Human beings experience psychological and biological changes during the period from birth towards the end of adolescents. The social environment influences physical and physiological changes. For example, a newborn baby will show no signs of fear when interacting with specific people. However, the situation changes when the child reaches 8-12 months. A child becomes aware of his social environment and will prefer the company of those people who are familiar. Social environment plays a significant role in ensuring that the child understands social rules in the period of pre-school and adulthood. The social environment also influences bonding of a child between different groups of people as asserted by Plummer, Makris, and Brocksen (2014) . If the mental and physical development of a child is interrupted by the social environment, it becomes difficult for him/ her to mature and make reasonable independent decisions. It also becomes very for a child to different things which are right and things which are wrong. The most important social, environmental factors that affect the development of a child are the physical environment and the family environment.
A child that is brought up in a conducive family environment is most likely to attain complete genetic and human potential. The family environment acts as a socializing institution in the family. From birth, parents start to take care of the well-being of the child by educating and preparing them to contribute to the society. A child brought up in violent, and an emotionally turbulent family will most likely develop behavioral tendencies of withdrawal or aggression towards fellow peers. It is normal for a child to build trust towards its parents. But when a parent turns out to be verbally or sexually abusive, a child is left in a state of confusion and loses a sense of direction in life. In the case of Brandon, his father, the only adult he could see as a role model, sexually abused him repeatedly between the ages of 4 and 6. Though the father was incarcerated, the experience of being sexually abused left Brandon dejected, and it became difficult for him to participate in therapy ( Plummer, Makris, and Brocksen, 2014) . Brandon developed challenging behaviors like being physically aggressive, finding it difficult to follow the rules both at home and school, and use of inappropriate language towards female peers.
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Teachers from Brandon's school have even suggested that be suffering from attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). The ADHD could be as a result of exposure to the traumatizing emotional event he experienced as a child. Warning signs of ADHD include difficulty paying attention, being overactive, and acting without thinking (impulsivity). Brando began demonstrating signs of ADHD by having an increase in argumentative behavior and destroying minor property at home. His adverse behaviors usually intensify when he has interactions with members of the same sex (men) such as her mother's boyfriend ( Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016) . Signs of impulsivity in Brandon are evident when he uses sexually explicit language towards a female peer though having little understanding of what the used phrase used meant. Brandon's mother is even worried and concerned that will have sexual behavioral problems or become a sexual offender because of his use of sexually abusive language.
As a result of tormenting childhood experiences, Brandon began feeling paranoid about his physical safety. He went an extra mile of sleeping with a loaded BB gun under his pillow to protect himself in case someone attempted to assault him again. Treatment of disorders such as ADHD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) created as a result of a toxic social environment is possible. Psychiatrists prescribe treatment using medication such as the use of low dose antidepressant in the case of Brandon. According to Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016), t reatment can also be done using trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy approach. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps a patient cope with the effects of a traumatic event and help with his/her emotional regulation. Parents or guardians of traumatized patients are also provided with psycho-education to enable them effectively support the patient through treatment.
References
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader]. Working With Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Trauma: The Case of Brandon.
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
