Tom. Bandura's Moral Disengagement Theory

Introduction

Human growth is not always a straight forward for all individuals. Some individuals experience human development problems either in their childhood stages or during their adulthood. Such human development issues often limit the victims from getting the best of life. This means that it is always important to understand such human development problems clearly because such understanding can help the researchers, caregivers, parents, teachers and even doctors in coming up with strategies to ensure that the victim of human development problems live a better life and socialize with others normally. The paper will identify a case of Tom and identify his major problems and also suggest some of the measures that should be taken to address

the problem.
Scenario
Tom is a person shown to have lived a troublesome life. As a child, he would steal items and sell them. As a teenager, he skipped classes, set deserted buildings on fire and even stole cars. He was arrested severally but did not change. At 21, he had arrested 50-60 times. Now, Tom is 24 and continues to live with his parents. He is angry most of the time and cannot is having difficulties completing simple tasks. Due to his epilepsy, he cannot drive nor have a job and does not understand why he cannot do things that other ‘normal’ people can do such as his brother and his sister. Tom has been problematic not only to himself but also to the family members and also to the society.
Theories
A number of theories have been passed to explain what antisocial behavior is all about. Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra (2014) reveals that the antisocial behavior is as a result of interplay of environmental and biological factors. On biological aspect, the researchers have revealed that there are genes that may have a direct effect on antisocial behavior. The genetic effect is influenced by the environmental factors. A popular candidate gene that has been identified to cause antisocial behavior is the serotonin transporter gene (Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra 2014). This gene has been shown to play a role in influencing the emotional stimuli processing. They add that serotonin levels in the amygdala are partly regulated by 5-HTTLPR, which makes this gene a prime candidate to study as a moderating factor of the association between peer rejection/acceptance and maladjustment.
It means that the case of Tom is attributable to abnormality during identity formation as proposed by Erickson’s stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion. This is the stage where the other primary crises are reexamined. This is where the strength that is gained is fidelity and you need to become “true to the self” (Bergen, 2008, pg. 47). As Tom grows older, he needs helps resolving his crises and won’t be able to be successful in life until those needs are met. Concerning environmental factors, Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra (2014) reveals that when individuals are in adolescent, the idea of establishing friendships and being liked peers are crucial developmental tasks or activities in early adolescence and that such activities are associated with later adjustment. They further stress the fact that not all adolescents can form friendships because there are issues related to peer rejection in preadolescence and early adolescence. They reveal that the best thing to be undertaken during this time is to search for factors that buffer this risk. They add the fact that every person aspires to belong and that the need to belong motivates people to gain enduring, positive relationships with significant others (Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra 2014). However, the adolescents do not want to associate with their parents. They prefer peer relationship. This is because their relationship with parents is more formal, strict and restricting. On the other hand, peer relations are less controlling, less judgmental, and more egalitarian than relationships with adults.
The problem that may arise is that not all adolescents can form a good relationship with peers. Peers may not accept a given person due to certain factors. Those who are accepted are better off because such acceptance provides adolescents with a sense of belonging to the peer group. Some may be rejected. Rejection, just like the absence of acceptance, is associated with maladjustment (Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra 2014). The stress the fact that being rejected by peers has injurious effects on the mental and social development of adolescents, and puts them at risk for later maladjustment, especially externalizing problems (Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra 2014). The approach taken by the researchers could help us in understanding the issues affecting Tom.
Possibly, Tom may have experienced some of the socialization problems during preadolescence. They add that externalizing problems such as aggression and rule-breaking behavior may be precursors to and consequences of peer rejection (Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra 2014). In addition, peer rejection not only results from childhood aggressive behavior may predict continued hostility over the years. However, not all adolescents who are rejected can develop antisocial behavior. This is because sensitivity to the effects of peer relation characteristics is genetically influenced. This is justified by the findings by Brendgen and colleagues (2008) who found out that the effects of peer victimization in kindergarten on aggression were moderated by genetic effects in that girls (but not boys) with a greater genetic susceptibility for aggression were more strongly affected by victimization (Kretschmer, Sentse, Dijkstra & Veenstra 2014).
Bandura theory
Another theory that can be used to explain the situation affecting Tom.

Bandura came up with a theory of Moral Disengagement to explain ways in which people justify their actions and commit immoral behaviors (Hyde, Shaw & Moilanen, 2010). The moral disengagement is associated with antisocial outcomes in adult and child populations. Using this theory, it is easier to understand the etiology and maintenance of antisocial behaviors.

