on several occasion charged for vandalism and has been committed to community services which he attends rarely. Additionally, he engages the father in shouting matches, misses school and generally disrespectful to the parents. The wife is expectant and the second son is demanding for their attention at all times. For this reason, Jim is seeking help from the social workers where he hopes to get care’s support.

Application of systems theory

This theory was selected to address the case of Jim’s family because of its suitability in the systems. This theory is very relevant for this case because it mainly focuses on the changes within the family system. It can be applied in the present case in analyzing the system behaviors of the entire family and understanding how changing the environments have created the individualities and the system of chaos in many families. In the beginning, Jim’s family existed as a unit before the advent of diversification in individual characteristics. Thus, application of this theory to this case with significantly help in realizing the characteristics of the chaos created because of the system entropy. It will assist in seeing the connectedness of various elements of the family and their interdependence to each other (Becvar, & Becvar, 2017). These components of the system often work together for common goals and this theory is essential in understanding how Jim’s family can work together in accomplishing common intervention objectives across the entire family.
When applying the aspect of system perspective to Jim’s case, it will significantly enable social workers in understanding how the changes in any part of the family can potentially result into the changes in other parts of the family. For instance, it will be very possible for understanding how Jim’s conditions have played part in the deteriorating behaviors in their children. Moreover, this theory will be applicable in the determination of how effective it can be obtained in the inteventions via several option of the system intervention (Carter, 2017). Thus, the focus on changing the system will enable the social worker to determine the impacts of family changes on the individual behaviors.
As a social worker assigned to such as case, will apply the systems perspective to the family to arrive at a conclusion on how the changes in the family system can possibly result in the changes in individual behaviours. Instead of focusing on the causes of the problems being experienced within Jim’s family. Much focused will be placed on changes which occurred in the family, either immediately before the changes observed in behaviors of the children or after the observation of the changes (Greene, 2017). More focus will be placed on potential patterns within the family that may have been the initiating factors of behavior modification among the family members.
After determining the family system characteristics, as a social worker will now steer the family towards working together in to achieve their desired objectives. The understanding how the family system in Jim’s family is designed and how they work together towards achieving the common restoration objectives. The applying the principle of systems as the employable in supporting the service users to the achievement of change is very significant in this process of inteventions for this case. Therefore, as the social worker I will prompt Jim’s family members in determining their possible reactions to various changes within the family and how these changes can be utilized in achieving positive advancement within the family system. Additionally, application of social construction within the system set up will be used in understanding how the members of family system influences the behavior of one another (Furstenberg, 2019). For instance, in this case, the main aim will understand how these interactions between parents and children contribute to changes in behavior.
Moreover, in the application of this principle, as the social worker will focus on how the relationship and their interactions can possibly be modified to result into significant benefits for the family members. The behavior changes can also be achieved via several ways which might focus on system relationships. This will therefore enable in understanding how the relationship between the children and parents have contributed towards negative behaviors being observed in children. Thus, restructuring the rapport between children and parents can greatly help in re-instituting positive behaviors in children (Carter, 2017). This is because, system changes result in behavior modification, and so does the result in behaviour correction.
Additionally, when working within a family context, you have to keep in mind the importance of system unity in problem solving. Thus, in this case, the indifference to family issues might result in poor communication, hence low success rates in intervention efforts. It is therefore important to work via guidance by the principles of system unity in which the entire system works together in achieving the common objectives and where all the members can identify the challenges and formulate common solutions to all the challenges identified. Thus, to achieve this, it is necessary for incorporation of different views from family members on individual challenges. The focus of this system is always the operation of social system instead of the individual and solution rather than causes of individual’s problems. Therefore, the aim is to put into consideration the system as a whole rather those different parts because all these parts are usually interdependent. For instance, in cases of individual challenges which need individual therapies for modifying unacceptable behaviours, cognitive behavior theory can be the most appropriate (Turner, 2017). Thus this will greatly help in mitigating the problems facing Jim’s family.

Conclusion

It is therefore evident that, systems theory is most appropriate and applicable to family situations because the family forms the smallest social unit, it is essential for family issues to be addressed in the system perspective, recognizing how the interactions between family members results into behavior modification and how such modifications might occur because of system changes. Jim’s family is a typical example of a system in which this theory can be applied appropriately. Thus, the shortcomings of the system theory like lack of focus on individual and its failure in determining the causes of challenges makes it necessary for another more individualistic theory that can be applied in this case. Therefore, cognitive behaviour approach application can possibly be appropriate in yielding desired results in the interventions outcomes like it is the case in this case study.

References

Becvar, R. J., & Becvar, D. S. (2017). Systems theory and family therapy: A primer. Rowman &
Littlefield.
Carter, I. (2017). Human behavior in the social environment: A social systems approach.
Routledge.
Greene, R. (2017). Human behavior theory and social work practice. Routledge.
Furstenberg, F. F. (2019). Family change in global perspective: How and why family systems
change.
Turner, F. J. (Ed.). (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches. Oxford
University Press.

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Running head: APPLICATION OF THEORY TO A CASE STUDY 1

Application of theory to a case study

Name:
Institution:
Date: