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The changing American family
Social work aspirations
Social work aspirations
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Recommended: The changing American family
How do we help families have a positive environment in today’s society? The dynamics of the American family have changed over the past few years, economically and culturally. There are many challenges for families with these changes and it can make it hard to maintain positive family functioning. Positive psychology can be defined as “the study of ordinary strengths and virtues.” (Sheldon & King, 2001; p. 216).
I am writing about family centered positive psychology because I want to go into the field of social work and find this a very interesting way to help families overcome challenges in their lives. Within today’s environment, families have to battle both parents working which then leaves kid to be home alone. This could be a concern
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FCPP uses existing family strengths and capabilities, attention to family needs rather than professional determined needs, and endorses acquisition of new skills and competencies through very specific types of behaviors and professional roles (Sheridan & Burt, 2009). Researches in the field of positive psychology believe that children have the ability to be able to use hopeful, goal-directed thinking (Brown, Johnson, Bender, & Roberts, 2002). Children and adolescents that have high hopes are less likely to drop out of school, engage in extra-curricular activities and have much higher GPA’s. Family centered positive psychology will usually try and build on the families pre-existing family strengths. By promoting these strengths has been found to have very positive outcomes (Brown, Johnson, Bender, & Roberts, 2002). Researchers have found that childhood is the best time to promote and create positive healthy attitudes, behaviors, adjustments and prevention of problems. When you help children within a family to work on their weaknesses and build on their strengths then as they move into adulthood they are more likely to be happier (Sheridan, Warnes, Cowan, & Schemm, …show more content…
A few strengths are associated with social desirability and warrants self-report measures. Arguably, as strengths are a good deal contemplated in mind and feelings as observable behavior, there may also exist no greater valid measure than subjective record. All 24 strengths are associated with subjective well-being and existence delight and those maximum continually associated with lifestyles satisfaction are gratitude, desire, zest, interest and love. As lifestyles delight is vital for physical fitness, top relationships, fulfillment and wellness, those personal strengths may be vital to the good life and are highlighted as targets for cultivation. Researchers suggest strength deployment requires flexibility in step with context, disturbing not just the energy itself. In addition, strengths processes should find out how both positive strengths and negative strengths can be interrelated. The weakness of positive psychology can be found in one’s truth, while taking all these assessments one must be totally honest with one’s self and be open-minded to what the assessment will say. Some researchers believe that
The concerned camp believes that families are in decline due to the rapid changes that have happened in the past 25 years. Unprecedented levels of divorce, people having babies while not married, and also teenagers having babies have hurt families and quite possibly led into hunger. The concerned camp also believes that families have the most influence on the character and competence of children and adults (Bronfenbrenner, 1986). The concerned camp values parental commitment, marital fidelity, individual responsibility, and civic participation. They also believe that individualism overshadows or threatens these values. The concerned camp believes happiness is due to relatedness to others, investments in family, and commitments to the community. Evidence that supports the concerned camp is that many Americans are very concerned about the state of families and the well-being of children. They also believe that it is very important to be concerned about how the next generation is raised because they will be the future parents, workers, and citizens. They believe that our prosperity depends on investing in childrearing. In addition, the concerned camp...
Identifying and understanding your own personal strengths is key to being a successful leader. Knowing your strengths means you can focus your efforts to maximize results, in yourself and in others. Strengths Finder 2.0 is designed to uncover your strengths and utilize these strengths to your advantage (Rath, 2007). Identifying and applying these strengths to your leadership style, will enhance your effectiveness as a transformational leader.
One of the greatest influences on a person lis their family. For the duration of a person’s childhood, the majority of time is spent with family members. A family sustains a child’s livelihood and they work to determine how a child will mature in the hope of sustaining a successful future. Over this period, family members’ opinions and views wear off on the individual, causing a change in perception.
The most compelling data that we have shows the change in our American family structure. Day there are alarming number of children with mental disorders and children being raised in single parent homes has increased. In both areas it is shown that we need more preventive care (Petersmeyer 1989). Other statistics are equally troubling: each day in the United States, 3,600 students drop out of high school, and 2,700 unwed teenage girls get pregnant (Petersmeyer 1989). As a society we have a responsibility to our youth to help them become strong adults. My grandmother was always telling me that it takes more then the immediate family to raise a child well, if a child is to be rear well it takes a whole community contribution.
In conclusion, we all have our views and versions of the typical, or perfect, family, yet how come we buy in to the media's portrayal of the violent and abusive family dynamic? Is it a plague running rampant? Is it an issue amongst us all? Yes. Is it the norm? No. Nor is it the widest range of the family. Families who educate themselves, as well as support one another through emotional bonds, and the such, come closer to, and are the most widely recognized form of a sculpted and politically accurate family, as close to "typical or "normal" as it could ever get. We need families to help us when we fail, hold us when we're scared, teach us when we are unsure, and show us that a "normal family" is not specific, but is positive. In this sense we need stronger families; would you want to be the weakest link in your families' ongoing history? Think about it.
