Healthy functioning in the family is a goal that many families strive for, but not all are able to achieve with ease. The family functioning, all of the interactions and emotional current in the home have a significant impact on the individuals involved. Childhood development is one area that is particularly affected. Whether good or bad, the family system and environment influences the cognitive, emotional, and physical development of the children and can establish positive or negative cognitive and behavioral traits that remain for a life-time.
Healthy families foster environments of safety and relationships that are grounded on trust. One major factor in healthy family systems is positive parenting. Both Brooks (2014) and Feldman (2014) advocated the authoritative parenting as being the most beneficial for growing children. Generally within this style of parenting, Brooks noted that these types of parents provide emotional security and build up self-esteem in their children. Clear Rules are given, but they can be somewhat flexible and can come with explanations if the children would want to discuss the reasoning behind the rule (Brooks, 2013). Feldman explained that the environment that these parents create by parenting in this manner exudes warmth and support. Another factor in healthy family systems is that they lay the foundations for positive growth. Because open communication with the children is a common practice in this family life, the children are able to strengthen their communication and social skills (Brooks, 2013). Feldman supported that fact and added that with an environment that provides a strong sense of security, children are better able to make and maintain lasting relationships. With the safe, emotionally se...
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...life, individuals can give their children a greater opportunity to fulfill their potential and make a difference with their lives.
Works Cited
Brooks, J. (2014). Parenting. [Video Presentation]. Liberty University.
Feldman, R. S. (2014). Development across the lifespan. (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education.
Newberg, A. B., & Newberg, S. K. (2006). A neuropsychological perspective on spiritual development. In E. Roehlkepartain, P. E. King, L. Wagener & P. L. Bensen (Eds.), The handbook of spiritual development in childhood and adolescenceThousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Repetti, R. L., Taylor, S. E., & Seeman, T. E. (2002). Risky families: Family social environments and the mental and physical health of offspring. Psychological Bulletin, 128(2), doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.330.
Sibcy, G. (2014). Attachment. [Video Presentation]. Liberty University.
Family systems have been studied since psychologists began studying people and their behaviors. The family is a dynamic system—a self-organizing system that adapts itself to changes in its members and to changes in its environment (as cited in Sigelman & Rider, 2009). Allowing the focus of a family system to grow beyond the mother and child relationship did not happen overnight. For many years, there was no connection made between other members of the family and the developmental issues of the children involved.
"When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” – Erma Bombeck. Early childhood is the most rapid period of development in a human life. Although individual children develop at their own pace, all children progress through an identifiable sequence of physical, cognitive, and emotional growth and change. A child who is ready for school has a combination of positive characteristics: he or she is socially and emotionally healthy, confident and friendly; has good peer relationships; tackles challenging tasks and persists with them; has good language skills and communicates well; and listens to instructions and is attentive (World Bank 1). The interactive influences of genes and experience literally shape the architecture of the developing brain and the most important ingredient is the nature of a child’s engagement in the relationship with his or her parents (Bales 1). The parenting style of a mother or father has a strong and direct impact on the sequence of development through which the child progresses on the way to becoming a physically, mentally and emotionally healthy individual.
Since the 20th century, researchers have sought out solutions to help assist families and the individual components that make up family systems overcome the challenges and schisms that can inhibit individuation and stability. Two theoretical perspectives, the family-systems theory and the family-development theory, were conceived to gain as Balswick & Balswick (2014) noted, gain “a wide-angle view of family life” (p. 22). Though these two theories have merit, one I found to be more advantageous in gaining a better understanding of the family as an actively metastasizing organism, which needs to be approached more adaptively.
Children enter the world as part of preexisting systems. They enter parental systems and families that already have rules, roles and boundaries, and more are made as children grow and the family develops. These transitions can be confusing and challenging for all members involved leading to feelings of fear, anger and even helplessness. Members within the family strive to feel competent and grasp at a sense of security as their family structure and organization shifts with each new addition or change. Normal family development is a delicate balance between change and stability. The most important rules to help maintain a sense of stability and security within the family, according to Virginia Satir, are the ones that govern communication (Bitter, 2009, p. 125). Rules via communication can be verbal or nonverbal but are usually intended to provide children safety as they advance outside the home. However, children hear absolutes in rules such as “Always listen to your elders,” which quickly becomes impossible to follow all the time. Children begin to question such rules and parental authority begins to lose weight. Children also learn rules by observing the behavior of their parents, who typically do not follow the absolutes in rules they give their children. According to Satir, in healthy families, rules are few and consistently applied and are humanly possi...
