Human Development and Life Span Transition - Essay Example

Human Development and Life Span Transition Introduction Human beings have certain needs that must be met for them to live a fulfilling life. However, human needs vary from one individual to another. Every individual must have psychological and sociological factors to enable them life happily in the society. This paper looks at ways in which individuals are affected by certain deficiencies concerning needs that must be met in order to come up with best ways of tackling those issues. Social workers are challenged with various social problems all over the world. Social problems that affect human beings can only be alleviated after understanding the context in which they occur. In addition, this paper looks at how Maslow’s human needs theory and Bronfenbrenner’s theory of ecological system address social problems affecting members of the society. Ecological System Theory Ecological system theory also known as Human Ecology Theory is a developmental theory, which states that human development is shaped by different types of environmental system (Bronfenbrenner 1994 p.2). The psychologist behind this theory is Urie Bronfenbrenner. This theory is helpful in understanding why an individual may behave differently by comparing his or her behaviour in the presence of their family or their behaviour when they are at work or in school. The theory holds that individuals encounter different environments throughout their life that may impacts on their behaviour. The systems include the micro system, exosystem, the mesosystem, chronosystem and the macro system (Bronfenbrenner 1994 p.4-9). The micro system environment refers to the direct environment that people have in their lives. This includes friends, family, neighbours, teachers and other people with whom an individual have a direct contact. The theory holds that we are not just recipients of experiences we have when socializing with these individuals in the micro system environment, but we also contribute to the construction of such environment (Bronfenbrenner 1994 p14-18). This is true with regard to Vicoria’s case. This is because it is quite evident that her behaviour has greatly been influenced by micro system (people around her). For instance, initially we see that Victoria had been happily married with her husband Mathew until his death. Mathew’s death happened to change the way Victoria used to see things completely. This is evident from the fact that, initially she used to rely entirely on her husband to fend for the family. However, this changed immediately after the passing on of her husband, as she now had to work hard on her own to make ends meet. This forced her to keep commuting to London every morning to work as a support worker. It is also evident that those whom Victoria worked with at the hospital also contributed a lot in shaping her behaviour and the manner she viewed things. We realize that Victoria was initially saddened by the death of her beloved husband with whom she had children. This made her undergo a lot of psychological stress and depression, which saw her seek for medical attention. At this point in time, she thought that life had come to an end following the kind of responsibility that lay ahead of her, such as taking care of children and living a single life. However, just as the theory suggests that people whom one interacts with are capable of shaping ones behaviour and the manner they perceive things, this is what happened to Victoria. This is revealed from the fact that she enjoyed working in London especially after meeting other single ladies of her age who probably encouraged her that losing a loved one is not the end of life. This, indeed, gave her the zeal to carry on as she later met Thomas who accepted to marry her despite the opposition from her parents. The Exosystem The exosystem is the environment or setting where there is a connection between the context where if the person has no active role, and the context where the person is actively participating (Bronfenbrenner 1994 p.32-36). This is evident in Victoria’s case. For instance, we find that she had a good relationship with the members of her family before the demise of her husband Mathew. However, this seems to have changed immediately afterwards, after she decided to befriend Thomas. This is due to the fact that, the children she got while with Mathew had a close relationship with their father, as we are told that Victoria did not know how to relate with the children. Therefore, Mathew’s demise created antagonism between the children and their mother Victoria. This is evidently brought out as we see children becoming fearful of Thomas who is now a friend to their mother as he is seen as a stranger in the family by the children. This indeed supports the exosystem theory under ecological system theory. The Mesosystem The mesosystem entails the correlation between the Microsystems in one’s life (Bronfenbrenner 1994 p42-49). Typically, this means that family experience may greatly impact on an individual’s school life. This is also the case with Victoria’s children whose school life is greatly affected by family experience. For instance, we are told that, despite the fact that Maureen is attending a Special Needs School, she occasionally had outburst on her mother as she feels that it is her mother who has caused all the problems she is facing. She does not even want to attend the school that her mother is proposing she should attend. Jacky’s school life is also affected greatly by her family life. This is evident from how she behaves in school stealing money from her classmates. This implies that her stealing habit is probably caused by her family’s poverty, which befell them after their father’s death. The Macro system According to the ecological system theory, macro system setting refers to the individual’s actual culture. This system holds that the cultural contexts encompass status of an individual or his family, race and ethnicity (Bronfenbrenner 1994 p.52-61). This implies that being born to a poor family can make one work harder