Instructions
These are 2 different discussions
1. Explain four patterns of attachment and give an example of each one. Indicate which pattern you find to be the most common, and support your answer with examples from the text and movie.
2. You are the social worker for Joe’s family and are tasked with completing an assessment on the family.
What are all of the societal factors involved, for each family member?
How might these societal factors influence family dynamics?
How might these societal factors influence the psychological or biological systems with which they are involved?
O’Hara, R., Macaulay, S., Dewis, J., Marx, L. (Producers), & Whaley, F. (Director). (1999). Joe the King [Motion picture]. United States: 49th Parallel, Forensic/291 Films, Lower East Side Films.
Family Assesment
Institution:
Date:
Family Assesment
1. Explain four patterns of attachment and give an example of each one. Indicate which design you find the most common, and support your answer with examples from the text and movie.
The four patterns of attachment are: secure, anxious-preoccupied, Avoidant- dismissive, and unresolved-disorganized.
Secure attachment is low anxiety and avoidance type of attachment, where the person feels safe and comfortable with their relationships (Fearon, and Roisman, 2017). People who have developed a secure attachment do not worry about a person abandoning them or getting too close to them.
Avoidant- dismissive attachment is where a person values freedom and independence because they are uncomfortable with closeness. Avoidant people feel self-sufficient, and the person finds it easy to deactivate feelings and behaviors. Independence is a priority when dismissive, not comfortable talking about emotions, being emotionally unavailable as a parent, and being alone (Fearon, and Roisman, 2017).
Preoccupied- Axious attachment is characterized by high anxiety and insecurity about relationships. Anxiously attached people crave attention closeness, which may go to extremes and become toxic (Fearon, and Roisman, 2017).
Unresolved attachment involves disassociation to avoid pain, anti-social, aggressive, cannot tolerate emotional closeness, and always have frightened about past traumatic memories and losses of the past.
I find unresolved, and avoidant-dismissive attachment the most common, where people value their freedom and independence and prefer being alone (Fearon, and Roisman, 2017). Most people are not comfortable talking about their emotions, leading to increased cases of mental health issues. For instance, the feeling of entitlement that Bob has been contributed his avoidant-dismissive attachement, which originates from parents sense of self-worth. Also Joe avoids his friends in school and prefer being alone to avoid feeling hurt like he experiences at home.
2. You are the social worker for Joe’s family and are tasked with completing a family assessment. What are all of the biological factors in play for each family member.
According to the case study, Joe’s family is undergoing mental abuse, especially the fourteen-year-old boy Joe Henry who struggles to survive in the hands of abusive and drunkard parents (O’Hara,et,al.,1999). The childhood experiences that Joe went through make him more sensitive and challenging in life. The biological factors affecting play for the family members are hormonal levels during puberty, gender, and brain chemistry.
Mike and Joe are affected by hormonal changes during puberty, which also includes psychological changes. The psychological and hormonal changes make the boys insecure about their parent’s occupations and want to become more social (O’Hara,et,al.,1999). On the other hand, Bob Henry’s father is known for anger issues and alcoholism, where aggression is a male hormonal issue, hence a biological issue. Alcohol addiction is also a physical issue, which is considered inter-generational. The alcohol addiction also changes Bob’s brain chemistry, making him become withdrawn when they are not taking the drug. As a mother and a woman, Theresa undergoes hormonal changes, such as those associated with post postpartum depression. Also, Theresa experiences anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which Henry’s drinking behavior has caused. Additionally, Theresa’s psychological problems make her abusive and an emotionally absent parent to Joe and Mike.
How might these biological factors influence family dynamics?
The biological influence on the family’s mental status, for instance, Joe Kings is forced to carry the family’s emotional, psychological, and financial burden on his shoulders (Levey, 2020). The psychological aspect of the father and the mother affect Mike and Joe’s development, growing up as misguided, confused, and neglected children brought up to survive on their own. The factors also affect the relationship between the parents, which is essential fr children to emulate.
How might these biological factors interact with relevant psychological or societal systems?
The biological factors, however, interact with psychological or societal systems by influencing behaviors. Joe grew up in a dysfunctional societal structure, which leads to the development of criminal behaviors, also resulting from pressure from parents and other people in society. For instance, Joe was bullied in school by the teacher and friends who made a fan of his parent’s occupations. When biological factors interact with dysfunctional societal systems, the trauma becomes big, affecting the individual’s mental health, such as in Joe, Mike, Theresa, and Bob Henery (Levey, 2020). On the other hand, Bon Henry’s alcoholism, which may be a result of brain chemistry, affects his relationship with the children and the wife due to his violent behavior. On the other hand, Theresa’s anxiety, PTSD, and stress affect her relationship with Joe and Mike, especially being an absent parent to Joe.
References
Fearon, R. P., & Roisman, G. I. (2017). Attachment theory: progress and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 15, 131-136.
Levey, L. (2020). Sequence Co-Chairs Dr. Jill Becker Feigeles.
O’Hara, R., Macaulay, S., Dewis, J., Marx, L. (Producers), & Whaley, F. (Director). (1999). Joe the King [Motion picture]. United States: 49th Parallel, Forensic/291 Films, Lower East Side Films.