Understanding how the MD theories explain the genesis of the antisocial behavior could help us understanding of how Tom developed the antisocial behavior (Hyde, Shaw & Moilanen, 2010). The theory states that the antisocial behavior is attributable to the environmental and child factors that often promote the development of an uncaring and rejecting attitude towards societal values. These factors serve as developmental precursors of MD (Hyde, Shaw & Moilanen,

2010).
The theory of moral disengagement is supported by theorists such as Freud, Piaget and Kohlberg. For example Kolberg proposed a widely known stage-based theory of moral development (Hyde, Shaw & Moilanen, 2010). Another researcher called Kochanska reveals that parental empathic perspective taking and infrequent use of parental power assertion foster boys’ internalization of certain behaviors, which is associated with the development of later behavior problems. Bandura et al theory, on the other hand, combines moral and socio-cognitive approaches as influencers of immoral behavior (Hyde, Shaw & Moilanen, 2010). The theory states that immoral behavior is socially constructed and that individuals who are normal are believes that taking part in immoral behavior will cause them feel part about them for committing an immoral act.
This clearly shows that the Bandura et al theory relates directly to Tom. This means that the situation faced by Tom can be better explained by finding about the genetic and environmental factors surrounding Tom. Sigmund Freud also supports the fact that Tom’s case could be as a result of social factors that were not corrected. Sigmund Freud states in his theory of social and emotional development that every child has a conflict and if that issue isn’t fixed, that child becomes fanatical with that stage (Bergen, 2008, pg. 38). Historical analysis of Tom’s case reveals that he had many conflicts that were not resolved that are now developing. These unsettled conflicts are showing how unhappy he truly is and that each of those issues needs to be resolved, otherwise he is going to continue on a path downward.
Bandura hypothesized that children will first learn this lesson in the home through early experience with parents; via harsh and rejecting caregiving, and by witnessing the way parents treat each other.
Summary
From the analysis, it apparent that Tom’s case is as a result of the development problems, which can be attributed to the environment in which he was raised. This means that the treatment approaches should revolve around the causal factors. There is a need to employ the behavioral treatments. Some of these treatments include the family therapy, parent management training and multisystem therapy.
The key treatment interventions proposed by APA (American Psychological Association) include cognitive-behavioral treatment characterized by parent-training and problem-solving skills. The other treatment strategy is the family therapies. Parent training is based on the fact that parental behavior such as inconsistent and ineffective discipline strategies and that changing the contingencies in a child’s environment will lead to changes in child’s behavioral repertoire.
However, the APA warns that some parents may imagine that clinician is blaming him (Orvaschel, Faust & Hersen, 2001). To solve this, counsellor should explain that they routinely see the whole family rather than just the child. The next step is to increase the number of positive interactions between the parent and child. The third step entails increasing parental effectiveness and decreasing children’s negative behaviors. Parent should be trained to provide effective commands, be consistent, and properly use discipline techniques such as time out, removal of privileges. The other alternative measure is the cognitive behavioral skills training (Orvaschel, Faust & Hersen, 2001). This entails mainly problem solving skills, anger control training, anger coping. Problem solving skills entails teaching the child to use multiple-step problem-solving strategy. Another way is adoption of cognitive behavioral training to change distorted and maladaptive cognition.
Family tension is another area to address. The first step is family assessment. This will help the clinician in designing a comprehensive biopsychosocial formulation (Keitner, Heru & Glick, 2010). The therapist will be expected to connect with family. Then the therapist assesses the family using different strategies available.
A number of data has supported the effectiveness of the family therapy. For example, a study conducted by Shadish and colleagues showed a significant effectiveness of family therapy. This is based on the fact that dysfunctional family structure and interactions have an important role in development of antisocial behavior.

References
Kretschmer, T., Sentse, M., Dijkstra, J.

K., & Veenstra, R. (2014). The interplay between peer rejection and acceptance in preadolescence and early adolescence, serotonin transporter gene, and antisocial behavior in late adolescence: The TRAILS study. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly (1982-), 60(2), 193-216. doi:10.13110/merrpalmquar1982.60.2.0193

Brendgen, M. (2012). Genetics and peer relations: A review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 22(3), 419-437. doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2012.00798.x

Bergen, D. (2008). Human development: Traditional and contemporary theories. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Hyde, L. W., Shaw, D. S., & Moilanen, K. L. (2010). Developmental precursors of moral disengagement and the role of moral disengagement in the development of antisocial behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38(2), 197-209. doi:10.1007/s10802-009-9358-5

Crandal, B. R., Foster, S. L., Chapman, J. E., Cunningham, P. B., Brennan, P. A., & Whitmore, E. A. (2015). Therapist perception of treatment outcome: Evaluating treatment outcomes among youth with antisocial behavior problems.Psychological Assessment, 27(2), 710-725.

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Orvaschel, H., Hersen, M., & Faust, J. (Eds.). (2001). Handbook of conceptualization and treatment of child psychopathology. Elsevier.
Clinical manual of couples and family therapy. (DVD included) (2010). Portland: Ringgold Inc.