everyday to meet family needs. This satisfies Victoria’s case. To begin with, Mathew’s family was generally poor and could not find work to meet family needs. To alleviate the family from poverty, he kept working harder everyday and at some point decided to join army. Similarly, Victoria being aware that his family was poor despite the compensation left after his husband’s demise had to work hard everyday to make ends meet. The same applies to Thomas, Victoria’s boyfriend who was also born to a poor family, thereby forcing him to work as a builder in order to meets family needs. The Chronosystem The chronosystem refers to the transition and shift in the lifespan of an individual (Bronfenbrenner 1994 p.66-78). The theory may also encompass the socio-historical contexts capable of influencing an individual. With regard to Victoria’s case, this theory relates to the manner in which the death of Mathew, Victoria’s husband, as a major transition, has affected not only the family relationship, but also the behaviour of their children. For instance, we find that after Mathew’s death, Victoria fell in love with Thomas, which greatly affected the relationship between her and other members of the family who were opposed to it. Furthermore, this also influenced the behaviour of their children who were strongly opposed and sacred of their intimacy. However, despite the initial disagreements, the family later became more stable and agreeable, which indeed conform to the theory. Strengths of Ecological System Theory Strengths The application of ecological system theory can be of immense benefit to a social worker since it provides a powerful device to recognize the influences upon the life of an individual and how it influences other parts of their development as has been with Victoria’s case. In addition, it can enable a social worker understand how broad aspects such as culture or time influences individual development. Indeed all this factors can have a lot of impacts on an organization, business and management. Weaknesses The major weakness with this theory is that it does not provide a detailed mechanism for development. This may make it less effective for use by a social worker. In Victoria’s case for instance, the theory does not provide the mechanism of development of Victoria’s children. What theories suggest I should do in relation undertaking an assessment and intervention; liaise with other professions such Community mental Heal Team for Victoria’s depression. The theories suggest that I should pay much attention to an individual’s language, interests, behaviour, symptoms and beliefs (Bronfenbrenner 1994 92-106). This will involve understanding well what Victoria says, her interest, beliefs, behaviour and symptoms. This is due to the fact, understanding these phenomenon will form the basis of coming up with the correct intervention. The theories also suggest that I should seek for professional advice, as this will help in understanding the problems that an individual is undergoing like that of Victoria. For Victoria’s case, this will involve liaising with the professional such as the community metal health team to offer professional advice as regards Victoria’s depression. The Hierarchy needs theory This theory was proposed by Abraham H. Maslow. Maslow (1943) asserts that human actions are directed towards the attainment of particular goals. In addition, the behaviours in which human beings engage in are directed towards the attainment and satisfaction of several functions. The hierarchy of needs, according to Maslow, is represented in a pyramid of five levels. The pyramid is further divided into lower-order needs and the growth needs. The first four levels in the pyramid must be satisfied, they are more important than the growth needs. Maslow refers to the first four levels as deprivation needs. The first deprivation needs that must be met include physiological needs such as air, food, water sex, sleep, and homeostasis processes in the body. Safety needs include safe environment, job, resources, health care and the ability to acquire property. On belongingness needs, Maslow states that human needs must have love, friends, have family and be intimate. Further, esteem need include respect, other life achievements such as education, and self esteem. Lastly, the top most level in the pyramid is self actualization which includes morality and creativity. The Hierarchy needs theory in relation to Victoria The theory is relevant in discussing Victoria’s behaviours. Victoria could not meet the physiological need after the loss of her husband. In addition, Victoria had to depend on Mathew for accommodation facilities they had in the army. The death of bread winner in the family affects individual since they cannot afford most of the basic physiological need. With four young children to take care of after the loss of a husband, Victoria went through depression and hopelessness. Higher needs in the hierarchy such as love and belongingness cannot be achieved, that is why Victoria lost touch with the children when she decided to leave them under the care of the parents. The sudden loss of a loved one affects individuals since they are depressed. Victoria’s husband was the provider of all the physiological needs. According to the Maslow’s need theory, lack of food, water, sex, and accommodation must first be met for any individual to reach for the other need in the hierarchy such as love. This is symbolized when Victoria was unable to properly care for her four young children because she had been really sad and down because of the sudden loss of her beloved husband. Achieving of physiological needs leads to the desire in attaining higher need in the hierarchy. After Victoria had commuted to London to work as a support worker, she was able to meet other need in the hierarchy such as love. Victoria was able to meet other single individuals in London such as Thomas. Victoria was able to fall in glove with Thomas because she was happy with her work and most of her physiological needs were being met. In addition, the parents were tasking care of the