Assessing Parental Residency For Children In Social Work Practice

Social Learning Theory and Human Reinforcement

The Assessment of Parental Residency

1.Make an assessment recommending which parent should be given residency of the children.

2.How does the application of these ideologies to this case study demonstrate how ideologies shape our understanding of situations we might encounter in social work practice?

From the attachment theory, it is clear that the strength of the attachment of a child’s behaviour does not indicate the strength of the bond of attachment. It is however important to note that the children that feel insecure will show a pronounced behaviours of attachment. While the children that are secure will reveal that there is no need for them to engage either infrequent or in an intense show of attachment behaviour (Pietromonaco, Uchino and Dunkel Schetter 2013). Thus, considering the attachment, I think that both the children Ben and Racheal has developed an attachment towards Jane (Mother), it is thus good to give the priority to the wishes of the children. Considering the fact that Bill (father), is not abusive and not polite to the children as per the opinion of the children. It is thus good to give priority to the wishes of the children. This will make the children feel much more comfortable and secure with their mother.

The attitude of responsibilities and duties of parenthood that are shown by each of the parents

Form the both the critical feminist theory and the critical masculinity theory it is important to note that critical feminist theory is a theory that provides an insight into the gender inequalities that the society is plagued with. Feminist theory explicitly deals with the women’s and men’s chores, interests, experience and social role. The section of intersectionality mentions how the people are oppressed by the dominating race or sex (Crenshaw 2018). In the case study, I have come across some finding which reveals that the Jane has accused Bill of the sexually abusing her as well as the children and has shown his violent nature for most of the time. While on the other hand Bill has accused Jane of having a disturbed personality and have been twisting the children against Bill. Thus initially both the accusations are considered to be correct then there is a strong chance that both the parents failed to show the proper duty and responsibility of parenthood. Also the critical masculinity theory provides an insight about the how the men has held a hegemonic position and how they have justified the subordination of women. It also reveals how the men have maintained a dominant social role over the women.

Assessing the Children’s Wishes

The capacity of each of the parents to care for the children and provided for their needs, including the emotional needs.

I think the major role of taking care of both the children Racheal and Ben has been played by Jane alone. After the separation of the Bill and Jane, only Jane had the custody of the both the children all the requirements including the emotional needs of the children are fulfilled by Jane alone. Bill after separation although had moved to a separate location and has now started living with a new partner named Jasmine in Tasmania. Jane on the other hand is not at all willing to let Bill to come in contact with both the children. The sole reason that is being cited by Jane is that Bill is abusive and does not behave well Ben and Racheal. Thus, it can be concluded that Bill is unable to facilitate both the children with the emotional needs that they require. I rather think that the information provided by both the parents are a bit contradictory and they demand further investigation. Although a report cited by a psychologist reveal that Jane has exaggerated the behavioural and the emotional problems of the infants and at the same time and views the normal variations as sexual abuse. The report however emphasized that there is no sexual abuse by Bill and thus the reports suggests that the father must be given the custody of the children. This leads to the fact that the Bill didn’t get enough chance to take care of his children.

The need to protect the children from exposure or subjection to behaviour which may harm them

The social learning theory propounded by Bandura says that children observe the people around them that behave in different ways. Children at their growth age are surrounded by different types of influential model like the parents within the family, teachers in school and characters in children’s TV channels. These models provide the examples of the behaviour that a child observes and tries to imitate. The behaviour may be anti-social, pro-social, feminine and masculine. Thus, I think when the children get exposure to behaviour that harm them leads to ill development of the child and also affects their brain and the thinking process (Chavis 2012).

Any other matter that I think is relevant

Other matter that I think is relevant according to the case study is the whenever a situation arises when custody of the child is a prime area of concern then the mother must be given the first priority. Considering the fact that in comparison to the father, mother is the only capable person who can take proper care of the children. Thus, the opinion of the must always be considered first.

Parental Duties and Responsibilities: Feminist and Masculinity Theories

2.The case study provides a consolidated case of a typical issue that generally occurs between the couples that have undergone broken marriage, unstable relationship and issues regarding the custody of the children. Social work with respect to issues related to child custody involves the evaluations of both parties through the observation and interviews. Third parties are often engaged in the study and are also interviewed to more insight into the issue. Reports that are provided by the healthcare providers, schools, child caregivers and are also reviewed for making proper judgements. The social work team involves the interview of both the parents or the guardians and this is followed by a full family interview (Carey and Foster 2013).