...obert Plomin, D. W. (1997). Nature, Nurture, and Cognitive Development from 1 to 16 Years:
In one’s childhood it is apparent that the immediate family members have a significant impact on the way a child grows up. The environment a child is raised in can and will affect him or her in many ways. Developing siblings learn from one another through everyday play and family activities. The interactions within a family provide many opportunities to acquire social, emotional, and behavioral skills (Conger, Stocker, McGuire, 2009).
The family structure is made up of individuals living together in intimate groups with the purpose of caring and supporting each other. Rules and boundaries, spoken and unspoken, are developed by the family members. Family rules and boundaries change and shift over time in order to evolve and grow as a family unit. Some changes are subtle, but some events force major change within the family system. This paper applies the concepts of systems theory to the family system in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Reese Witherspoon (Melanie Smooter) and Josh Lucas (Jake Perry) star in this heart-warming film telling a story of a young woman who flees from Alabama to reinvent herself in New York City as a high fashion designer. She leaves behind her redneck husband and white-trash upbringing. Melanie finds herself engaged to the cities most eligible bachelor and has to return to Alabama to request a divorce from her first love and confront her past ("Alabama," 2002).
According to Richard Charles (2001) “the effectiveness of family systems theory rests not much on empirical research but on clinical reports of positive treatment outcomes, the personal benefits experienced by the families that underwent this kind of treatment, and the elegance of Bowen’s theory” (p. 279). Bowen’s family systems theory views the family as an emotional unit and is a theory of human behavior. Systems thinking are used to describe the complex interactions in the unit. However, the client’s ability to differentiate himself/herself from the family of origin is the basis for Bowen’s family systems theory. In addition, the primary focus for growth within the emotional system is differentiation of self. Differentiation of self will be explored as well as how it relates to a church congregation.
No matter what, people form thousands of relationships to get through the ups and downs in life. To be frank, life would be pretty dull and empty without relationships. One of the most important relationships is the one that people form with their parents (Perry). Early family relationships are the foundation for adult relationships and a child’s personality (Perry; Greenberg). Alicia Lieberman, a psychology professor, said “The foundation for how a child feels about himself and the world is how he feels in his relationship with the primary caregiver” (Greenberg). According to Erik Erikson and the attachment theory, the bond between a caregiver and child has a huge impact on a child’s development because of social and emotional effects.
Successful parenting may be judged by many different standards. Raising a child to be a respectful, mature, and independent adult requires a great deal of effort. There are several parenting styles, and not all lead a child to reaching their full potential. Overpowering sternness leads may lead to a rebellious child, while passive parenting may lead children to inept for the challenges of adulthood. Parenting requires more than teaching children submissiveness, or building of self-importance. Children learn best from a role model who is admirable. Parenting is a great opportunity to set the course of one’s entire life in the right direction.
Feldman, Robert S.. Development across the life span . 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.
Family has a major impact on a child’s life, especially in the early stages, because a child experiences so many firsts with family and they are the first ones to be around the child. If all a child knows is what the family taught him, then he may think that the abuse he experiences is normal and may grow to have behavioral issues mocking what he grew up with and may tend find himself in trouble. Post-traumatic stress
Parenting styles have the capacity of influencing a child’s social, cognitive, and psychological growth, which would then affect the child both in their childhood years, and as an adult.
Craig, G. J., & Dunn, W. L. (Ex.: 2010). Understanding human development (2nd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.
This includes, cognitive emotional health, social ability, personality and a healthy adult life (Haddad). All four areas of a Childs development needs are influenced by their environment but most importantly by their parents, or any powerful adult figure in their lives. If a child slowly develops negative behavior in any four aspects, I believe the parents play a part in this. A parent influences what their child is exposed too, different people to new places. My family really provided me with a lot of love and affection as a kid. They would always make sure I had what I needed. In addition, they would always make sure they were being a positive role model for me. My parents did stress me during my developmental years by fighting often. Around the time I was nine my parents separated and eventually divorced. Divorce is a huge deal for the children involved and I believe shaped me into who I am to this day. It can damage them emotionally and eventually lead to problems in the immediate