children. I believe that higher need in the hierarchy cannot be achieved without first meeting the physiological need as stated by Maslow in the needs theory. Financial crisis is further straining the resources of the family. According to the needs theory, the family income must be able to cater for all physiological needs. Thomas is forced to ask Victoria to work for more hours in order to have a steady income for the sustenance of the s ix children. However, Victoria considers that her parental role is more important than work. She believes that staying with the children at home will help her take care of the children while Thomas is taking care of both her and the children. Victoria does not realize that she can only fulfil her parental role by providing a steady income to them. Application as asocial worker Poverty is the main reason why Victoria has to undergo depression. I would apply the physiological needs part of the human needs theory. Victoria needs to find a steady income in order to support the children. Physiological needs such as food, water and accommodation facilities can only be attained by alleviating poverty or helping Victoria to find a steady source of income. Victoria can only move up the level in the pyramid after meeting the physiological needs. According to Maslow, Victoria can only overcome the grief of her husband’s loss after the poverty situation has been change. The main challenge that needs to be changed is poverty. Alleviation of poverty means that physiological needs will be met by the family. Other need in the hierarchy such as love, intimacy, and self actualization can only be achieved after alleviating Victoria’s poverty situation. Complexities of human interaction according to human needs theory Depression affects human interaction with other family members as well as the society. Once an individual starts to absorb the full truth concerning the death of a loved husband and a bread winner, they become deeply saddened. Victoria felt intense feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Depressed individuals often have no energy for routine activities. Love and intimacy are some of the need that must be achieved by human beings. After the death of her husband, Victoria tries to seek intimacy and love lost from Thomas. The presence of Thomas brings a lot of complexities in the way the family interacts with Thomas and other children Victoria got from Thomas. Patricia Nelson does not want to speak to her half siblings because she considers them as not being part of the family. Victoria needs to understand that the deceased person needs to be forgotten. This will enable her to recognize the truth of her situation and to gradually release her emotions. Victoria should also understand that she can carry on even if she feels the loss of the loved one. The emotions concerning the loss of the loved one are affecting her relationship with the children who need full attention and love from their mother. Strengths and limitations of hierarchy needs theory Limitations I believe that the drive to work hard in order to be successful in life is what motivates human beings. Human needs theory does not show this fact since Victoria is not motivated by her poverty situation to work hard for her physiological need. Human needs theory states that other need in the hierarchy can only be met after meeting physiological needs. Further, human beings are driven by different needs, in most cases; it is always the unsatisfied need that drives an individual to meet other needs. Weaknesses should not distract individuals in achieving success in life. As a social worker, I would make Victoria understand that the death of her husband and poverty should not prevent her from finding a solution to the weaknesses. Providing for the family should be more important that the grief suffered after the loss of the husband, therefore, she should work hard and provide for the children. Strengths The strength of human needs theory relies on the need to fulfil physiological needs before reaching to other needs in the hierarchy. In Victoria’s situation, safety needs, social needs, and esteem needs cannot be met without meeting physiological needs such as food, water, health, shelter and homeostasis needs. Every individual that seeks to attain esteem needs must first have food to eat and water to drink. In addition, the theory is relevant because there are needs that human beings can do without. Victoria can do without esteem needs but cannot survive without higher order needs such as food. To some extent, Victoria can do without love or sex for sometime; this is because of the need to seek for employment for the family to have a steady source of income. After achieving physiological need, other needs such as love and sex which do not fall under physiological needs should be achieved. These will ensure that Victoria overcome the grief due to loss of a loved husband. Victoria is bale to get Thomas as the next partner; this is possible because she had overcome depression encountered as a result of poverty and lack of housing. Conclusion Applying both Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Bronfethrenner’s ecological system theory to social work, management and organizational application is a big challenge. However, the two theories are indeed a powerful device that can be employed as a guideline in understanding the influences upon a person’s life and how they influence other parts of human development. Based on Victoria’s case study, it is evident that both Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory and Brenfenberger’s Ecological systems theory can act as a valuable tool for practitioners like social workers, and scholars to understand individual development as a way of building management and leadership qualities. References Maslow, A.H., 1943. Theory of human motivation, psychological review 50 (4): pp370-96. Bronfenbrenner, U., 1994. Ecological models of human development. In International Encyclopedia of Education (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 1643-1647). Oxford: Elsevier. Read More