Thus, in the sociological study, the usage of the ideologies helps in understanding the various dilemmas and the issues in solving an issue. Issues like the child custody and who should be given the responsibility of taking care of the child can only be understood only after assessing the situation. The assessment of the situation thus involves the usage of the different ideologies that guides and assists what a social worker must do. The four major theories that have been used for the study are the attachment theory, social learning theory, critical feminist theory and the critical masculinity theory. The Attachment theory is applicable considering the case study because the theory speaks about the dynamics that exist within the short-term and the long-term interpersonal relationships that exist between the humans (Goldberg, Muir and Kerr 2013). In this case study, the deteriorating relationship and the further effect of both the parents has led to its effects on the child. The attachment however does not just focus on the general theory of relationships, however it rests on how humans tend to behave in a relationship when they perceive threat, separated from love and when they perceive threat. This tendency is especially seen among the infants, as they become attached with the caregivers and develop an attachment with the same. This is also evident in the case study where Ben and Rachael has developed a secure attachment with the Jane. However, the kids have shown a detachment with Bill due to his behaviour. Where, the social learning theory states that the children especially copy the behaviour of the mother and the father and the way they interact with them. Thus in order to provide the best teaching, the parents must not act violently in front of the children (Brauer and Tittle 2012). However, in the case it is found that the parents are unwilling to end their fight. Bill even after knowing that children are more than willing to stay with their mother, still he was wants to be custodian of both the children. The theory propounded by Erikson’s eight stages of development speaks that the children within the age group of 6 to 12 years face the task of inferiority vs. industry. Children at this age group compare themselves with their peers and they try to measure up. The children either feel inadequate and inferior or they do not feel accomplished and the sense of pride. It has also been found to be mentioned that the due to the negative experiences by the child, the child often developed inferiority at the adulthood and adolescence (Sacco 2013).

The critical feminism and the critical masculinity are the theories that go in accordance with the case study. It is important to note is a single mother of two children it is not at all easy for Jane to cope up with life. Although Jane is being helped by her mother, Ruby. The school reports suggest that the children are progressing well in all the areas. It has also been found that in comparison to Bill, Jane has developed a lot more attachment to the kids and the kids are willing to stay with the mother. The feminist theory takes into account the gender inequalities and examines the social roles, chores, interests, experiences of the men and women. The theory also takes into account the different types of inequalities that are undertaken by objectification, discrimination (Pedwell and Whitehead 2012). Whereas the critical masculinity theory speaks about the practice that legitimizes that man is a holds a dominant position in society and at the same time justifies the subordination of women (O’Neill 2015).

References

Brauer, J.R. and Tittle, C.R., 2012. Social learning theory and human reinforcement. Sociological Spectrum, 32(2), pp.157-177.

Carey, M. and Foster, V., 2013. Social work, ideology, discourse and the limits of post-hegemony. Journal of Social Work, 13(3), pp.248-266.

Chavis, A.M., 2012. Social learning theory and behavioral therapy: Considering human behaviors within the social and cultural context of individuals and families. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 22(1), pp.54-64.

Crenshaw, K., 2018. Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory, and antiracist politics [1989]. In Feminist legal theory (pp. 57-80). Routledge.

Goldberg, S., Muir, R. and Kerr, J. eds., 2013. Attachment theory: Social, developmental, and clinical perspectives. Routledge.

O’Neill, R., 2015. Whither critical masculinity studies? Notes on inclusive masculinity theory, postfeminism, and sexual politics. Men and Masculinities, 18(1), pp.100-120.

Pedwell, C. and Whitehead, A., 2012. Affecting feminism: Questions of feeling in feminist theory. Feminist Theory, 13(2), pp.115-129.

Pietromonaco, P.R., Uchino, B. and Dunkel Schetter, C., 2013. Close relationship processes and health: implications of attachment theory for health and disease. Health Psychology, 32(5), p.499.

Sacco, R.G., 2013. Re-Envisaging the Eight Developmental Stages of Erik Erikson: The Fibonacci Life-Chart Method (FLCM). Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 3(1), p.140.