As repeated by several philosophers, childhood is a vital time period which truly shapes an individual. The University of Pittsburgh conducted several studies and concluded that parental guidance and behavior
Times have changed since our parents were children and families today face different challenges than those of a decade or two ago. Over the past few decades the concept of family has been revolutionized. A "traditional" family no longer consists of two parents of the opposite sex in which the father is the "breadwinner," and the mother stays at home to raise the children. Today's family is as diverse as the world it must exist in. The important thing about today's family is that success does not just happen; a strong family takes effort.
I had the opportunity to interview with the school psychologists on our campus. She currently holds a master’s level degree in psychology and has worked for the district for 10 years now with 3 of those years at this location. Discussing what she does on a regular bases she explained how she reaches out to contacts within the community to help parents and children with unresolved issues to help them find answers. She creates activities that help to nurture a better lifestyle for these families. I discussed with her in length about these events and she described them as a social environment conducive to a higher quality in learning, social interaction and family lifestyle. The reason for planning these events in our campus is because of the lower demographics and the campus considered a special class of schools which are known as Title 1 which receives more aid than other campuses.
One of my visions as a psychology practitioner scholar is becoming a clinical counselor. My purpose in psychology is to help people understand their life in a clear distinct way. I specifically want to target children and, help them grow and be more than they have the potential to be. I want to focus on the child development of children based on their environment. I want to be able understand children react the way they do in certain situations. Children have a way of not being able to express themselves fully so being able to help them understand their emotions.
Having a family is no easy task, especially when you are faced with many challenges that are unforeseen. Sometimes one imagines or hopes for an ideal family. The ideal family would consist of a spouse, one or two kids and live happily with little to no conflicts. The reality is that even if one tries to avoid conflict by all possible means, conflict is inevitable. Stressors and strengths within a family can be seen in almost every situation. Although stressors tend to be more noticeable than the strengths. Some of which will be discussed later on, although it will be mainly focused on the strength and stressors faced after a divorce for children. But if one focuses on the stressors more than the strengths, one will only see stressors rather than solutions.
Larson, Reed W. “Toward A Psychology of Positive Youth Development.” American Psychologist 55.1 (2000): 170-183. Web. 12 April 2014.
My motivation to research, discover, and stimulate social change is rooted in my childhood experiences. As a young child I grew up in a household filled with domestic violence, which ultimately ended with the suicide of my father. I subsequently came to know a variation of the typical American nuclear family: a single parent household. As I began to study family dynamics further, I was able to see my life experiences in a broader context. In hindsight, I now realize the impact and weight my own mother had on my personal development. It was through her strength, determination, and optimism that I was able to find the spark within myself to set goals and dreams for my future. She encouraged me never to accept anything at face value, including the way our society attempts to define my womanhood. As a result of this, I now question American culture’s classification of a ‘successful’ family and the factors that determine a ‘stable’ family.
The family needs to be seen within the framework of their community, their culture, and society. An understanding of cultural and ethnic values is vital in evaluating the household capabilities to function. The family is understood to a complex system, and the strengths they display are as important as the problem that the family has. The family issue was perceived by the community’s ability to provide resources and social supports for the family.
In the United States 20% of the adult population report that they are living a flourishing life (Keyes, 2002). However, a high percentage reports feeling as if they are ‘‘stuck’’ or ‘‘want more’’ and are yet not diagnosable with a mental disorder (Fredrickson, 2008). Because happiness has been found to be the source of many desirable life outcomes e.g. career success, marriage, and health, it is of importance to understand, how languishing individuals can reach this ideal state: How can well-being be enhanced and misery reduced (Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005). Over the past decade, research in the field of positive psychology has emerged to provide evidence-based methods to increase an individual’s psychological well-being, through so called positive psychology interventions (PPI’s). PPI’s are treatment methods or intentional activities used to promote positive feelings or behaviour. PPI’s vary from writing gratitude letters, practicing optimistic thinking and replaying positive experiences. A meta-analysis of 51 independent PPI studies demonstrated significant results in the effectiveness of PPI’s increasing well-being (49 studies; r = .29) (Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009).
As Proverbs 6:20 says “My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.” The book The Successful Family” written by Ellen G. White, it highlights certain principles, morals and values which are vital for the successful development of the family unit. The book is made up of sections designated to each member of the family, in which each person has different responsibilities which must be carried out in order for the unit to work, these sections also help us to understand each member of the family as unique individuals, who have various needs and feelings