Case Conceptualization Issues - Coursework Example

Case conceptualization Question The contemporary American families are facing various conflicts that are threatening to engrave a society that is apparently considered to be just and civilized. Misunderstanding due to differences in ideas/opinions or ambitions /aspirations, changes in social expectations and gratuitous pressures standout as the leading cause of conflicts within families. Apart from internal personal conflicts, a family remains the smallest dome within which conflicts transpire. While these conflicts are small as compared to conflicts between great world powers, they are not trivial since the various ways that families use in resolving conflicts can be used to solve international conflicts and protect the world from the deleterious effects of conflicts (Williams, 2000). Several conflicts are predominant throughout the case. In the case, Holly Roberts faces an internal conflict as she finds herself unable to decide on the best course for her. After graduation, she finds herself in depression due to the conflicts that are ailing her family and she had vowed never to ask for help from anyone and particularly Tom, her stepfather. “The decision Holly was having trouble making was what to do after graduation” (Roberts, 2010). Moreover, Holly Roberts faces a dilemma whether to go home or stay away from home and live an undisturbed life away from her parents’ care (Blood, 2006). She had decided to stay away from home but the challenges in the outside world compelled her to reevaluate her judgment. Additionally, the family faces a conflict due to compulsion. Noteworthy, a family is not a voluntary association except for the wife and husband. Children cannot choose where to be born and can never resign their membership notwithstanding the various challenges in the family or their dislike to the family. Due to this, Holly Roberts finds it extremely difficult to survive in the family bearing in mind the sheer fact that she must participate in the family activities and procedures. This compulsion-driven conflict has risen and conflict became self-perpetuating. Evidently, the family is undergoing financial conflict due to the disparity in income between Tom Morgan, a wealthy stockbroker, and Lena Roberts, a mere housewife. Evidently, the couple did not count the cost prior to entering into the marriage and ended up having unrealistic financial expectations. Tom Morgan fails to offer the financial support that was direly required by Holly Roberts to complete her degree. Additionally, the mother feels that Tom is being stingy with his cash and belittles Lena Roberts for failure to effectively take care of the financial needs of her daughter. This loathing creates a conflict that is apparently threatening to tear the family apart. Lena considers Tom a missing father, quite different from the caring husband that she had expected him to be. Verbal conflicts are another outstanding feature of the family. The family members are carelessly hurling abuses at each other without valuing the age difference that is ostensible. Morgan confesses that there have been verbal conflicts that have worsened the family. “We’ve been fighting all weekend. Holly heaps abuse on me, and when I try to respond, Lena takes her side. That’s the way it’s been since day one of this marriage” (Roberts, 2010). The verbal conflicts persevered due to the sheer fact that all the individuals had committed uphold their expectations and aspirations not considering its larger implications on the overall welfare of the family. Additionally, extramarital conflict stands out as a major conflict that deprived the family of the joy, ecstasy, harmony and elation that should exist within a family. Tom suspects his wife of infidelity and always qualms over her whereabouts. “She hated Tom for the way he treated her mother. He was always demanding to know where her mother was going, who she was going with, and when she would be back..” (Roberts, 2010). This mistrust and circumspection created conflict in the family and Holly Roberts ends up hating her stepfather. Question 2 The family is an indispensable unit in the social structure and should be protected against conflicts that portend its actuality if forthcoming generations are to enjoy it. Ostensibly, all societies develop patterned techniques of obstructing emergence of conflicts and with time, these structures are integrated into the norms of the society (Williams, 2000). The various conflicts witnessed in today’s families are due to the society’s failure to avoid the probable sources of conflicts and the failure to agree to negotiate and find a common acceptable ground. Many communities have devices that are specifically used to keep separately actual or potential family members to thwart them from coming into conflict. Those who are predisposed to conflicts should be kept in positions where such conflicts are unlikely to occur. To prevent conflict-laden marriages, formal engagements that acquaint friends and parents about the couples’ intentions should be embraced and a more standardized communication link established. Additionally, the current society has ignored the importance of premarital counseling and marriage education. Study indicates that presently, 10% of American college students take course in preparation for marriage while 2% are in it to rationalize the mate selection process and learn how to test compatibility (Blood, 2006). Counseling would help couples to envision the various conflicts that are likely to occur in their marriages hence decide on whether or not to continue with the relationship. The loss in relevance of marriage education is particularly due to existence of fragmented families and the socio-economic changes that have been witnessed. Question 3 Violence at home-based exist and tent to harm everybody in the family. The children are mostly vulnerable when they experience violent behavior between family fellows. Children personality might change and they are likely to be abusive and stress individual in future. In Mr. Morgan and MS Lena Robert family there was emotional abuse that has led to the existing family violence. Holly had dared to abuse his stepfather that led into family conflict; Lena mother took side to defenses her daughter. It was wrong for Lena to defense her daughter rather making a rational decision and this has affected Lena and Mr. Morgan emotionally hence intensifying family violence’s. If I were Lena I could not have supported my daughter it was wrong for to support Holly as this might influence her and see it was the right thing to do obviously. Financial abuse is among the factor that has intensified family violence, Ms. Lena was financial unstable as she was waitressing for her to support herself and her daughter while Robert Morgan was financial stable, and though he had at least enough money to support his new family her continued to be irresponsible. Mr. Robert contributed to the problem his family was facing. If he was not mean he would have managed to circumvent this type of family violence. If I were Mr. Morgan I could not have given my selfishness to ruin my delicate new family. Verbal abuse which Mr. Morgan expressed to her wife Lena intensified the family conflict, Tom has been nagging his wife so much that lead Holly to develop hatred toward his stepfather who was always demanding to know where her mother was going and who was she going with. How Tom acted was so wrong and I were him I would not had nag my wife unnecessarily as this could have convince her that I were more suspicious toward what she do when I am not around hence ruining our relationship. Social abuse was among the factor that spearheaded the family violence, Holly hates her mother for falling in love with Mr. Morgan who never respected his wife relation with her daughter. Holly was never right to hate his stepfather and his mother as her mother had all the right to choose who will be her spouse. If I were Holly I could have tried to reconcile my mother and my stepfather and let life continue. References Blood, R. O. (2006). Resolving family conflicts. Journal of Conflict Resolution. doi:10.1177/002200276000400206 Roberts, H. (2010). Holly Roberts: Works 2000 to 2009. Portland, Or: Nazraeli Press. Williams, J. (2000). Unbending gender: Why family and work conflict and what to do about it. Read More